Texas cattle ranch sells for a whopping $46M after going on market for first time in 60 years

A family ranch that hadn’t changed hands in six decades sold in April for the whopping price of $46 million.Within a month of being listed publicly, the “turnkey legacy ranch” dubbed Y Bar O Ranch in far West Texas sold to a local landowner.The sellers were the family of original owners William Blake “Dub” Yarborough and his wife, Kay.

Blake died in 2006 and the land had passed down to family members.“We had a tremendous amount of interest before we even publicized the ranch,” listing broker Chad Duggar of Hall and Hall tells Realtor.com.“We showed it a few times and had a contract within 30 days.”Duggar says the ranch moved fast because it was meticulously maintained over the years.

“Ranches of that quality and size don’t come up very often,” he says.“So long as they are priced reasonably within the market, there’s enough demand in that area.”The ranch, which comes with 29,071 deeded acres in the state’s Big Bend region, not only had a well-oiled calf-and-cow operation and completely updated infrastructure, but a four-bedroom stucco home and a manager’s home, bunkhouse, office, shops, barns, and roping arena, 10 sets of pens and 21 pastures, with a secondary camp for the southern part of the ranch.“Water is abundant,” says the listing, describing “28 wells and an extensive network of water storages, pipelines, and drinking troughs, complemented by springs and seasonal creeks.”There are stunning views, too, with 360-degree views of Elephant Mountain, Cathedral Mountain, Mount Ord, Cienega Mountain, and Santiago Peak.

The land supports a multitude of plant life including native grasses, oak, cottonwoods, juniper, mesquite, yucca, and other forbs and grasses, perfect for grazing.“This is a long-term family property that had a reputation for quality,” says Duggar.“It has a diverse topography, excellent water features, and lots of diverse wildlife.”Wildlife making the ranch their home include elk, mule dee...