Within the United States alone, there are several amazing horse ranches. Some are well known and others are tucked away in places you would of never thought of. Regardless, some of these ranches have been named the top 7 largest in the U.S. They are not only beautiful, but run giant operations with horses, cattle, and sometimes farming. Let's take a look at those top 7. I know I would love to visit any of them!
1. Waggoner Ranch:
The Waggoner Ranch is located in North Texas and is on 535,000 acres. It was built in 1849 and originally was owned by Dan Waggoner. His family eventually got involved and his son helped make it a ranching empire. They ended up selling the massive ranch to Kroenke Ranch in 2016. It is still operating today with close to 100 employees. They run cattle, horses, and even have a farming business.
2. Vermejo Park Ranch
The Vermejo Park Ranch is located in Norther New Mexico and Southern Colorado. It sits on 560,000 acres and is owned by media specialist, Ted Turner. The property is home to over 1,200 bison and also includes fishing ponds! It operates as a guest ranch with lodges and houses throughout the ranch. Guests can hunt during the summer or partake in ice fishing during the winter.
3. Briscoe Ranches
This property is located in South/West Texas and is a massive 660,000 acres. It is one of the largest ranches in Texas! It was originally owned and built by former Texas Governor, Dolph Briscoe. He developed a ranching empire and was known as the largest landowner in Texas at the time. He passed away in 2010, but his children still keep the ranch going today.
4. Babbitt Ranches
Babbitt Ranches includes 750,000 acres and is located in Flagstaff, Arizona. They are primarily a cattle operation, raising 8,000 head dating back to 1886. It is a family business that still follows cowboy rules and culture. They ride, rope, brand, and even have annual ranch sales for colts and cattle. In addition, they are also partnered with Arizona Game and Fish Department to help protect golden eagles, their nest sites, and help boost population.
5. The Diamond A Ranch
Located in Seligman, Arizona, this gorgeous ranch sits on 770,000 acres. It is known as the largest cattle ranch in Arizona. The Navajo Nation purchased the land back in 1987. They do still own the land, but Cholla Livestock LLC maintains the cattle operation while respecting property traditions. They also raise horses and they sell them, along with the cattle annually.
6. King Ranch
In Southeast Texas, you will find the famous, King Ranch. It sits on 825,000 acres! It was first purchased back in 1853 by Captain Richard King. They were known for producing some of the first cattle drives in the state. Some consider it to be the largest ranch in the country between its four sections of land. The main operation is revolved around raising cattle and horse. They also do some farming. In 1934, they expanded their operations into oil, gas, and agribusiness. King's family still run the ranch with the help of shareholders. It has been a historic family business, dating back just a few years after Texas become a state.
7. Singleton Ranches
Our last featured ranch is the Singleton Ranch, located in California and New Mexico. This property sits on a whopping 1,000,000 acres! It was purchased and started in 1986 by Dr. Henry Singleton. Before purchasing it, this property was known as the historical San Cristobal Ranch. He wanted a cattle and horse operation, but also wanted to preserve the ranching lifestyle. The ranch is still operational today and is ran by his family. It is known as one of the top five ranching operations in the country.
FAQs
King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States. At some 825,000 acres (3,340 km2; 1,289 sq mi) it is larger than both the land area of Rhode Island and the area of the European country Luxembourg. It is mainly a cattle ranch, but also produced the racehorse Assault, who won the Triple Crown in 1946.
Who owns 6666 ranch? ›
Taylor Sheridan Now Owns the Legendary Texas Ranch That Inspired 'Yellowstone' Spin-Off, '6666'
What is the largest horse ranch in the United States? ›
Today, King Ranch sprawls across 825,000 acres of South Texas land, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. As the home of 35,000 cattle and over 200 Quarter Horses, King Ranch is one of the largest ranches in the world today.
How many acres is 6666 Ranch? ›
Being one of the largest ranches in Texas, the 6666's Ranch comprises 142,372 acres, more or less. To put this massive ranch in perspective, the ranch encompasses almost 225 square miles of land. The ranch generally measures approximately 20 miles long from north to south and around 12 miles wide from east to west.
Who owns the King Ranch now? ›
Jay Kleberg, an Austin-based conservationist whose family owns the sprawling King Ranch in Kingsville, said in an interview with The Texas Tribune on Wednesday that his campaign will focus on fighting climate change, managing the state's disaster recovery and improving benefits for veterans.
Who is the biggest farm owner in the US? ›
Bill and Melinda Gates
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, and his former wife Melinda Gates are not only renowned philanthropists but also owners of significant farmland. Their investments in farmland are managed through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust.
What ranch has the most cattle in the US? ›
The King Ranch
The historic 825,000-acre King Ranch in South Texas is the largest cattle ranch in the US. In Kenedy County, Texas, it raises cattle and grows cotton, grain, and other commodities. Captain Richard King, a steamboat captain, created the ranch in 1853.
Who bought the biggest ranch in Texas? ›
It was acquired by Stan Kroenke, who is married to Ann Walton (niece of Sam Walton), in February 2016. At the time of acquisition, the ranch comprised 520,527 acres (210,650 ha), or 800 sq mi (2,100 km2) but additional acreage was included in the sale making the total closer to 535,000 acres (217,000 ha).
Who owns Yellowstone Ranch? ›
The ranch is owned by John Dutton. His family has owned the land for seven generations and has been under constant threat by land developers, casino moguls, and the Broken Rock Reservation. The Duttons are the sole residents of the ranch along with the workers and hired hands who protect and improve the ranch.
How much did Taylor Sheridan pay for the 6666 Ranch? ›
6666 Ranch, the historic Four Sixes Ranch, is the ranch for a few scenes from Yellowstone and likely the setting for the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff, 6666. The show's co-creator Taylor Sheridan recently purchased the ranch for $320 million as part of a group. It was originally listed at $341 million.
Left Jaw. Brand here designates old Triangle Ranch lineage or other mare family lineage on Four Sixes Ranch horses.
Where was John Wayne's horse ranch? ›
Rancho Pavoreal, located in the small agricultural town of Sage in Southern California, sits at the foot of Palomar Mountain just twenty minutes outside of Temecula Wine Country.
Does anyone live at King Ranch? ›
The mystique of the Kineños is alive and well, and descendants of the original Cruillas residents still live and work on the Ranch today – providing a vital link with the past and giving the Ranch a key aspect of its unique atmosphere.
What is the most expensive ranch horse ever sold? ›
Selling for a cool $70 million (£53.7 million) to the racehorse breeding powerhouse Coolmore Ireland in 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus currently holds the title of the most expensive horse in history.
How much is the 6666 Ranch worth? ›
Known as the 6666 Ranch, or Four Sixes Ranch, it first hit the market in December 2021, and was later purchased by Sheridan's investment group for over $320 million. Up until Sheridan owned it, the ranch, which encompasses three separate properties, had stayed in the same family for over 150 years, since 1870.
Is 10 acres considered a ranch? ›
How Many Acres Is A Ranch? In the United States, a ranch is generally considered to be at least 1,000 acres. However, smaller ranches can range from several hundred acres to around 440 acres, while larger family farms can be classified as ranches starting from approximately 1,400 acres.
What does 50,000 acres look like? ›
Ten thousand acres is about 15.6 square miles, or a square about 3.95 miles on each side. This should show how rapidly the square acres number increases with a small increase in the square miles number. It then follows that 50,000 acres is about 78 square miles, or 8.8 miles on the side of a square.
What are the largest continuous ranches? ›
The W.T. Waggoner Ranch is over 510,000 acres of contiguous land behind a single fence. While it isn't the largest ranch in the United States (Vermejo Park Ranch is also larger in terms of acreage), it holds the record for the largest contiguous ranch.
