CR 247 , Margaret, TX 79227(Foard County)

The ranch has a total of 45 ft. of elevation change across it. The front part near the road is an old CRP pasture, with tall range grasses, plum thickets and a few trees. You enter the property at the center of the south line through a metal gate, where the county road makes an L turn. The entrance road is lined with hardwood trees and takes you about 700 ft. into the property to the Ross Ranch's original homestead and headquarters. The old house is gone now, but the electricity, water well and a cellar are all still here. Enormous elm trees frame this area. It has been used to house a deer camp in the past and would make a great place to build a home or cabin, as it is very private and can't be seen from the road. A 20 acre wheat field is next to this homesite, which draws out lots of deer to graze during the fall and winter months. You would have great views across this field to the east, while taking in the sunset in the west across the CRP pasture, if you chose to build here. A large metal carport is here too, which can hold two camping trailers. An older wood frame quonset barn and additional smaller barn are also on site and are good for storing feed and/or equipment.

Going north, the land drops off a bluff line that was once the path of the Pease River. Now, the Pease River is north of the deeded 320 acres, so that it does not join the ranch anymore but is 500 ft. from its NE corner. One 500+ acre property is between the Ross Ranch and the river, joining the property on both its north and east sides. The place to the west is another 320 acre tract, and north of it (adjacent to the NW corner of the Ross Ranch) is a 240 acre tract that also joins the river; this tract is owned by the State of Texas and is open for lease every few years by bid. Along this bluff line, both on its top and bottom, are tall trees including elm, hackberry, locust and cottonwood. These woods provide bowhunting opportunities using tree stands.

Continuing after this area, all the way to the north border, are thick grasses, wild plums, mesquites, salt cedars and more cottonwoods. This bottom land has great cover and bedding areas for wildlife, and with a long line of site, would allow for one tower blind to monitor several feeders. The west half of this part has more woods like is along the bluff line.

In a county and region of Texas that is dominated by mesquite pastures and cedar breaks, the Ross Ranch stands out as a truly unique tract of land with all of its hardwoods and diverse trees.

SURFACE WATER:

One of the crowning features of the ranch are its two large ponds that sit along the bluff line on the far east side. Both of these ponds are fed by NATURAL ARTESIAN SPRINGS that bubble up out of the bluff ridge and flow down to the ponds below (see VIDEO TOUR). Spring water like this is extremely rare and creates immense possibilities for the ranch, like providing the water needed to fill a sizable lake. The Ross family heirs have memories of their father using these springs to water a vegetable garden, which gave him with additional crops to sell in town.

In addition to these two ponds, a third dirt tank is located in the middle of the ranch. It was cleaned out a few years ago and holds water well.

WILDLIFE:

With all of its tall trees, brush cover and year around water from the springs, native wildlife have everything they need here to flourish. The whitetail deer population is very healthy, and the current tenant has harvested several nice bucks over the last five years. In addition to the sizes of the immediate neighbors discussed above, two ranches, each several thousand acres in size, are within 1.5 miles. All of these neighbors use their land for cattle production and manage their wildlife, if they allow hunting at all. Foard County is a five deer, one buck county. The county also has a mule deer season, and while they are thicker to the west up the Pease River valley, they are seen occasionally in this area too.

Rio Grande turkey roost in the bottom tree groves, and lots of wild pig rubs are throughout the property as well. Javelina are in the area, and Foard County has a defined season for them. Bobwhite quail, dove and predators, such as coyote & bobcats, provide other hunting opportunities.

CATTLE GRAZING:

Depending on annual rainfall, the ranch can support 10-15 cow/calf pairs. If you wanted to lease the property for grazing instead of operate it yourself, the broker knows of several good tenants in the area to recommend. The ranch has a good perimeter fence and some cross fencing. It is probably better ran as one large pasture.

MINERAL RIGHTS:

While there is no active oil and gas production on the property, or really in the immediate vicinity, the Ross heirs are offering 1/3 of their owned minerals with the sale. They believe to own 100% of the mineral rights, and any buyer concerned about this percentage will be granted an inspection period to verify the seller's mineral ownership.

PROPERTY TAXES:

The land is under an agricultural exemption; the 2019 tax bill was $694.89.

LIST PRICE:

$1,850/acre, or $592,000 total

BROKER NOTES:

I have sold land in Foard County for 14 years, and this is one of the finest 320 acre properties I've set foot on. The spring water adds tremendous value to an already naturally beautiful ranch. With the potential to lease the State of Texas land next door and expand your holdings for not much more money, the Ross Ranch has lots of room to develop its hunting and recreational uses in the future. This is one place you're sure to enjoy for years to come.

CONTACT:

For more information or to see this ranch in person, contact agent Benjamin Belew at cell phone (940) 357-9940.