The Wylie Mountains Ranch encompasses nearly the entirety of a West Texas mountain range. The range, named after the pioneer settler Robert K. Wylie (1885), is rich in history and diverse in habitat. The ranch includes desert grasslands/brushlands on its outer portions with foothills, expansive canyons, and mountains with numerous peaks over 5,000’ in the more central portions. The different ecosystems provide a home for a diverse array of wildlife as well as grazing opportunities for livestock.
The ranch encompasses nearly 100% of the Wylie Mountains, with about three-fourths of the ranch being mountainous and some foothills and the remaining portions being in the “flats.” “Elevations range from 3900’ to 5310’ above sea level. The ranch has rangeland/habitat areas exhibiting various Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems, including desert scrublands, desert grasslands, and desert mountains. Accenting the mountainous terrain are immense escarpments and spectacular canyons. Another unique feature of the ranch is a large sinkhole or cave that begs further exploration.
Native Wildlife found on the ranch include mule deer, pronghorn antelope, scaled quail, Gambel’s Quail, and the infrequently seen Montezuma Quail. Exotic wildlife found on the ranch include elk and aoudad. The property has been managed predominantly for wildlife with a limited feeding program and water distribution.
Most of the improvements are located in the headquarters area on the northern portion of the ranch, about three miles from the main gate. The owner’s home is a 3/2 metal-sided residence with a wraparound covered porch and carport in good condition. It is located on a hill just a short distance east of the operational headquarters. The manager’s home is an older modular 3/2 at the operational headquarters. The headquarters area also includes several barns/sheds, a shop, an equipment shed with a walk-in cooler, traps and working pens. Another small barn and set of pens lies on the southern portion of the ranch (the Sloan pasture).
Groundwater is available in certain areas of the ranch from the West Texas Bolsons minor aquifer (we believe). There are six operating water wells. Most of the wells are about 700’ deep, and the best ones are capable of producing 15-25 GPM, providing adequate well water for ranching operations. There is an extensive distribution system to troughs and storage across many portions of the ranch. There are also numerous dirt tanks to capture and hold runoff for periods following a rain event.
Approximately 26,734± acres are mineral classified, and the specific rights associated with state-classified minerals will be conveyed to the buyer. The seller will reserve any fee minerals owned by the seller.
Among other interesting things, the Wylie Mountains are home to a distinctive agate, butterscotch agate, which resembles butterscotch taffy and ranges in color from light brown and dark yellowish brown to moderate brown.
In addition to the deeded acreage, the ranch also includes 1,109.5± acres of land leased from the Texas Pacific Land Trust. The white dashed line on our map indicates the general location of 470± acres of multiple smaller inholdings lacking accessibility.
