America’s biggest ranch The Waggoner on sale for $713m in Texas

Posted on by Listify Me
  • The Waggoner Ranch is the largest contiguous ranch in the United States spanning six counties in Northern Texas
  • Listing marks end of decades-long
    court battle among heirs of cattle baron W.T. Waggoner who founded it in 1923
  • The estate includes the 510,000-acre ranch with two main compounds, hundreds of
    homes and 20 cowboy camps
  • Also included are hundreds of quarter-horses, thousands of cattle, 1,200 oil wells and 30,000 acres of cultivated land
  • It reportedly falls within ‘super asset class’, akin to selling the ‘Statue of Liberty’ of cowboy culture, it has been said

By

James Dunn For Mailonline


Published:
12:16 GMT, 19 May 2015

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Updated:
18:39 GMT, 19 May 2015

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The biggest ranch in America that stretches over 510,000 continuous acres – that’s 796 square miles, making it a plot of land bigger than the island of Oahu – has gone on sale for $725million.

Realtors are hoping the Waggoner ranch in north Texas will become the most expensive estate in the world – after slapping the huge price tag on it in the hopes of attracting a Silicon Valley entrepreneur or oil tycoon.

Cattle baron Dan Waggoner established the estate in 1849 – and it has operated with its backwards ‘D’ logo ever since.  

The estate includes the 510,000-acre ranch spread over six North Texas counties, with two main compounds, hundreds of homes, about 20 cowboy camps, hundreds of quarter-horses, thousands of heads of cattle, and 30,000 acres of cultivated land, according to Dallas-based broker Bernie Uechtritz, who is handling the sale along with broker Sam Middleton of Lubbock.

Oil was discovered on the property in 1902 and there are now more than a thousand wells spread across the property. 

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This historic ranch is set to become the world's most expensive estate after it was put on the market for $714million, or £460 million

This historic ranch is set to become the world’s most expensive estate after it was put on the market for $714million, or £460 million

Vast:The W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranch is the largest single ranch in the USA - with a staggering 510,000 acres of land in north Texas.The central holding of the ranch is pictured, with the rest of the land spread over nine counties

Vast:The W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranch is the largest single ranch in the USA – with a staggering 510,000 acres of land in north Texas.The central holding of the ranch is pictured, with the rest of the land spread over nine counties

More than 750 cowboys work the land, and are accommodated in 20 camps when they are out on the range

More than 750 cowboys work the land, and are accommodated in 20 camps when they are out on the range

The estate includes hundreds of homes, 20 cowboy camps and thousands of cattle. It's been called the 'Statue of Liberty' of cowboy culture

The estate includes hundreds of homes, 20 cowboy camps and thousands of cattle. It’s been called the ‘Statue of Liberty’ of cowboy culture

The ranch, which is spread over more than 800 square miles, has 7,500 cows and 500 quarter horses

The ranch, which is spread over more than 800 square miles, has 7,500 cows and 500 quarter horses

The listing marks the end of a decades-long court battle among heirs of cattle baron W.T. Waggoner who founded it in 1923 Cattle baron Waggoner's name remains at many locations in the ranch

The listing marks end of a decades-long court battle among heirs of cattle baron W.T. Waggoner who established it in 1923

Sprawling: The estate includes the 510,000-acre ranch spread over six North Texas counties, with two main compounds, hundreds of homes, and about 20 cowboy camps

Sprawling: The estate includes the 510,000-acre ranch spread over six North Texas counties, with two main compounds, hundreds of homes, and about 20 cowboy camps

The Waggoner name was prominent in the development of Hereford cattle and pedigree American quarter horses in the 20th century It's been dubbed 'the Statue of Liberty' of cowboy culture because of it's significance to the history of ranching

The Waggoner name was prominent in the development of Hereford cattle and pedigree American quarter horses in the 20th century

HOW THE RANCH MEASURES UP

W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranch – 796 square miles 

Oahu – 597 square miles 

New York City – 305 square miles 

Dallas – 340 square miles 

Heirs and stakeholders currently occupy two of the three principle houses and much of the estate has not yet been explored for oil and other mineral reserves.

Uechtritz says The Waggoner Ranch estate falls within a ‘super asset class,’ akin to selling the ‘Statue of Liberty’ of cowboy culture. 

He added: ‘It is an extremely rare piece of property, not only because of its individual attributes but you likely simply cannot buy this amount of contiguous ranchland under one fence anywhere else in the world.

‘Certainly there are none, however large, that have the exact qualities, history and potential upside of this property .

‘There are 510,000 acres on the estate, making it the largest ranch in the United States under one fence. It’s a record breaking price because it is a completely unique offering.

‘This is a legacy property having never been on the market before and been in the same family for the past 160 years since the 1800s.

‘There are 510,000 acres on the estate, making it the largest ranch in the United States under one fence. It’s a record breaking price because it is a completely unique offering.”

‘What really sets it apart is that all this land has been kept together under one fence by one family for nearly 100 years, and its history in the settling of the West,’ said court-appointed receiver Mike Baskerville. 

W.T. Waggoner built the Arlington Downs racetrack that operated in Arlington during the 1930s. His granddaughter Electra Waggoner Biggs was a noted sculptress after whom Buick named a luxury car and Lockheed named a plane.

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Map: Weldon Hawley, ranch manager for the W.T. Waggoner Estate in Vernon, Texas indicates the area of the ranch where approximately 2,000 acres burned in 2011. Its listing marks the end of a decades-long courtroom battle among the heirs of cattle baron W.T. Waggoner, who established the estate in 1923

Map: Weldon Hawley, ranch manager for the W.T. Waggoner Estate in Vernon, Texas indicates the area of the ranch where approximately 2,000 acres burned in 2011. Its listing marks the end of a decades-long courtroom battle among the heirs of cattle baron W.T. Waggoner, who established the estate in 1923

The sprawling ranch covers vast swathes of landscape in Texas and the buyer will own land that spreads further than the eye can see

The sprawling ranch covers vast swathes of landscape in Texas and the buyer will own land that spreads further than the eye can see

What really sets it apart is that all this land has been kept together under one fence by one family for nearly 100 years, and its history in the settling of the West, says the broker

What really sets it apart is that all this land has been kept together under one fence by one family for nearly 100 years, and its history in the settling of the West, says the broker

Heirs and stakeholders currently occupy two of the three principle houses and much of the estate has not yet been explored for oil and other mineral reserves

Heirs and stakeholders currently occupy two of the three principle houses and much of the estate has not yet been explored for oil and other mineral reserves

As well as a piece of history, the ranch is a thriving business with various premises helping the huge estate turn a profit

As well as a piece of history, the ranch is a thriving business with various premises helping the huge estate turn a profit

In 1991, she filed a lawsuit seeking the liquidation of the family estate, spurring a 12-year family feud. Biggs died in 2001. When a district judge ruled in favor of liquidation in 2003, one of the estate’s primary stakeholders, A.B. ‘Bucky’ Wharton III, appealed.

The family agreed to list the estate after the court said it was considering ordering an auction of the assets, Baskerville said. The listing has already attracted attention from interested buyers, he said.

Local residents have been worried that oil wildcatters or foreign investors will divide up the land and fire ranch employees, more motivated by making a profit than preserving history.

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The family agreed to list the estate after the court said it was considering ordering an auction of the assets

Local residents have been worried that oil wildcatters or foreign investors will divide up the land and fire ranch employees

Local residents have been worried that oil wildcatters or foreign investors will divide up the land and fire ranch employees

There is great concern that oil tycoons would be more motivated by making a profit than preserving history

There is great concern that oil tycoons would be more motivated by making a profit than preserving history

There are reportedly 1,200 oil wells on what has been called the world's most expensive estate

There are reportedly 1,200 oil wells on what has been called the world’s most expensive estate

As well as oil and homes, there is a total of 30,000 acres of cultivated land

As well as oil and homes, there is a total of 30,000 acres of cultivated land


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