PROPERTY DESCRIPTION

Discover El Sueno, a remarkable ~10,000-acre working cattle ranch just 35 minutes from downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. Situated in the coveted Unit 43, this extraordinary property seamlessly blends productive ranch operations with stunning high-desert beauty and the convenience of nearby Santa Fe amenities. The ranch is currently fenced and thoughtfully divided into 16 pastures, El Sueno supports conservative grazing operations for approximately 350 head of yearling cattle from May through October. Five dependable wells ensure reliable water across the property, while sweeping mountain views provide a breathtaking backdrop to daily ranch life. Wildlife enthusiasts will appreciate frequent visits from antelope, elk, and deer that share these pristine grasslands. The property includes a main residence with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, along with a functional barn to support ranch operations. An approved 8,000-square-foot building pad offers the opportunity to construct a new ranch headquarters, allowing buyers to design their ideal operational center or dream home while maintaining the existing structures. Protected by a conservation easement, El Sueno will remain undivided and preserved for agricultural use in perpetuity—ensuring the ranch's natural beauty and productive capacity for generations to come. While currently operating as a cattle ranch, the property's infrastructure and scale make it equally suited for equestrian operations, diversified livestock enterprises, or other agricultural pursuits. This is a rare opportunity to own a significant working ranch that offers both solitude and accessibility. Whether you're seeking to continue the cattle tradition, establish an equestrian estate, or create your own agricultural vision, El Sueno provides the land, infrastructure, and proximity to Santa Fe that serious ranchers and land stewards dream about.

DETAILS

Home Features

• RESIDENCE
• 2,100-square-foot main residence
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 full bathrooms
• Existing home serves as a functional ranch headquarters
• FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
• Approved 8,000-square-foot building pad
• Existing ranch infrastructure can continue supporting operations while a future residence is developed

Lot Features

• THE LAND
• Approximately 9,690 acres listed / nearly 10,000 acres overall
• Approximately 5,000 deeded acres
• Approximately 5,000 acres of State-leased land
• Located in coveted Unit 43
• Expansive high-desert grasslands
• Sweeping mountain views
• Approximately 35 minutes from downtown Santa Fe
• Protected by a conservation easement
• Land preserved for agricultural use in perpetuity
• RANCH OPERATIONS
• Established working cattle ranch
• Supports approximately 150–350 head depending on available forage
• Seasonal grazing operation
• 16 managed grazing pastures, expanded from just 3
• Rotational grazing practices designed to protect forage and allow adequate recovery
• Pastures range from approximately 320 to 1,800 acres
• Cattle typically remain in a paddock for 2–3 days, with longer stays of up to 10 days
• Infrastructure designed for efficient, low-labor ranch management
• Existing barn for ranch operations
• WATER INFRASTRUCTURE
• Four wells serving the property
• Extensive buried water lines
• Solar-powered water pumps
• Multiple water lots and livestock troughs
• Water distribution extending miles across the ranch
• Storage capacity incorporated into the water system
• Windmill water system
• Solar pump to extend water distribution
• Wildlife-friendly water infrastructure
• Ramps installed in water tanks to allow animals to safely escape
• Solar bubblers help keep water available during freezing conditions
• The property's water distribution system was specifically developed to move water farther across the landscape, allowing cattle to graze more evenly and reducing pressure around traditional water points.
• WILDLIFE & HABITAT
• Pronghorn antelope
• Elk
• Mule deer
• Diverse bird populations
• Native grassland habitat
• Wildlife-friendly fencing
• Fencing designed to allow pronghorn to pass underneath and elk to cross above
• Wildlife watering accommodations
• Improved plant diversity and ground cover resulting from grazing management
• The ranch's documented management practices have contributed to increased grass, plant diversity, wildlife, and bird populations.
• STEWARDSHIP
• Regenerative grazing practices
• Conservative stocking philosophy
• "Take half" forage management approach
• Emphasis on recovery rather than complete forage utilization
• Ongoing ecological monitoring
• Eight monitoring points across the ranch
• Grazing planning informed by changing weather and forage conditions
• Focus on soil cover, root mass, drought resilience, and biodiversity
• Native grasses and plants including galleta, sideoats grama, ring muhly, squirreltail, sand dropseed, New Mexico feathergrass, winterfat, and needle-and-thread grass
• ENERGY & CONNECTIVITY
• Privately owned solar power system
• Five large lithium batteries
• Solar supports the residence, barn, and wells
• Backup generator
• Starlink internet
• LOCATION
• 26262 US Highway 285
• Stanley, New Mexico 87056
• Approximately 35 minutes from downtown Santa Fe
• Easy access while maintaining a remarkably private, expansive ranch setting