Bandera Ranch Marfa, TX 79843

Frontier Ranch Sales proudly presents Bandera Ranch, a generational holding offering premier land stewardship, trophy wildlife, and unmatched private views across the Big Bend country. This 14,502+/- acre ranch sits atop the historic Bandera Mesa - one of the most scenic and biologically diverse landscapes in the Trans-Pecos. The Bennett Family acquired Bandera Ranch in 1916, establishing a legacy that continues today. Pearl Andrew Jackson ran the ranch from 1916 to 1943. From 1948 to 1990, Lee and Murphy Bennett managed the operation until Murphy's passing in 1990. Lee Bennett (the current owners mother) continued to run the ranch independently until 1994, after which the current owners have maintained stewardship. Since then, the ranch has been carefully managed for both livestock and wildlife, maintaining its reputation as a model of stewardship for over a century.

Property Highlights

-14,502+/- deeded acres

-Landmark mesa and canyon landscape

-Elevation ~ 4,000'-5,188'

-Panoramic views - Chisos, Solitario, Nine Point Mesa, Sierra Rica & more

-Decades of land restoration & conservation

-County-maintained access & private road system

-Headquarters lodge, workshop, pens & future build sites with utilities

-Airstrip at HQ capable of reactivation

-1st potential change of ownership in over a century

Agricultural & Range Stewardship

Bandera Ranch stands as one of the most carefully improved and rested ranches in Far West Texas. Decades of thoughtful range management, combined with collaboration on NRCS programs including vegetation enhancement and water development have shaped Bandera Ranch into one of the most remarkable and productive ranches south of Marfa.

-No commercial grazing for 10+ years

-Thousands of acres improved through NRCS spike and reseeding programs

-Strong native grass composition - grama varieties, muhly, bristlegrass, bear grass & more

-Diverse brush & riparian vegetation in canyon bottoms

-Rangeland recovery and grass density rare for the Trans-Pecos

This land offers extraordinary forage recovery and future grazing potential, positioned for long-term sustainability and balance.

Wildlife Management

Bandera Ranch features one of the most diverse and robust wildlife populations in the region, professionally managed for more than a decade under High West Outfitters, operated by partner Jim Breck Bean of Frontier Ranch Sales.

Key Species

-Mule Deer - strong genetics, multiple bucks exceeding 180" B&C

-Aoudad - trophy class, 33"36" rams common

-Elk - expanding presence over the last 5+ years

-Mountain Lion - sustainable predator population, frequent along rims

-Quail - exceptional Blue & Montezuma populations

-Migratory birds and wide non-game diversity

-Mexican Black Bear - 2-3 resident bears annually; sightings increasing

Wildlife Program & Proven Results

Bandera Mesa Ranch boasts a strong diversity of wildlife and top-tier hunting opportunities, with trophy Desert Mule Deer and Aoudad3336 inch animals commonly harvested - along with abundant quail, dove, and a variety of birds thriving among the ranch's brush, grasses, and water sources. Carefully managed for wildlife, this property is a hunter's paradise and a nature lover's dream.

-10+ years of structured management

-Annual aerial surveys with recorded data

-MLDP enrolled (current)

-Exceptional wildlife habitat and browse diversity

Bandera Mesa Ranch boasts a strong diversity of wildlife and top-tier hunting opportunity. Survey data, harvest records, and program details available upon qualified request.

Water System & Infrastructure

Bandera Ranch is among the best-watered properties in West Texas, featuring exceptional water infrastructure with abundant storage and a carefully designed distribution system supplying the entire ranch. A premier West Texas water system engineered and developed beginning in 1998, it combines reliability and reach, supporting both livestock and wildlife year-round across diverse terrain.

-7 wells

-31 miles of buried poly pipeline

-31 troughs

-200,000+ gallons of storage

-Pump & gravity-fed redundancy

Rain-fed dirt tanks for seasonal water

Headquarters

The headquarters lodge features three bedrooms with 13 beds, three bathrooms, spacious living and kitchen area with vaulted ceilings, and wraparound porch. The 25x50-foot metal workshop with attached shipping pens complements the lodge.

-3-bed / 3-bath lodge with extensive guest capacity to sleep up to 15

-Wrap-around porch overlooking mesa rim sunsets

-25x50 metal workshop with pipe shipping pens

-Dirt airstrip at HQ (reactivation capable)

-Maintained access - Casa Piedra Road dead-ends past ranch, ensuring privacy

Recreation

Bandera Ranch delivers the full West Texas wilderness experience:

-Trophy Mule Deer & Aoudad hunting

-Elk & expanding large-game opportunities

-Blue & Montezuma Quail hunting comparable to the best in the Trans-Pecos

-Rugged UTV, horseback & hiking country

-Dramatic canyon rims & natural overlooks

-Historic smuggler routes tied to sotol & tequila trade during Prohibition

-Dark skies & silence in every direction

-Direct proximity to Big Bend Ranch State Park - nearly 300,000 acres of adjoining public backcountry - expands recreation into one of Texas largest wild landscapes.

Location

-50 miles south of Marfa

-North of Big Bend Ranch State Park

-East fork of Casa Piedra Road

-Heritage ranch corridor with long-term private neighbors


Detailed management records, survey data, wildlife documentation, and further information available upon qualified request. Contact Frontier Ranch Sales.