So many in the farm and ranch world of real estate said this would never happen: T. Boone Pickens’ estate was asking a whopping $250 million for his sprawling, 64,672-acre Mesa Vista Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. The ranch had been on the market since 2017.
Mesa Vista Ranch: A Rare Buy
They were right about the price: No buyer wanted to pay $250 million for a 101-square-mile Panhandle ranch despite the 25,000-square-foot lodge, the lighted airstrip fully equipped for jet service, the broad mesas, lakes, and rivers, the ranch lodge with dining room, massive fireplace, library with spiral staircase, conference room, 30-seat theater, wine cellar, office, and commercial kitchen. Outside there’s a tennis court, a shooting range, a small golf course even a two-story pub. There is also a lakeside chapel and an 11,500 private “lake house” with 11,500 square feet of living area and stretches of porches and patios.
But oh there are very, very few ranches like Mesa Vista Ranch in the world:
The Canadian River itself generally forms the north boundary of the ranch for approximately 25 miles. Knowing the Mesa Vista Ranch had a valuable water resource, Boone made the decision to enhance surface water on the property by constructing a series of man-made streams and lakes that create an unmatched oasis in the Texas Panhandle. In an effort to enhance wildlife on the property, Boone was a leader in cutting-edge conservation practices that are now followed by many other sportsmen in the country. Boone often stated that the Mesa Vista Ranch offers the “world’s best quail hunting.” As his love for the ranch grew, so did its many amenities. The Lodge Compound is a multi-structure improvement site that is set in a manicured, tree covered park-like setting and designed to house large groups for entertaining or business functions. Approximately six miles to the southwest, Boone’s Lake House contains over 11,500 square feet of living space with balconies and porch areas overlooking astonishing water features and manicured landscaping.
Dividing And Conquering Mesa Vista Ranch
But buyers did come along, even if to divide and conquer. West Texas oil-and-gas investor Bill Kent snagged the 36,000-plus-acre western side of the ranch this week, including the 25,000-square-foot entertainment lodge.
In September, Cattle rancher Travis Chester bought the 27,700-acre eastern section of the gigantic ranch.
According to long-time Pickens associate and spokesperson Jay Rosser, vice president of public affairs at BP Capital, the ranch sold for within 10 percent of the last asking price of $170 million.
Mesa Vista Ranch: Home to a Legend
Pickens passed in 2019 at the age of 91. Mesa Vista Ranch was his pride and joy, having assembled the landing and building the home over decades. He first acquired the property northeast of Amarillo along the Canadian River in 1971.
Two veteran ranch brokers handled the sale: Sam Middleton of Chas. S. Middleton and Son and Monte Lyons of Hall and Hall.
Though Pickens was in natural gas, part of his ranch is passed onto one buyer who has made his fortune in petroleum: Bill Kent is CEO of Midland-based Kent Cos., a growing chain of service stations and convenience stores in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina and a wholesale fuel supplier diversifying into signage, check cashing outlets, tire stores, car washes, and urgent medical care facilities.
