How Our Ranch Began
In 2000 my wife and I decided it was time to set our future up on a place that was quiet and peaceful. We had been to Africa and seen places and sights that were so impressive in splendor they remained vivid in memories for years. The actor William Holden had a place in Kenya we visited that I wanted to own however how out of the question was that!
So destined to live within our means I pasted a map of the United States on a hall wall mainly to let my wife Sharon know I was not procrastinating on our dream. World class views was a priority. I did not want to live above the 34Th parallel where I had lived all my live. I hate short days. To the west was ocean so that left moving my eye toward the east.
There was desert, then the Colorado River and on past Phoenix; further to the east and then I saw a large body of water called Elephant Butte Lake fed by the Rio Grand River. Hey I could live near there I thought.
The nearest town of significance was Socorro to the north. A friend of mine, Margy Williams, once said pick a "place near good hospitals" and Albuquerque was not that much farther to the north of Socorro.
Since I had an airplane an airport was a priority and Socorro had one. A call to several local businesses and a few friendly conversations latter produced the town name of Magdalena which was in the mountains to the west. People told me that if they could, that is where they would live. Cooler in the summer and great views.
Oshkosh 2001 was on the horizon so I decided to fly to Socorro and look ... it was on the way to that year's EAA fly in at Oshkosh Wisconsin. My friend Johnny Flores and I were picked up at the local Socorro airfield by a Realtor and the adventure never ended from that point on. He took us the to the beautiful property we now own and OMG did it ever have world class views!. More to follow!
