History

Trophy Black Bear

At the turn of this century, a wealthy Chicago grain speculator, William Bartlett, purchased Vermejo Park, a prime portion of the original grant. He built elaborate ranch houses, established trout fishing lakes, started a 6,000 head cattle herd, and reintroduced elk.

In 1926, following the death of Bartlett and his two sons, Vermejo Park was sold to a group of businessmen who organized and sold shares in the Vermejo Club. Members included Hollywood celebrities Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, as well as business and political titans Harvey Firestone and Herbert Hoover. The Vermejo Club disbanded during the Depression.

In 1948 W. J. Gourley, a Ft. Worth businessman, acquired Vermejo Park. This, in addition to other acquisitions, increased the total acreage to 480,000.

Pennzoil Company bought Vermejo Park in 1973 and continued the operation as a guest and cattle ranch. Pennzoil also acquired additional acreage bringing the total to 588,000.

In the fall of 1996 Vermejo Park was acquired by Ted Turner. It is the largest of Turner's extensive land holdings. The guest operation was retained, the cattle were sold, and bison were stocked on their historic range.

c2004 Vermejo Park Ranch Website