Sad Day – Bowen Ranch Calls It Quits

It's the end of an era - An iconic and legendary El Paso ranch is calling it quits after over 7 decades in far northeast El Paso.

72 years is a long time but the ranch has actually been in operation in northeast El Paso, on the Texas/New Mexico state line, since the 1800's. After decades of ranching and generations of ranchers, Bowen Ranch is shutting down.

A chapter has closed and northeast El Paso will never really be the same.

The vast area of desert between the Franklin mountains and Railroad drive going east - west and from the northeast edge of El Paso to the Texas/New Mexico state line pretty much makes up the Bowen Ranch.

That's a rough estimate, it's kinda hard to accurately define almost 90,000 acres. It forms the backdrop of northeast El Paso and over the years, has been enjoyed by hikers, off-roaders, target shooters and more.

READ MORE: When Cattle Escape

Every type of wildlife native to the area thrives on the ranch as well, of course, as cattle. Hereford cattle and Texas Longhorns are the ranches primary residents but

The Bowen Ranch headquarters, at 5101 Stan Roberts, has seen all kinds of animal life ... a veritable menagerie in the desert where young and old alike have interacted with the animals while enjoying fun events and experiencing life on a real, working cattle ranch.

The ranch has hosted motorcycle runs, charity events, parties, offered stable and animal services to victims of the Ruidoso floods and fires and so much more including giving birth to one of the areas finest steakhouses - The Edge Of Texas. Bowen Ranch was the crown jewel of northeast El Paso and it will be sorely missed.

The Bowen Family Farewell

It has weathered droughts and wildfires, hosted celebrations and solemn farewells. Bowen Ranch has stood as a quiet witness to the passage of time, and now, that time is drawing to a close. Facebook Via Doug Hogue

A very touching, true and deep goodbye - be sure you read the whole thing.

What's Next?

The land is being acquired by TXDoT so they can run a new highway through the area. I sincerely hope that is ALL they do. A road through that beautiful, open desert I can (grudgingly) live with.

A zillion more homes, businesses and fast food joints will just be another faceless subdivision, ruining most of the last publicly accessible desert in the area. (Yes, I know, there's a lot of open land out there. However, the military controls most of it.)

Money talks though so, I think, that's really what's coming. The highway project, sadly, will help open that door.