The State Land Board is requesting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the Chancellor Ranch located in Las Animas County starting on April 16, 2025. This RFP solicits competitive proposals for a 10-year agricultural grazing lease and a 10-year recreation lease. The leases can be bid on individually or combined.
The State Land Board will host a mandatory tour of the property. Participation in the ranch tour by the applicant or their representative is required in order to submit a proposal. This ensures that all applicants are familiar with the property, its context and existing improvements, prior to formulating a bid. The tour will be held on May 20, 2025. Please RSVP by May 12. Participants must provide their own transportation for the tour. It is recommended that vehicles be 4-wheel drive or UTV’s, and capable of traveling 20 or more miles on rough two-track and gravel roads. There will be no other opportunity to view the property.
The proposal submission deadline is June 20, 2025 by 5:00 PM MST.
About the Property
The Chancellor Ranch is located in central Las Animas County, approximately 30 miles east of Trinidad and 20 miles north of the New Mexico border. It encompasses a contiguous block of 50,165.65 acres, or approximately 83-square miles. The State Land Board acquired the Chancellor Ranch in late 2004 from James and Loretta Chancellor, who owned it since 1974. At the time of acquisition, the Chancellors’ deeded ownership of 45,751 acres was commingled with just over 7,200 acres of state trust land. The resulting assemblage is characterized as upland mesas, steep-sided canyons, and river bottom parcels on the banks of the Purgatory (aka Purgatoire) River. The ranch is generally surrounded by large working ranches and public lands.
Additional details about the property and instructions to submit a proposal are provided in the RFP documentation below.
Questions?
Please send questions regarding the agriculture lease to Eric Van Dyk, Southeast District Manager (eric.vandyk@state.co.us).
Please send questions regarding the recreation lease to Abraham Medina, Recreation Program Manager (abraham.medina@state.co.us).
(last updated 4/11/2025)