"THE RANCH"
Located in Southwestern New Mexico, 82 miles from the
Mexican Border, 3 hours from Tucson Az., 3 hours from El Paso Tx., and 4 hours from
Albuquerque. The location sits in the Toe of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of
some 6,200 foot. The Ranch-House is located in the "Saddle" of a Mountain
Ridge, and is often visited by the dry-hot-high velocity winds common to the Southwest,
called "Sirocco" Winds. Thus the Ranch name is explained, and following
Anglo tradition in this part of the States, any decent Ranch deserves a decent name?
On the other hand, Hispanics from the colonizing Spaniards on, named their
Homes....therefore we have the "Hacienda Buena Vista" of the "Sirocco
Saddle Ranch"....make sense?
The Ranch House is built in Adobe Southwest Style, and while mimicking the Spanish
Colonization Period, is up-graded for modern convinces. Up here in the Black Range
of the Gila National Forest, we have no grid-power, nor gas lines.......our power is
generated by Solar Systems exclusively, and our Gas delivered is propane. Since New
Mexico averages about 300 clear days of sunshine a year, the odds of a power failure are
diminished. A bit of battery checking, a bit of careful use of power,
and the good old generator back-up, will see us through.
Prior to being Our Home, the Ranch was a part of a huge Cattle Spread, which eventually
was split up into smaller Ranches. Sharing our Ranch are those things here long
before us, and will be here long after we are gone. Such as our resident Mule Deer
herds-Elk-Lion-Turkey-Javelina-Bear-Coyote-Wolf, and numerous smaller species of Mammals.
About an hours ride to the low-lands puts you in Antelope Country, and a similar
ride into the Black Range puts one into Bighorn Sheep Country.
The Bird species available on the Ranch go beyond counting or worth mentioning due to
their abundance, however on another note, we host four-five species of Hummingbirds at the
Ranch House every year from April-October. Fearless, in their frenzied flights they
can and will collide not only with each other, but sometimes us as well. Our highest
count so far has been approximately 75 birds at one feeding time.
The area is exclusive to both Prehistoric and late 1800 Indian sites, it is dotted with
Mountain Natural Hot Springs, and both Farming and Ranching are the dominant trends of
family occupations. There was a period of time when Logging and Mining were tops on
the list, but some declared the Owl more important, so the logging stopped. Most of
the major mines in the area have slowed up their copper mining, and since,........ Miners
are now on the welfare rolls as well. In the vicinity of the Ranch are such sites
of natural beauty or undeniable mystery, they draw tourist all summer long. Nearby
is the Gila National Forest-City of Rocks State Park-Black Range-Mimbres Valley-Catwalk
State Park-Gila Cliff Dwellings, to name a few.
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