The State of Texas Just Bought Two Ranches Including a Massive Ranch Near Big Bend

The State of Texas just purchased two ranches, including a massive purchase of land near Big Bend and the southern border. At least one of the purchases seems to have been made in order to secure the southern border with Mexico.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Texas General Land Office announced last week the purchase of the two ranches. The smaller of the two land purchases is a 1,402-acre property in Starr County. The Dallas Morning News reported that Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said that the Starr County's frontage on the river made it an ideal location for enhancing border security. State leaders plan on building a mile and a half of border wall at that location.

Texas also purchased a huge piece of land near Big Bend National Park. The 353,785 acre Brewster Ranch was purchased by Texas in order to prevent "foreign adversaries from purchasing this land", according to the Dallas Morning News. That was the reason for the purchase according to Commissioner Buckingham. The report stated that the asking price for the Brewster Ranch was more than $245 million dollars.

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What will become of the Brewster Ranch? As of right now, that is unknown. The Dallas Morning News reported that Buckingham said there are a "variety of leasing options for the larger Brewster Ranch". That could include hunting, mineral, and the storing of "atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil".

It may also surprise a few Texans to learn that the Texas General Land Office has enough money sitting there to go out and make such a large purchase.