History
Vermejo Park is the heart of the famous 2 million acre Maxwell Land Grant created in 1841. Lucien Maxwell, a fur trader colleague of Kit Carson, acquired the land grant through marriage, established its headquarters in Cimarron, and allowed settlers on the land.
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.
| Welcome | Fishing | Elk Hunts | Turkey - Mule Deer Hunts | Pronghorn - Bison Hunts |
| Corporate Retreats | Wildlife Observation | Ecological Projects | Employment | Contact VPR |
©2004 Vermejo Park Ranch Website