Santa Fe County Acquires New Open Space Property

SANTA FE, NM – On October 9, 2025, Santa Fe County acquired 2,650 acres of piñon-juniper woodland, rolling hills and grasslands, south of Santa Fe, NM. The new open space is called “Bobcat Crossing Ranch.” It is bordered to the east by I-25, and to the west by 2 miles of the Southern Santa Fe Railway and multi-use Santa Fe Rail Trail. The acquisition was recommended by the County Open Lands, Trails and Parks Advisory Committee (COLTPAC), and approved by the Board of County Commissioners on April 29, 2025. The property, purchased for $3,700,000, is intended for use as a preserve and public recreational space.

Chris Mann, COLTPAC Chair, expressed enthusiasm about this addition, “This acquisition—one of the largest tracts of undeveloped land between Eldorado and Santa Fe—will protect important cultural and natural resources while providing ample public recreation opportunities. This is a big win for wildlife, water resources, and the people of Santa Fe County.  My thanks to the members of COLTPAC, the Board of County Commissioners, and the staff of the county’s Open Space, Trails and Parks program for making this happen.

This acquisition also garnered broad community support. Dan Potter, COLTPAC member and applicant for the acquisition, expressed his gratitude to community members who supported this acquisition, “Let me thank you all again for speaking out at public meetings, writing support letters, talking to neighbors and friends, and pushing this across the finish line. You should all be proud of your participation in the process.”

Potter added, “Bobcat Crossing Ranch shows great potential for historic preservation, recreation, habitat preservation, and as an important piece of a larger wildlife movement corridor between the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the Galisteo Basin, and beyond. This completes the first step in developing the ranch in a new direction, focused on these values.”

The County will now develop a property management plan and master plan for the development of passive recreation trails.

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