thirtymilesout: Bell Ranch, New Mexico, 1974 The Bell Ranch originated with two Spanish land grants
thirtymilesout: Bell Ranch, New Mexico, 1974 The Bell Ranch originated with two Spanish land grants to Don Pablo Montoya in 1824. Lying along La Cinta Creek near the Canadian River, the historic Bell Ranch is bordered by present day Conchas Lake in San Miguel County, New Mexico about 30 miles (97 km) from Tucumcari. The land originally totaled 656,000 acres of rolling grasslands bordered by red rim rocked canyons and flat-topped mountains called mesas. This included the bell-shaped mountain for which the ranch was named that inspired the distinctive bell brand first registered in San Miguel County in 1875 by then-owner Wilson Waddingham. The brand has been in continuous use on the ranch since that time photo Langmore -- source link