The Riverview Ranch is 433 acres of rolling hills, river frontage and grassy prairie offering magnificent views of the red bluffs just east of the ranch and the Capitan and Sacramento mountain ranges in the west. The Ranch features four pastures, four permanent ponds, a domestic well and is well-known for its abundance of deer, pheasant and other fowl, especially in the wetland area. The ranch also has three homes, two of which are recently constructed custom homes, as well as a 40 x 80 barn.
The Pecos River originates high up in the Pecos Wilderness Area of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains just north of Santa Fe, and flows for 926miles through the eastern portion of New Mexico and neighboring Texas before it empties into the Rio Grande near Del Rio. The river flows through the Riverview Ranch with approximately a mile of river frontage on the ranch property.
The Riverview Ranch has seen many chapters of New Mexico history being made across its own pastures over the last century. From cowboys and Indians to homesteaders, the land of the Riverview Ranch has a unique story to tell of its own part in how the west was won.
The ranch was part of the original ranch owned by John Chisum, one of western history’s legends. John Chisum came from Texas in the year 1867 when he embarked on one of the greatest cattle drives in history. Making their way to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, with approximately 900 head of cattle, Chisum and his cowboys defeated all odds when they succeeded. The campground and cattle rest area established near the Rio Hondo and the Rio Pecos, now Roswell, New Mexico, provided much needed water. Shortly after the cattle drive, Chisum moved permanently to New Mexico. The Riverview Ranch was part of his original ranch, located South of Roswell. He grazed 80,000 head of cattle on his land and that of public domain.
As homesteaders began to arrive in Roswell, cattle were often mixed in the herds. This conflict was one of the elements contributing to the Lincoln County Wars. John Chisum preferred to make his contacts directly for the pur- chase of beef for Fort Stanton rather than go through Lawrence G. Murphy, beef subcontractor for a Santa Fe gov- ernment contractor. Murphy had virtually held a monopoly until 1877 when Chisum backed new residents Alexander A. McSween and John Tunstall. The three of them opened the county’s first official bank.
Not only was this land home to cattle grazing the open range and John Chisum, it had also served as a meeting area for various Indian tribes. On the northern end of the ranch, there are ancient Indian ruins that consist of holes dug into the side of rock by Native American women over 150 years ago. This shelter is believed to have been a permanent camp for the Apache tribe.
The Sierra Blanca Range, pictured here, has the highest point, not only in the Sacramentos, but in the entire state except for the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the north. The huge extrusive volcanic mountain of Sierra Blanca Peak towers 12,003 feet above sea level. The peak and sur- rounding ridges and summits are the only area in southern New Mexico to rise above timberline into alpine tundra vegetation. This peak is home to Ski Apache, New Mexico's premier ski and snowboard resort. Fifty-five trails, beginning at 11,400 feet, fan out for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Ski Apache is located less than 90 miles from the Riverview Ranch.
The first of two custom homes on the ranch offers 2,286 square feet and was constructed in 2003. Amodern kitchen, spacious living area and three bedrooms and two baths make this a great place to call home. A large covered patio provides a great spot for family get-togethers, as well as a comfortable spot to view some of the most spectacular sunrises in all New Mexico.
The ranch’s second custom home, built in 2004, offers 2,685 square feet. It is a modern, comfortable home with many amenities, including a very modern kitchen and a rock fireplace in the main living area.