Broadcasting pioneer Ted Turner – the billionaire founder of CNN and the force behind the rise of 24-hour cable news – has died at 87, leaving questions about the future of nearly 1.9 million acres of ranchland tied to his operations across the western United States.
That includes more than 446,000 acres in Nebraska alone, where Turner became one of the state’s largest private landowners through a series of high-profile ranch purchases in the late 1990s. Read that full story here.
A 2023 investigation by Flatwater Free Press found Turner’s Nebraska holdings span five ranches totaling roughly 446,755 acres. Investigative reporter Destiny Herbers told the Rural Radio Network that Turner had publicly indicated much of the land could eventually be tied to conservation and research efforts.
Turner’s Nebraska holdings include:
- Spikebox Ranch — 142,000 acres
- Blue Creek Ranch — 85,635 acres
- McGinley Ranch — 79,145 acres
- Deer Creek Ranch — 76,183 acres
- Fawn Lake Ranch — 63,792 acres
Across all states, publicly listed Turner ranch holdings total approximately 1,889,422 acres spanning Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Montana and Kansas.
The three largest properties are in New Mexico: Vermejo Park Ranch at roughly 560,000 acres; Armendaris Ranch at over 362,000 acres; and Ladder Ranch at over 156,000 acres. Other major holdings include Bad River Ranch in South Dakota and Spikebox Ranch in Nebraska.
Turner’s ranch operations became known not only for their scale, but also for conservation and bison restoration efforts. His ranch websites highlight grazing bison herds and habitat work aimed at supporting wildlife including pronghorn, pheasants, prairie chickens, turtles and waterfowl.
Turner Ranch Acreage by State
- New Mexico — 1,079,324 acres
- Nebraska — 446,755 acres
- South Dakota — 193,921 acres
- Montana — 126,943 acres
- Kansas — 42,479 acres
Total Publicly Listed Acreage
- 1,889,422 acres across 13 ranch properties in five states