Texas’s ranching legacy is deeply embedded in its culture, economy, and landscape. From oil-rich family legacies to wildlife preserves and luxury lodges, the Lone Star State remains home to some of the largest and most diverse working ranches in the world.
Texas’s largest ranches include the 825,000-acre King Ranch, the 535,000-acre Waggoner Ranch that sold in 2016, and the 640,000-acre Briscoe Ranch, one of the most expansive operations in South Texas.
You’ll find the 260,000-acre Four Sixes Ranch, now owned by entities connected to “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan, and the 354,000-acre Brewster Ranch bordering Big Bend National Park.
Each property tells a unique story of Texas’s ranching heritage and modern evolution.
Top 10 Largest Working Ranches in Texas (by Acreage)
| Rank | Ranch Name | Acreage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | King Ranch | 825,000 acres |
| 2 | Briscoe Ranch | 640,000 acres |
| 3 | W.T. Waggoner Ranch | 535,000 acres |
| 4 | O’Connor Ranch | 500,000 acres |
| 5 | Hughes Ranch | 390,000 acres |
| 6 | Brewster Ranch | 354,000 acres |
| 7 | Longfellow Ranch | 350,000 acres |
| 8 | Nunley Brothers Ranch | 301,500 acres |
| 9 | Kokernot Heirs Ranch | 278,000 acres |
| 10 | Four Sixes Ranch | 260,000 acres |
King Ranch: The South Texas Cattle Empire That Changed Ranching History
- Peak Acreage: 825,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 825,000 acres
- Location: Kingsville, TX (Kleberg, Kenedy, Brooks, and Willacy Counties)
- Owner: Kleberg family descendants
- Land Use: Cattle, Quarter Horses, citrus, farming, oil, hunting
When Richard King purchased 15,500 acres of South Texas land in 1853, he couldn’t have imagined his modest acquisition would evolve into the legendary King Ranch spanning parts of four counties. This cattle ranching empire became a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
They pioneered the Santa Gertrudis and Santa Cruz cattle breeds and maintain a long-standing Quarter Horse breeding operation. The Kleberg family, King’s descendants, have upheld King Ranch’s status as a Texas icon, expanding into agribusiness, citrus, and hunting.
Briscoe Ranch: A South Texas Legacy of Cattle, Oil, and Conservation
- Peak Acreage: 640,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 640,000 acres
- Location: Dimmit, Zavala, Uvalde, and Webb Counties
- Owner: Briscoe family (heirs of Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr.)
- Land Use: Cattle, oil and gas, wildlife management, hunting
The Briscoe Ranch is a cornerstone of South Texas ranching history. Built through generations of land acquisitions by the Briscoe family—one of Texas’s most politically and economically influential dynasties—it remains an active, expansive cattle operation today.
Beyond ranching, the property is known for its oil and gas production, as well as its commitment to wildlife habitat preservation. Parts of the land are leased for white-tailed deer and exotic game hunting, contributing to its reputation as a multi-use Texas stronghold.
W.T. Waggoner Ranch: The Largest Ranch Under One Fence
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- Peak Acreage: 535,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 535,000 acres
- Location: Vernon, TX (Wilbarger, Wichita, and Foard Counties)
- Owner: Stan Kroenke
- Land Use: Cattle, horses, oil, farming
The W.T. Waggoner Ranch, founded in 1849, spans 535,000 contiguous acres in North Texas. It holds the distinction of being the largest ranch in the U.S. under one fence, owned by one family for over 165 years.
The ranch includes oil fields, horse breeding, cattle, and crop production. In 2016, the ranch was sold to Stan Kroenke, a billionaire sports and ranching magnate, for a reported $725 million.
The property remains operational, continuing the Waggoner name’s influence in Texas agriculture and ranching tradition. The ranch’s efficiency owes much to barbed wire fencing, which became widespread in the late 19th century and revolutionized ranch management.
O’Connor Ranch: South Texas Wealth Rooted in Land and Oil
- Peak Acreage: 500,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 500,000 acres
- Location: Victoria County and surrounding areas in South Texas
- Owner: O’Connor family heirs
- Land Use: Cattle, oil, land leasing, royalties
The O’Connor Ranch was built by Irish immigrant Thomas O’Connor in the mid-1800s and grew to become one of the largest privately owned landholdings in the United States. Today, his descendants maintain ownership over an estimated half-million acres, much of it sitting atop oil-rich land.
The ranch is known not only for cattle operations, but also for significant wealth generated through mineral rights, commercial land leasing, and long-term royalty agreements with oil companies. It exemplifies the way Texas ranches evolved into economic empires.
Hughes Ranch: A Quiet Giant of Dimmit and Zavala Counties
- Peak Acreage: 390,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 390,000 acres
- Location: Dimmit and Zavala Counties, South Texas
- Owner: Hughes family
- Land Use: Cattle, oil and gas, wildlife habitat
The Hughes Ranch is among the largest and least-publicized privately held ranches in Texas. Quietly operating in the brush country of Dimmit and Zavala Counties, it supports massive cattle herds and productive oil leases.
The Hughes family has historically kept a low profile, but their landholdings rank among the top tier in Texas by sheer acreage. The ranch also supports extensive native wildlife habitat, and portions are used for managed hunting leases.
Brewster Ranch: Where West Texas Wilderness Meets the Rio Grande
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- Peak Acreage: 424,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 354,000 acres
- Location: Brewster County, TX
- Owner: Acquired by Texas General Land Office (GLO)
- Land Use: Conservation, cattle, hunting, real estate development
Brewster Ranch is a composite of 28 former properties, forming one of the largest ranches in West Texas. In 2024, the Texas General Land Office purchased 353,785 acres from Texas Mountain Holdings, marking one of the largest public land acquisitions in state history.
Though smaller than the legendary million-acre ranches, Brewster stands out for its biodiversity, scenic beauty, and strategic location along the Rio Grande and Big Bend National Park. The state plans to manage it for conservation, leasing, and potential public use.
Longfellow Ranch: Hunting Paradise in the Texas Wilderness
- Peak Acreage: 350,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 350,000 acres
- Location: Pecos County, TX
- Owner: Private family trust
- Land Use: Cattle, guided hunting, gas production, eco-tourism
Located in Pecos County, Longfellow Ranch spans approximately 350,000 acres, making it one of Texas’s premier big-game hunting destinations. It blends hospitality, luxury lodging, and guided hunting with active cattle and gas operations.
Game species include elk, mule deer, whitetail deer, Barbary sheep, and more. The ranch’s working operations and focus on wildlife conservation underscore its place in Texas’s modern ranching landscape.
Nunley Brothers Ranch: A Family Tradition Spanning South Texas
- Peak Acreage: 301,500 acres
- Current Acreage: 301,500 acres
- Location: Uvalde, Zavala, and surrounding counties
- Owner: Nunley family
- Land Use: Angus and Hereford cattle, land leasing, sustainable grazing
The Nunley family has been raising cattle across South Texas for over four generations. Their ranching operations cover more than 300,000 acres and are spread across several counties, with a strong focus on quality breeding and sustainable land use.
Known for their expertise in both Angus and Hereford genetics, the Nunleys supply top-quality beef and partner with lessees and neighbors to manage water, pasture, and wildlife effectively. Their brand is synonymous with South Texas ranching excellence.
Kokernot Heirs Ranch: One of the Oldest Brands in Texas Ranching
- Peak Acreage: 278,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 278,000 acres
- Location: Alpine, TX (Brewster County)
- Owner: Kokernot family heirs (O6 Ranch)
- Land Use: Cattle, land conservation, limited tourism
Founded in 1836, the Kokernot Heirs Ranch—also known as the O6 Ranch—is one of the oldest and most respected operations in the state. Located near Alpine in the rugged Trans-Pecos region, it remains in family hands nearly two centuries later.
The ranch is noted for its deep historic roots, iconic O6 brand, and commitment to preserving traditional ranching techniques. It supports beef cattle, protects high desert ecology, and occasionally partners with educational and tourism programs.
Four Sixes Ranch: From Historic Brand to Hollywood Fame
Image: Billy Hathorn, Red barn at National Ranching Heritage Center, Lubbock, TX IMG 0054, CC BY-SA 2.5
- Peak Acreage: 266,255 acres
- Current Acreage: 260,000 acres
- Location: Guthrie, TX (King County)
- Owner: Bosque Ranch Holdings (Taylor Sheridan and partners)
- Land Use: Quarter Horses, cattle, media production
Founded by Samuel Burk Burnett in 1900, not 1868, the Four Sixes Ranch has long been known for its excellence in horse breeding and cattle operations. The 6666 brand—rumored to have originated from a winning poker hand—actually predated Burnett’s founding of the ranch.
Spanning approximately 260,000 acres, it is now owned by a group connected to Taylor Sheridan through his Bosque Ranch Holdings, following a $192 million sale finalized in 2022. The ranch has gained new fame as a filming location and inspiration for Sheridan’s spinoffs of Yellowstone.
Largest Historic and Working Ranches in Texas (By Peak Acreage)
Texas ranching history isn’t just about acreage—it’s about legacy. These fourteen ranches include not only today’s largest active operations, but also historical giants that once shaped the economic, cultural, and political direction of the state. Whether defunct, downsized, or still thriving, they all tell a piece of Texas’s story.
| Rank | Ranch Name | Peak Acreage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | XIT Ranch | 3,000,000 acres |
| 2 | JA Ranch | 1,300,000 acres |
| 3 | King Ranch | 825,000 acres |
| 4 | Briscoe Ranch | 640,000 acres |
| 5 | W.T. Waggoner Ranch | 535,000 acres |
| 6 | O’Connor Ranch | 500,000 acres |
| 7 | Hughes Ranch | 390,000 acres |
| 8 | Brewster Ranch | 354,000 acres |
| 9 | Longfellow Ranch | 350,000 acres |
| 10 | Nunley Brothers Ranch | 301,500 acres |
| 11 | Kokernot Heirs Ranch | 278,000 acres |
| 12 | Four Sixes Ranch | 260,000 acres |
| 13 | Turkey Track Ranch | 80,000 acres |
| 14 | Mesa Vista Ranch | 64,672 acres |
These four historic ranches didn’t make the top 10 largest working ranches in Texas, but their peak sizes, cultural legacy, and economic influence still make them cornerstones of Texas ranching history:
XIT Ranch: The 3-Million-Acre Deal That Built the Texas Capitol
- Peak Acreage: 3,000,000 acres
- Current Acreage: Dissolved by early 1900s
- Location: Texas Panhandle (multiple counties)
- Owner: Formerly owned by Capitol Freehold Land & Investment Company (UK)
- Land Use: Historic ranching; no longer a single entity
The XIT Ranch was once the largest fenced ranch in the world. Created in the 1880s as part of a land-for-capitol deal, Texas traded 3 million acres of Panhandle land to British investors in exchange for the construction of the Texas State Capitol in Austin.
The ranch was divided into ten sections (“XIT” for ten in Roman numerals) and operated under the Capitol Syndicate. Although it was dissolved and sold off by 1912, its legacy remains unmatched in scale, ambition, and the role it played in settling the West.
JA Ranch: Charles Goodnight’s Prairie Empire
- Peak Acreage: 1,300,000 acres
- Current Acreage: Approx. 300,000 acres
- Location: Palo Duro Canyon, Armstrong and surrounding counties
- Owner: Adair family descendants
- Land Use: Cattle, land preservation, ranching heritage
Founded in 1876 by legendary cattleman Charles Goodnight and English investor John George Adair, the JA Ranch was the first ranch established in the Texas Panhandle. Its early operations covered over 1.3 million acres, much of it through rugged canyon country.
After Adair’s death, his widow Cornelia continued operations. The ranch is still privately held by their descendants and remains a working cattle operation. The JA brand represents not only an enduring ranch but also the beginnings of the trail-driving era that defined post-Civil War Texas.
Turkey Track Ranch: Panhandle History on the Canadian River
- Peak Acreage: 80,000 acres
- Current Acreage: 80,000 acres
- Location: Near Borger, Hutchinson County
- Owner: Sold in 2022 (private)
- Land Use: Cattle, wildlife, conservation
Bordering the site of the 1874 Battle of Adobe Walls, the Turkey Track Ranch is steeped in Texas frontier lore. The land includes 26 miles of Canadian River frontage and offers rich native habitat and panoramic views of the High Plains.
In 2022, it was listed for over $200 million and attracted national attention as one of the largest Texas ranch sales that year. Its land supports sustainable cattle operations and wildlife programs, blending commercial use with historic stewardship.
Mesa Vista Ranch: T. Boone Pickens’ Conservation Masterpiece
- Peak Acreage: 64,672 acres
- Current Acreage: 64,672 acres
- Location: Roberts County, northeast of Amarillo
- Owner: Estate of T. Boone Pickens (listed for sale in 2022)
- Land Use: Wildlife habitat, quail restoration, luxury lodging
The Mesa Vista Ranch was painstakingly developed over nearly five decades by oil magnate T. Boone Pickens. Designed to be a model for wildlife preservation—especially for wild quail—it includes miles of restored prairie, man-made lakes, a private airstrip, and a 25,000-square-foot lodge.
Though far smaller than other ranches on this list, its luxury, ecological innovation, and market valuation (previously listed at $170 million) place it among the most distinctive private properties in Texas.
