Our Story
Ranchlands is more than a collection of ranches. It is a way of life rooted in ranching traditions and the landscapes of the American West.
OUR ROOTS
Ranching with Nature
Ranchlands' founder Duke Phillips III is a third-generation rancher. He grew up on a large, remote ranch in northern Mexico that was a five-hour drive from the nearest town. His parents raised commercial cattle bred with Beefmaster bulls according to the Lasater philosophy of cattle-raising, which prioritizes practical traits like fertility, hardiness, and disposition and working in harmony with Mother Nature.
FOUNDING RANCHLANDS
Our First Lease
After a decade of working for renowned cattleman Dale Lasater in Colorado, Duke won his first lease in 1999. With just 35 cows to his name, Duke moved his young family to the 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch. There, he gradually built the operation into a template for what Ranchlands is today: growing the cattle and horse herd, launching a guest program, concerts, art shows, and field trips, and managing the land for conservation outcomes.
Explore our Legacy on the Chico Basin Ranch
EXPANSION TO ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES
Management of the Zapata Ranch
In 2005 (?), Ranchlands entered into a partnership with The Nature Conservancy to manage their Zapata Ranch in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, adjacent to the spectacular Great Sand Dunes National Park. The ranch was home to a herd of 2000 bison, which we managed for TNC as a conservation herd. The ranch was also home to a historic 15-bedroom lodge, which became the flagship for Ranchlands' hospitality program and welcomed thousands of guests from around the world.
Explore our Legacy on the Zapata Ranch
A PERMANENT BASE
Acquiring the Paintrock Canyon Ranch
In 2021, we had the unexpected opportunity to purchase a ranch, thanks to a generous seller who financed the down payment for us. The Paintrock Canyon Ranch, located at the base of the Bighorn Mountains in Wyoming, has become Ranchlands' new headquarters property after the conclusion of the Chico and Zapata leases.
The Next Chapter
Join us in shaping the next chapter of Ranchlands. Visit one of our ranches, support our nonprofit programs, or shop the mercantile. Together, we can ensure that the story of ranching continues to inspire, connect, and endure.
