The 45,000-acre
Lobo Ranch is located in one of the most culturally and historically
diverse areas of New Mexico. Settled at the southeast corner of
Mount Taylor, Lobo Ranch holds archaeological evidence of volcanic
activity that formed the mountain 2.5 to 3.3 million years ago.
The earliest human habitation occurred during the Paleo-Indian
period; later inhabitants were the Anasazi Indians, forebears of the
later Pueblo Indians.
Lobo Ranch was
originally part of the Cebolleta Land Grant issued by the colonial
Spanish government in 1800 to 30 colonists from the Albuquerque
area. Now spelled Seboyeta, the small community was settled in
1749 after a contingent of Navajos went to Santa Fe and agreed to
the establishment of a mission on their lands; the site chosen was
on the southeast side of Mount Taylor. Following acquisition of the
region by the U.S. in 1848, increasing conflict between Navajos and
settlers prompted the construction of American military posts in the
area to control Navajo raiding. The first post was established
at Cebolleta in 1850 and was abandoned a year later. Several
hundred descendants of the original Land Grantees continue to
inhabit the area.
Present day Lobo
Ranch was deeded to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad (APRR),
probably in the late nineteenth century and was established as a
ranch in the 1930's when the APRR sold the land. The ranch
changed hands several times and today is used for cattle and horses,
and for big-game hunting.
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