The Texas General Land Office is making headlines with its recent acquisition of two sizeable ranches near the US-Mexico border, including a massive property adjacent to the Big Bend National Park. In a deal shrouded in financial secrecy, the state has bought the Brewster Ranch, consisting of a vast 353,785 acres in West Texas, and a 1,400-acre ranch located in Starr County. As reported by KSAT, the larger ranch acquisition is intended for multiple uses, such as hunting, agriculture, and carbon sequestration, with the aforementioned aims at benefiting the schoolchildren of Texas. Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham was quoted, "With such a beautiful and expansive property, the GLO has the opportunity to generate many forms of revenue for the schoolchildren of Texas."
This land purchase comes at a time when Texas leaders, including Buckingham, voice concerns over border security. The state Land Commissioner has expressed a staunch position against foreign adversaries owning Texas soil. In details provided to KSAT, Buckingham stated, "It is my position that no foreign adversary should own land in Texas. I will do my part to ensure our national security remains strong and our enemies do not secure a foothold in our state." The state's intention is also to press ahead with the construction of a border wall, having built some 34 miles in recent years, despite the hefty price tag of around $25 million per mile, as per Buckingham's remarks to the Tribune.
The Brewster Ranch sales price was not released publicly, but had last been listed for a staggering $245 million, per information obtained by Chron. The property, which gathered its vast acreage over two decades from 28 historic ranches, is mineral-rich and was marketed by James King of King Land & Water. Back in 2019, the ranch hit the market with a $320 million price tag. King Land & Water, which oversaw the property's listing, is reported to have worn out two trucks showing the monumental land to potential buyers.
Aside from state revenue and border security concerns, the purchase plays into a larger narrative of prominent Texas land transactions. "By securing this large swath of land along our southern border, the GLO is not only blocking foreign adversaries from purchasing this land but also ensuring this mineral-rich property will be generating revenue for the school children of Texas," Buckingham elaborated, according to Chron. Their remarks highlight a dual-purpose strategy of enhancing state education funding while tightening border control—a subject at the forefront of Texas politics.
