New Conservation Deal Secures 6,000 Acres Around Georgia O'Keeffe's Ghost Ranch

In a joint effort announced in 2025, the National Ghost Ranch Foundation and the Presbyterian Foundation teamed with the State of New Mexico and the New Mexico Land Conservancy to place conservation easements on about 6,000 acres encircling Ghost Ranch. The $930,000 grant from the Natural Heritage Conservation Act Program, part of the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, financed the legal work needed to establish the easements.

The agreement protects land, water and wildlife habitats while keeping ownership with current landholders. The core 550 acres that host Ghost Ranch's visitor center, trails, lodging, stables and museums are excluded, preserving the visitor experience. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham highlighted the plan as a way to maintain the vistas that inspired Georgia O'Keeffe and define northern New Mexico's character. The initiative continues a legacy that began with the Pack family's 1955 donation of the property for educational and retreat purposes.