Imus Ranch

The Imus Ranch was a working cattle ranch of nearly 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) located in Ribera, New Mexico, 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Santa Fe.[1] Between 1998–2014, it was the site of a non-profit charitable program for seriously ill children, founded by long-time radio personality Don Imus and his wife, Deirdre. The charitable organization sought to ensure the continuity of the lives of children afflicted with cancer or serious blood diseases.[1] The charity's goal was to provide children ages 10–17 with an experience of living life on a functioning cattle ranch free of charge, to build up the child's self-confidence and sense of accomplishment, in the company of similar children facing serious illness.[2] In later years, it also opened to siblings of SIDS victims. It was incorporated in New York State and registered as a non-profit organization under subsection 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. It closed following the 2014 season.

The former ranch property was initially offered for sale for $32 million in October 2014. Not having sold by 2017, the property was put up for auction by Thomas Industries, Inc., an industrial auction house with a specialty in the auction of printing companies. The property was listed for sale as a combined acreage of the foundation, the personal property of the Imuses, and state leased adjoining land totaling almost 3,000 acres.[3] The deadline for auction was originally set for June 15, 2017, with a minimum bid of $5 million.[4] The property was sold to Patrick Gottsch, owner of RFD-TV, in April 2018 for $12.5 million.[5] RFD-TV has used the ranch as a production facility for its Western shows.[6]

A portion of the historic Santa Fe Trail passes through the property.

  1. ^ a b "Don Imus has prostate cancer". The Associated Press. March 16, 2009. Archived from the original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Keel was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Imus Ranch". Thomas Industries. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Morgan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Morgan, Richard (April 13, 2018). "Don Imus finally sells New Mexico ranch". New York Post. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  6. ^ "Rural Media Group to use New Mexico ranch as production base". AP News. November 24, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2020.