Secluded Off-Grid Lot Close To Cibola National Forest

The subject property is a 2.5 acre lot found in Pine Meadows Ranch, a rural subdivision located within close proximity to a number of national parks and monuments as well as the entrance to the Cibola National Forest.

When we speak of property we typically use an address -- 123 Main Street for instance. 

As most vacant land does not have a physical address, however, county governments will identify it in other ways, such as a "legal description", a parcel number or a tax code. The information provided in the table to the right are the ways in which the various state and county agencies will identify this specific parcel of land. These signifiers are important to have when speaking with these agencies - whether they be the assessor, the zoning office, or even the local utilities - and may prove invaluable when initiating conversations about whatever research a buyer intends to do.

Whenever one exists or has been assigned to the land, the physical address will be included in this table.

Roads & Access: The subject property is located along Sutton Drive. Like most of the roads in this subdivision, Sutton is a dirt road which experiences some annual maintenance but can be difficult to navigate in inclement weather. Because of this, a larger truck or off-road capable vehicle is recommended for anyone visiting the property.

Roads & Access, Cont'd: The subject property has road frontage along both its northern and southern boundaries. It should be noted, however, that Sutton Drive is the only access road and that is along the northern end of the lot. The road on the southern end, Dodie Place, dead ends at a cul de sac. Additionally, because Dodie is not a primary access road it experiences far less traffic and hence, maintenance. The photos in the gallery at the bottom of this page will show both roads, but potential buyers are encouraged to remember that of the two, Sutton is the only viable access road.

Power & Utilities: While residential power line and underground telecom can be found in different pockets of Pine Meadows Ranch, they do not extend throughout the subdivision, and neither can be found within a mile of the subject property. Because of this, anyone looking to develop the land is encouraged to investigate alternative energy sources such as solar. Anyone looking to investigate the costs associated with connecting power on the subject property is encouraged to contact the Continental Divide Electric Cooperative, the local utility servicing this region.

Community Well: While anyone developing a property can install their own well, it should be noted that Pine Meadows Ranch features a community well which residents can access. It should be noted, however, that the water from this well is NOT potable, and is therefore best used for gardening, construction, vehicle cleaning, etc. For drinkable water, the Pine Meadows Ranch POA recommends other local residents who allow access to their wells for a small fee, normally around $.04/gallon.

Wells & Water Table Depth: According to the Pine Meadows Ranch website, local owners have drilled wells ranging in depth from 200 to 800 feet. Additionally, they quote the current 2024 estimate for digging a well at $40 per foot. As always, prospective buyers are encouraged to speak with local well drillers for the best sense of cost and logistics.

Zoning: Cibola County is one of the few New Mexico counties that has no formal county-wide zoning ordinance and defers instead to towns, municipalities and owners’ associations within its borders to make and enforce their own rules. Because of this, the only “local” regulations specific to this region would come either from an Association or from the covenants and restrictions on file for the subdivision.

HOA: Pine Meadows Ranch is governed by an owner’s association whose mission statement is to maintain and preserve the natural beauty of the region. This primarily takes the form of annual dues collection for upkeep of community roads as well as some modest enforcement of the Pine Meadows Ranch covenants and restrictions. To learn more about the Pine Meadows Ranch Owners Association you can visit their website here.

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions: When Pine Meadows Ranch was first subdivided, the developer drew up a set of covenants and restrictions to run with the land. While most of these are what we like to refer to as “reasonable, good neighbor restrictions” dealing primarily with the disposal of trash and prohibitions on excess noise, there are a few covenants that deal with acceptable structures or use of the land. Because of this, anyone considering purchasing the property is encouraged to review the Pine Meadows Ranch Covenants and Restrictions document linked here.

Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, Cont’d: It should be noted that the above-linked document makes no mention of structure types or minimum square footage requirements within the community. This makes the property ideal for everything from tiny homes to yurts as well as other types of structures difficult to get permitted elsewhere. It also opens the land up for extended camping trips and RV use. In addition, the document stipulates no time limits on building which may be helpful for anyone looking for longer construction periods to better fund their development of the land.

Conveyance Document: This property will be conveyed one of two ways depending on how the buyer elects to fund and close the transaction. For anyone electing to pay our Company directly and outside of escrow, Hemingway Land will provide a Special Warranty Deed. For anyone electing to close through title and escrow and purchase title insurance, Hemingway Land will provide a Warranty Deed.

The Hemingway Land Company does our best to represent the properties we list as accurately as possible. Our research, however, will always be limited. 

Because of this, included in the table to the right is a list of the relevant state and county governments, agencies and authorities as well as local utilities (and all their respective websites and contact information) which should help to answer any questions a buyer may have about developing this specific property.

Whenever possible it is best to speak with these agencies first as they will always be a far greater source of information about the local region and the regulations which govern it.  

Topography: The subject property features a diverse topography from flat cut-out areas to regions densely covered in tall Ponderosa and Pinon trees. In addition, a small canyon bisects the property from east to west.

Hunting: The subject property is located in Game Management Unit 12 (GMU 12), an area known for its trophy-sized bull elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Additionally, this property sits within close proximity to the entrance of the Cibola National Forest, a region which will supply over 300,000 acres to hike, hunt, camp and explore, making this property especially ideal for a hunting cabin.

While the nearby town of Fence Lake boasts some convenience and supply stores, the towns of Quemado (thirty minutes south of the land) and Ramah (thirty minutes north of the land), may be the best bet for groceries and supplies. In addition, the county seat of Grants is located a little under an hour away along Highway 117. There you’ll be able to find big box stores such as Walmart, most all fast food chains, schools, churches and hospitals as well as the Grants-Milan Municipal Airport. 

Aside from the 20 acres that comprise the subject property, the land also sits in close proximity to the 300,000 acres that make up the Cibola National Forest. Here you’ll be able to hunt elk, mule deer and wild turkey to name just a few of the many species that call this area home. Additionally, the Cibola National Forest also features plenty of great hiking trails and camping spots to explore.

In addition to the Cibola National Forest, there are a number of scenic National and State Parks within easy driving distance of the subject property. Those parks include - but are not limited to - the El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, Cibola National Forest, Ramah Reservoir, the Bluewater Lake State Park and pictured in the gallery at the bottom of this page, Quemado Lake.