In the early 1960s, Midland oilman W.B. “Dub” Yarborough and his wife, Kay, began building the Y Bar O Ranch with a 3,520-acre tract in West Texas. Over the following decades, the family expanded it into a 29,071-acre cattle and recreational property in the Big Bend region. The ranch was listed for $46.5 million on December 9, 2025, and sold on April 14, 2026, according to The Land Report. Although DTN Progressive Farmer reported the transaction as a $46.5 million sale, the final closing price has not been independently established by the available reporting. The ranch is located about 17 miles south of Alpine along Highway 118. Its pastures, livestock facilities, water infrastructure and varied terrain were among the features highlighted in the sale coverage. The transaction ended roughly six decades of ownership by the Yarborough family.
Y Bar O Ranch history: how a 3,520-acre tract expanded across West Texas
The Y Bar O Ranch was established in the early 1960s by W.B. “Dub” Yarborough and his wife, Kay, according to DTN Progressive Farmer. Yarborough was a Midland oilman, and the original 3,520-acre tract grew through subsequent acquisitions into a property covering 29,071 acres. The expansion included additions in 1962 and 1966, followed by further acquisitions in 2011 and 2012, according to DTN’s report, which cites the Houston Chronicle. The resulting property became a large cattle and recreational operation in Brewster County, in the Big Bend region of West Texas.The ranch lies about 17 miles south of Alpine along Highway 118. Its terrain varies across the property, from rolling grassland and oak-lined draws in the north to rockier ground, mesas and canyons farther south. In an interview with The Land Report, Chad Dugger of Hall and Hall, the broker who handled the listing, described this north-to-south contrast as one of the ranch’s defining characteristics. The Land Report also highlighted Calamity Creek, seasonal springs and water in canyons between the mesas. These features form part of the ranch’s landscape and support its use as a working cattle property.
Y Bar O Ranch facilities: 21 pastures, 10 sets of working pens and water infrastructure
The ranch’s infrastructure was a central feature of its listing. According to Hall and Hall, the property includes a custom-built main residence with more than 4,000 square feet of living space, 4 ensuite bedrooms and radiant-heated floors. Other buildings include a manager’s home, bunkhouse, office, shops, barns, a roping area and a secondary camp in the southern part of the property. For livestock operations, the ranch is divided into 21 pastures and has 10 sets of working pens. The Land Report describes it as a cow-calf operation, a system in which cattle are raised with the aim of producing calves.Water access is another important part of the property. The Land Report reports more than two dozen wells and troughs across the ranch, alongside Calamity Creek and seasonal springs. DTN also describes water storage, pipelines and troughs, with wells powered by a combination of solar, wind and electricity. The ranch supports wildlife including elk, mule deer, aoudad, mountain lions, black bears and upland birds, according to The Land Report. DTN also reports that the property includes livestock equipment and seller-owned mineral interests. Dugger told The Land Report that the quality of the ranch’s upkeep was one of its principal strengths. He singled out the condition of the roads and credited ranch manager Cody Wood and his crew with maintaining them. Dugger said the roads made it possible to tour the property comfortably and see its different areas during a full-day visit.
Y Bar O Ranch sale: $46.5 million asking price and a transaction in 2026
The Y Bar O Ranch went on the market on December 9, 2025, with an asking price of $46.5 million. According to The Land Report, it went under contract within weeks and sold on April 14, 2026, after only a handful of showings. The Land Report said the buyer and financial terms were not disclosed. DTN Progressive Farmer described the transaction as a $46.5 million sale, attributing that information to Hall and Hall. However, the available reports do not independently confirm the final amount paid. Hall and Hall’s listing displayed an asking price of $46,513,600, so that figure should not be presented as a verified closing price without further confirmation.In his interview with The Land Report, Dugger said Texas land values had risen rapidly after the COVID-19 pandemic. He also observed that sellers could no longer price properties substantially above current market levels and expect the same response from buyers. Those remarks reflect the broker’s assessment of the market, rather than a comprehensive measure of prices across Texas. The sale brought an end to roughly six decades of Yarborough family ownership. The ranch’s history shows how an initial 3,520-acre tract expanded through successive acquisitions into a 29,071-acre working property. Its pastures, livestock facilities, water systems and maintained roads were all documented features of the ranch as it entered the market.
