Rim Ranch Conservation Easements Forever Protect Palo Duro Canyon Views and Vital Grassland Habitat
Rim Ranch, Photo by Brandon Ray.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 13, 2025
Media contact: Kacie Hatsfelt
985-351-9867
Rim Ranch Conservation Easements Forever Protect Palo Duro Canyon Views and Vital Grassland Habitat
Thanks to the vision of a Texas family and a strong partnership among federal, state, and conservation organizations, more than 3,000 acres along the rim of Palo Duro Canyon are being permanently protected through two conservation easements held by the Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT).
The first easement—covering 1,725 acres—has closed with funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s (TPWF) Buffer Lands Incentive Program (BLIP), which supports voluntary conservation efforts near Texas state parks, wildlife management areas and other protected areas. A second easement totaling 1,323 acres is expected to close by the end of the year, bringing the total protected acreage to 3,048.
Known as Rim Ranch, the property spans Armstrong and Randall counties and has been in the Owens family since the late 1940s. From their perch above the second-largest canyon in the United States, the family has long looked across the canyon to the Pioneer Amphitheater, home of the iconic outdoor musical TEXAS.
For nearly 60 years, hundreds of thousands of visitors have watched TEXAS unfold under the stars, with the dramatic red walls of Palo Duro Canyon as its backdrop. What few realized is that the very view they were admiring—the majestic rim beyond the stage—was privately owned land. Now, thanks to the Owens family and their conservation partners, that view will be forever protected.
At 98 years old, Ginger Campbell, daughter of the original owners Dr. and Mrs. Guy Owens, has lived long enough to see her family’s legacy endure.
“My parents poured their hearts into this place,” Campbell said. “To know that Rim Ranch will remain intact, that our children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy it just as we have—it means everything to me. I love to think of it going on and on and on, not just for our family, but for everyone who comes to see this beautiful canyon.”
The property’s diverse habitats include mixed tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, mesquite grasslands, shrublands, a playa lake, and canyonlands. These ecosystems provide critical habitat for native wildlife, including grassland birds such as the lark bunting—a species of greatest conservation need—and important stopover and breeding grounds for migratory birds and waterfowl that rely on the property’s playa lake.
Darren Clark, Director of Land Conservation for TALT, said the project exemplifies the kind of partnership that makes large-scale conservation possible.
“This success story is a testament to what can be achieved when landowners and conservation partners work together,” Clark said. “At TALT, all of our work depends on trusted partnerships—whether with families like the Owens, agencies like NRCS, or philanthropic partners like TPWF. Rim Ranch reflects our shared commitment to keeping Texas’ working lands intact and its natural beauty accessible for future generations.”
Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks, said the Rim Ranch easement benefits all Texans.
“Palo Duro Canyon State Park is one of the crown jewels of our park system, and its dramatic views are part of what makes it so special,” Franklin said. “Every summer, thousands of visitors watch TEXAS against the canyon’s breathtaking backdrop—now permanently protected thanks to the foresight of the Owens family and the leadership of TALT. This partnership ensures that one of the most iconic views in Texas will remain untouched for generations.”
TALT worked closely with the family and its partners to guide the transaction to completion. The project is already inspiring neighboring landowners to consider similar agreements, creating a growing network of protected open space along the canyon rim.
Anne Brown, Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, emphasized both the ecological and scenic importance of the project.
“The Buffer Lands Incentive Program was created to protect the landscapes and habitats that make our state parks extraordinary,” Brown said. “Rim Ranch is a prime example of that vision in action. Its mix of prairie grasslands and playa wetlands provides valuable habitat for grassland birds, migratory species, and waterfowl, while preserving the sweeping views that make Palo Duro Canyon so special. None of this would be possible without the collaboration of the Owens family, our agency partners, and generous philanthropic support.”
For the Owens family, the easements bring both peace of mind and purpose. Their stewardship ensures that the rim of Palo Duro Canyon—the iconic view behind TEXAS—will remain forever undeveloped, preserving the spirit of the land and the view that millions have come to cherish.
The Texas Agricultural Land Trust is a private non-profit organization, founded by farmers and ranchers for farmers and ranchers. As the largest state-based land trust in Texas, conserving over 285,000 acres under easements, TALT is dedicated to preserving open spaces, native wildlife habitats, and natural resources on Texas' private working lands.
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