State loses out on effort to buy Benton Co. ranch
PROSSER, Wash. (AP) - Washington state had hoped to buy and preserve a historic Benton County ranch on Rattlesnake Mountain, but the land is going to a private buyer instead.
A partnership called Gamble Land and Timber has purchased the 21-square-mile McWhorter Ranch for $7.6 million - far above the $1.8 million the Legislature authorized in 2011, the Tri-City Herald reports.
The Fish and Wildlife Department hoped to preserve the swath of arid lands shrub steppe, an ecosystem that's been disappearing beneath development in Eastern Washington. It's a possible nesting habitat for endangered ferruginous hawks. Fewer than 40 breeding pairs remain, and wind turbines, houses and vineyards are going up on the ridges that the hawks need for nesting and foraging.
Fish and Wildlife also had proposed opening the land to the public for hiking, horseback riding, bird watching and some hunting. But Fish and Wildlife has consistently said that while it hoped to be considered as a buyer, it would accept the decision of the McWhorter family on the ranch's future.
"We hope in the near future to have a conversation with the new owner," said Mike Livingston, Fish and Wildlife regional director.
The state would like to discuss whether the new owner is interested in preserving any of the ranch or selling any of it to the state, he said.
The registered agent for Gamble Land and Timber is John William Cass Gebbers of Brewster. Gebbers Farms is a family operation with 5,000 acres of orchard. It has been growing apples and sweet cherries at the base of Washington's Cascade Range for more than a century.
A spokeswoman for Gebbers Farms declined to immediately discuss plans for the ranch.
The land, in the midst of prime Columbia Valley wine country, borders the Hanford Reach National Monument on the top of Rattlesnake Mountain and stretches down the mountain's south slope between Prosser and Benton City. Below it are irrigated rows of grapes, hops and blueberries on smaller properties. Much of the ranch itself is open country, covered with bluebunch wheatgrass and sage.
The McWhorter Ranch was owned by R.J. McWhorter, a third-generation Mid-Columbia rancher, until his death at age 86 in November 2007.
A partnership called Gamble Land and Timber has purchased the 21-square-mile McWhorter Ranch for $7.6 million - far above the $1.8 million the Legislature authorized in 2011, the Tri-City Herald reports.
The Fish and Wildlife Department hoped to preserve the swath of arid lands shrub steppe, an ecosystem that's been disappearing beneath development in Eastern Washington. It's a possible nesting habitat for endangered ferruginous hawks. Fewer than 40 breeding pairs remain, and wind turbines, houses and vineyards are going up on the ridges that the hawks need for nesting and foraging.
Fish and Wildlife also had proposed opening the land to the public for hiking, horseback riding, bird watching and some hunting. But Fish and Wildlife has consistently said that while it hoped to be considered as a buyer, it would accept the decision of the McWhorter family on the ranch's future.
"We hope in the near future to have a conversation with the new owner," said Mike Livingston, Fish and Wildlife regional director.
The state would like to discuss whether the new owner is interested in preserving any of the ranch or selling any of it to the state, he said.
The registered agent for Gamble Land and Timber is John William Cass Gebbers of Brewster. Gebbers Farms is a family operation with 5,000 acres of orchard. It has been growing apples and sweet cherries at the base of Washington's Cascade Range for more than a century.
A spokeswoman for Gebbers Farms declined to immediately discuss plans for the ranch.
The land, in the midst of prime Columbia Valley wine country, borders the Hanford Reach National Monument on the top of Rattlesnake Mountain and stretches down the mountain's south slope between Prosser and Benton City. Below it are irrigated rows of grapes, hops and blueberries on smaller properties. Much of the ranch itself is open country, covered with bluebunch wheatgrass and sage.
The McWhorter Ranch was owned by R.J. McWhorter, a third-generation Mid-Columbia rancher, until his death at age 86 in November 2007.
"Put up a bunch of ugly boxes and Jesus! People bought em".
oh sweet. hopefully the new owners strip all the trees, plants, and animals from this parcel. parking lot maybe?
The $1.8 million is just the tip of the iceberg. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has an additional $4.5 million grant proposal to add to the $1.8 million they alrady have. The grant proposal is through the state Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program that would have required legislative approval. They often match these grants with federal grants too and undoubtedly have more funding proposals floating around out there on this property--you know, even more taxpayers' money. Perhaps the looming deficits will slow their greed for land but don't count on it. When it comes to gathering money from taxpayers and ratepayers so they can own all the land, they are experts. I've heard the quote, "If the King owns all the land, we're all subject to the King" and we are well on our way in Washington State. Huge kudos to the seller and the buyer for keeping this land in private hands!         Â
Good,the government has enough land and has proven to be a poor steward. Look at all the grazing leases than are not monitored for excess grazing.
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Once the government gets it hands on it it is useless.
Sounds like the state tried to steal the land at that price and lost out..
If they are worried about Hawks, they should tear down those wind farms. In addition to killing birds, including Hawks and Eagles, they are a waste of taxpayers money through subsidies and only serve to drive the cost of energy up. Any other business which was directly killing Eagles would have been shut down immediately.   Â
 @oldster70 After that initiative was passed we found out the hard way how worthless these wind farms are. Can't believe people were dumb enough to vote for that. It doesn't get any greener than hydro power, much greener than wind farms or solar. Now were stuck with higher power bills.
I am so glad the State missed out on that property. Every property that the State owns is off the tax rolls and it puts a bigger load on the ones still paying. The State can not take care of what it already has so they need to curtail their buying and sell some of it to put it back on the tax rolls as well as bring some money back into the State coffers. On top of that it will less the out flow of money that is needed to maintain those properties. The same thing with churches. The church property where the church resides should be exempt, but any other properties that it owns should be taxed at the same rate as every one else. This is just another situation that needs to be address to lighten the tax load on the working class.
 @LongBeachBum I agree completely. There is so much land that the state has confiscated that needs to be turned back over to the people. Would love to see a lot of this land opened up for homesteading for the poor people.
Hmmm, let's see. Sell the land to the state for $1.8M or to a private buyer for $7.6M. What a difficult choice - NOT!
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When Wa. State says they were 'hoping' to buy the ranch they weren't lying! I was hoping to buy Tullys coffee for $86 dollars too!