Ghost Ranch

Why should it be a National Park?

The name Ghost Ranch is both a description of the overall setting and a specific name for a retreat and education center nestled into the cliffs. This landscape of scrubland and desert buttes may be the most recognizable place in the country that you don't know by name. Ghost Ranch is the backdrop of countless western films and works of art. The scenery famously inspired painter Georgia O'Keeffe who frequented the area. Her works showcase the grandeur of the painted cliffs and formations that dominate the area, but also its more intricate features like plants and animals.

New Mexico is truly a wondrous place made up of diverse and stunningly beautiful natural wonders. In 2019, Congress passed legislation creating White Sands National Park from the former national monument of the same name. White Sands became the second National Park in the state after Carlsbad Caverns was established in 1930. Those parks highlight the distinct natural features of a sprawling gypsum sand dune field and one of the largest cave systems in the country. Neither National Park protects the rocky, scrubland desert that dominates the state. Ghost Ranch is among the best candidates for receiving a greater level of protection and notoriety. The beauty of the setting is undeniable, and it should be protected forever.