Taylor Ranch/La Sierra

A list of dates and important events concerning Taylor Ranch and the legal battles over it. Starts with 1844 grant by officials in New Mexico, the part of Mexico, to Narcisco Beaubien and Stephen Luis Lee of the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant, containing 1 million acres; the grant was confirmed to Beaubien in 1860 by the U.S. Congress. What became the Taylor Ranch was included in Beaubien's grants. First page only displayed.

The original court case was brought by 63 plaintiffs who submitted claim to Quiet Title of the 80,000-acre tract in Costilla County known as "La Sierra". That case was filed with the District Court of the County of Costilla. Defendant Jack Taylor petitioned for removal of that action to the Colorado District Court, whereupon the plaintiffs petitioned for its removal to the state court. This order, dated July 31, 1981, grants the latter request. First Page only displayed.

Pictured are land rights leaders Apolinae Rael (3rd from right), co-founder of the Land Rights Council of the San Luis and lead plaintiff in the earlier court cases, and Juan LaCombe (3rd from left). The gathering at the ranch was part of the decades-long battle between the land grant holders, who claimed rights to access and use the land at Taylor Ranch for water, hunting, grazing, and firewood.

Chicano land rights activists and their families marching to reclaim their traditional rights to land at Taylor Ranch in 1981.

Chicano land rights activist and their families protesting at Taylor Ranch in 1981 to demonstrate their traditional rights to the land.

Placito Gomez, "The History and Adjudication of the Common Lands of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants," for background. The first few pages only shown here.

This report was submitted by the Commission's members, 18 groups said to be "broadly representative of parties interested in acquiring the Taylor Ranch." It includes a discussion of the geography and historical background of the property, describes the benefits of public ownership, and presents plans for acquiring and managing the plan. Full report here.

Letter to the editor of "The Chieftain" paper, published in Pueblo, from Robert Copeland of Colorado Springs objecting to Governor Romer's proposal to acquire Taylor Ranch for public use, Feb, 27,1994.

"Community unites to save the land, water, and a way of life in the heart of the Southwest; Descendants of Colorado's first settlers look to nation for support," from La Sierra (published in San Luis), Vol.I, no 1, Spring, 1994.

"Costilla County Trial to be held in Rael v. Taylor after Colorado Court of Appeals Issues Ruling Favorable to Local Residents in 35-year-old San Luis Land Rights Battle." From Tierra y Libertad, published in Grand Junction, Dec.,1995