Aerial View
Indio Mountains Research Station
The Trans-Pecos region of Texas is well known as containing spectacular areas for scientific field research and educational field trips. Researchers are well aware of the breathtaking views to be found in Big Bend National Park. Similar attributes attract investigators to Big Bend Ranch State Park, Black Gap and Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management areas, and the Davis Mountains. Both the Hueco and Franklin mountains, in extreme West Texas, also attract considerable attention.
Most scientific investigations in the Trans-Pecos are conducted within the boundaries of the aforementioned reserves—national and state parks—due to the inaccessibility of most natural areas in the region that are privately owned. The Trans-Pecos would hold much more scientific research and educational potential if more lands were accessible to investigators.
An accessible place which is not so well known is the Indio Mountains Research Station, more commonly known as "Indio Ranch", located in southeastern Hudspeth County, about 26 miles southwest of Van Horn. Indio Ranch presently contains about 40,000+ acres owned and managed by the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
ACCESS TO IMRS
High-clearance vehicles are required to reach the ranch house and 4X4s are a necessity for persons wanting full access to all areas of the Station. Indio Mountains Research Station holds tremendous potential as a natural laboratory for teaching, research, and as an outreach center for nature-minded organizations. Anyone who is interested in gaining access to Indio Ranch for legitimate academic reasons or for a tour should contact Dr. Vicente Mata-Silva, (915) 747-5959, e-mail vmata@utep.edu, Co-Director, or Dr. Jerry D. Johnson (915) 747-6984, Director, e-mail jjohnson@utep.edu
