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Storied media mogul and conservationist Ted Turner died at age 87 Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy that spanned both airwaves and over 2 million acres across the U.S., more than half of which he purchased in New Mexico.

Until recently, Turner was the state鈥檚 largest landowner. His hospitality brand, Ted Turner Reserves, continues to steward around 1.1. million acres in the Land of Enchantment across three vast ranches, which the CNN founder viewed as integral to the conservation work he pursued alongside a career that revolutionized the TV news business.

Turner purchased his first ranch in New Mexico west of Truth or Consequences in 1992, about a decade after founding CNN in Atlanta in 1980 as the world鈥檚 first 24-hour televised news network. He named the 156,000-acre property Ladder, which remains home to bison, elk, Mexican wolves and hundreds of bird species, according to his organization.

As he expanded his business empire to include TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies and two sports teams, Turner simultaneously grew his landholdings throughout the 1990s with a characteristic determination that came to define his career in both realms.

Jade McBride, president of the conservation organization Turner founded, told the Journal in a statement that Turner saw the land as 鈥渟omething to restore, protect, and learn from.鈥�

鈥淥ver the course of his life, he committed more than two million acres across the United States to that belief 鈥� not as a portfolio, but as a responsibility,鈥� McBride said. 鈥淟andscapes where wildlife returned, ecosystems healed, and people could reconnect with something deeper.鈥�

To his New Mexico portfolio, Turner added the 550,000-acre Vermejo ranch near Raton in northern New Mexico and Armendaris Ranch, which comprises 360,000 acres of Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico.

As a child, Turner was inspired by a photo of buffalo he saw in a copy of National Geographic, leading to a parallel mission to restore and preserve wildlife habitat in the U.S. across his vast landholdings.

He purchased his first bison in 1976 and his first ranch in 1987, growing his herd of the nation鈥檚 largest mammal to 45,000 head 鈥� one of the largest in the nation, according to the National Buffalo Foundation.

By the end of his life, Turner鈥檚 more than 2 million acres spanned 13 properties across six U.S. states.

Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke surpassed Turner and Liberty Media Chairman John Malone as the largest landowner in New Mexico early this year, but New Mexico officials Wednesday singled out Turner for his impassioned effort to preserve land not only for himself but for the public good.

In 2023, when Turner was still the largest private landowner in New Mexico, state Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, sponsored Senate Memorial 62, 鈥渞ecognizing Ted Turner and the Turner Foundation for their vision, generosity and stewardship of New Mexico鈥檚 lands and wildlife.鈥�

Cervantes said he first spoke to Turner about his conservation work at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988, and later visited the media mogul and his family on a trip to Vermejo in 2022, long after Turner had sold CNN to Time Warner for just over $7 billion in 1996.

The senator said he came away with the clear impression that Turner鈥檚 stated intentions to conserve land throughout the West were sincere, heartfelt.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e at Vermejo, you鈥檒l see the commitment there,鈥� Cervantes said of the sweeping ranch in the mountains along the New Mexico-Colorado border. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l see the bison herds and the efforts they make to restore the bison population. I think that was very impressive.鈥�

Turner鈥檚 ranches have also proven to be significant employers for the rural communities near where they operate.

According to Truth or Consequences Mayor Pro-Tem Destiny Mitchell, between 50 and 75 people from the small town of 6,000 work at Ladder and Armendaris Ranch.

Mitchell added that Turner was known to be affable in his encounters with locals, to whom he imparted his passion for preserving the stark beauty of the state.

鈥淗e was very charismatic,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e was very pragmatic, interested in saving the Earth, saving the environment. He really cared about our community.鈥�

Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, issued a statement on Wednesday lauding Turner鈥檚 鈥渆xtraordinary legacy.鈥�

鈥淲hat I鈥檒l remember most is his clarity: that protecting nature isn鈥檛 optional 鈥� it鈥檚 our responsibility,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淎nd that it requires doing, not just talking.鈥�

In a Facebook post following news of his death on Wednesday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also paid tribute to Turner鈥檚 conservation work in New Mexico.

鈥淭ed was once New Mexico鈥檚 largest private landowner, and he treated that responsibility seriously,鈥� Lujan Grisham wrote. 鈥淗is Vermejo Ranch became one of the great conservation success stories in American history: half a million acres restored from coal mining and industry back to thriving wilderness, with bison, pronghorn, and clean streams to prove it. New Mexico is better for what Ted left behind, and our thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers around the world today.鈥�

Before he turned 80, Turner announced he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which treatment options remain critically limited.

His family said he died early Wednesday, eliciting a global outpouring of well-wishes and remembrances from those who felt the impact of a media tycoon often seen as larger than life.

As for the future of his vast conservation legacy, Marrissa Mallory, a senior vice president for public relations firm J/PR, said she could not share specifics on Wednesday, but referred to further statements from McBride about the intentions for Turner鈥檚 lands.

"Ted鈥檚 work was grounded in a long-term commitment to restoring and protecting the land, and that approach continues to guide how these properties are managed today,鈥� McBride said. 鈥淥ur focus remains on maintaining healthy ecosystems, supporting wildlife, connecting people with nature, and ensuring these landscapes are cared for responsibly for future generations.鈥�

John Miller is the sa国际传媒官网网页入口鈥檚 northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.