Ted Turner isn’t just a media legend—he’s one of America’s largest private landowners. The man behind CNN owns nearly two million acres spread across ranches, reserves, and a barrier island escape. His properties aren’t your typical billionaire flex. They’re working conservation lands where bison roam free, and nature gets the final say. Let’s walk through the Ted Turner house empire, from a rustic island getaway to his sprawling Vermejo Reserve in New Mexico.
Where Does Ted Turner Actually Live?
Turner splits his time between multiple properties, but his primary base is reportedly in northern Florida. That’s his official tax residence—Lamont, Florida, to be exact. But honestly? The guy lives wherever his conservation work takes him. Montana’s Snowcrest Ranch gets plenty of his attention, along with the historic Flying D Ranch. These aren’t just vacation homes. They’re active ranches managing thousands of bison and protecting critical ecosystems. Turner’s lifestyle switches between frontier solitude, legal convenience, and the occasional corporate duty back in Atlanta through Turner Enterprises.
St. Phillips Island: The Turner House You Can Actually Rent
Here’s something wild: you can rent Ted Turner’s beach house on St. Phillip’s Island in South Carolina. The state bought this 4,680-acre barrier island from Turner in 2018 for $4.9 million. It’s now managed by South Carolina State Parks. The island sits just miles from Beaufort, accessible only by boat. Turner purchased it in 1979 and built a rustic retreat using materials hauled across the water. For decades, it served as his family’s private escape—a place to disconnect under wide skies and ocean breezes.
The house itself covers 3,350 square feet with five bedrooms and five bathrooms. One master bedroom sits on the main floor, along with a guest bathroom. Four additional bedrooms and three bathrooms fill the upstairs. Downstairs, you’ll find a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a bar area, a convertible dining room slash game room, and a den. But the real flex? An expansive 820-square-foot screened porch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include a pool table, fishing pier, kayaks, fishing gear, and golf carts.
Standard rental runs $12,000 for a minimum five-night stay, accommodating up to 10 guests. Want the entire island? That’ll cost $20,000 for five nights, with optional Park Ranger-led programs included. The island features untouched shoreline, winding creeks, maritime forest, deer, alligators, gray and black fox squirrels, and even tabby ruins nestled among pine trees and hardwood forests blanketed with resurrection ferns. It’s a living example of the eroding coast’s future—preserved exactly as Turner intended when he first purchased it decades ago.
Vermejo Park Ranch: Turner’s New Mexico Sanctuary
The crown jewel of Turner’s empire is Vermejo Park Ranch, stretching 558,000-plus acres across the New Mexico-Colorado border. This isn’t just big—it’s the largest contiguous private land holding in the United States. The ranch operates as a high-end conservation property with luxury lodging options. Turner chose this place for a reason: quiet mountain shadows, open skies, and a kind of stillness that settles on you the moment you arrive.
Turner House at Vermejo Reserve
The main Ted Turner house at Vermejo spans 12,772 square feet. It’s a renovated luxury lodge that serves as the heart of the ranch—warm, spacious, and quietly elegant without trying too hard. Ten beautifully updated bedrooms fill the space, each designed as a small retreat. The spa-style master bedroom stands out with soft lighting, natural materials, and a layout that feels like a private wellness escape. Every room carries that cozy lodge warmth, giving guests both comfort and quiet in the middle of Vermejo’s wild landscape.
The house features multiple gathering spaces, heated floors throughout, and views that stretch endlessly into untouched nature. Walking through the rooms, you feel connected to the land outside—as if the house breathes with the forest and fields around it. Wildlife moves freely nearby, creating this private zoo feeling, but in the calmest, most respectful way. Stays here typically start around $1,300-plus per person per night as part of all-inclusive packages.
Casa Grande: The Historic Mansion
Casa Grande is the massive 25,000-square-foot mansion on the property—a separate structure from Turner House. This historic estate includes the Ted Turner Master Suite, available for booking. It features a private sitting area, fireplace, and views of the surrounding mountains and plains. The mansion carries old-world charm blended with fresh renovations. It’s the kind of place that naturally becomes your first stop because it feels grounded, welcoming, and perfectly set up for slow, peaceful moments.
Other Lodges at Vermejo Reserve
Beyond the main houses, Vermejo offers several unique accommodations:
Costilla Fishing Lodge caters to serious anglers. Bartlett Cottage and Gourley Cottage provide mid-sized group stays. Chandler Cottage is a charming two-story home designed with families in mind, offering four bedrooms with luxurious furnishings throughout. Downstairs features a King Suite and a Single Queen Suite. Upstairs, two Single Queen rooms each come with their own bathrooms. The open kitchen blends naturally with the living room, creating perfect spaces for unwinding after exploring the ranch.
Bernal Lake Cabin sits at the property’s far edge—a 1,460-square-foot hideaway with heated floors throughout. It includes two master bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, one guest bathroom, and a small children’s loft. The décor leans into rustic charm: historic rail-route maps, kerosene lanterns converted to lighting, vintage typewriters, and Navajo-style fabrics. Outside, a private lakeside deck features an outdoor grill, fire pit, and cedar soaking hot tub overlooking the water. Stays include a private chef, kayaks, fishing equipment, and a UTV.
Turner’s Complete Ranch Portfolio
Turner owns approximately two million acres managed by Turner Enterprises, Inc. His properties span from Montana to Kansas to Argentina:
| Property Name | Location | Size | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermejo Reserve | New Mexico/Colorado | 558,000+ acres | Ecotourism, conservation |
| Armendaris Ranch | New Mexico | 360,000 acres | Day tours, bat cave habitat |
| Ladder Ranch | New Mexico | 156,000 acres | Private retreats, bison ranching |
| Flying D Ranch | Montana | 113,000 acres | Conservation, Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem |
| Snowcrest Ranch | Montana | 13,343 acres | Personal retreat |
| Z Bar Ranch | Kansas | 42,000 acres | Bison ranching, hunting |
The Flying D Ranch serves as a major conservation property in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, home to thousands of bison. No public accommodations exist there—it’s purely about wildlife management. Snowcrest Ranch in Montana ranks as one of Turner’s preferred personal retreats. Armendaris Ranch features the Jornada bat cave, hosting one of North America’s largest bat flights. Day tours start around $350-plus.
Ladder Ranch offers private home buyouts starting at $3,000-plus per night for four people. The property includes the Country House, where Turner often stayed, designed by his ex-wife Jane Fonda. Each ranch operates with a focus on conservation and sustainable bison ranching rather than traditional cattle operations.
The Conservation Mission Behind Turner’s Properties
Turner didn’t just buy land to park money. His ranches function as working conservation properties protecting native ecosystems. Running a 550,000-acre wilderness like Vermejo takes serious infrastructure: around 100 full-time staff members,s from managers and conservation experts to chefs, guides, and maintenance crews. Many employees live in on-site staff housing, including dedicated homes for managers and residential units for year-round workers. Seasonal staff stay in shared accommodations, creating a close-knit community right in the heart of the New Mexico wilderness.
The properties prioritize bison over cattle because bison have a lower environmental impact and restore native grassland ecosystems. Turner’s conservation approach combines ecological restoration with sustainable revenue through limited ecotourism. Vermejo generates income through high-end lodging while maintaining strict wildlife protection standards. St. Phillips Island’s rental program funds ongoing conservation efforts. This model proves conservation can work financially without sacrificing environmental integrity or public access.
Ted Turner’s Net Worth and Real Estate Value
Turner’s estimated net worth sits around $2.8 billion as of 2025. His real estate holdings represent a massive chunk of that wealth—not just in dollar value but in ecological significance. The Vermejo Reserve alone combines luxury hospitality infrastructure with pristine wilderness worth far beyond its tourism revenue. St. Phillips Island’s state purchase price of $4.9 million likely represented a conservation-friendly deal rather than full market value for a private barrier island.
Beyond ranches, Turner maintains a business presence in Atlanta through the Turner Enterprises headquarters. The company also operates the Ted’s Montana Grill restaurant chain. His tax residence in Lamont, Florida, provides legal convenience while his actual time is divided between Montana properties and occasional Vermejo visits. The setup allows him to manage conservation work while maintaining necessary corporate oversight.
My Take on Turner’s Properties
After diving deep into Turner’s real estate empire, one thing stands out: these aren’t trophy properties. Every ranch serves a purpose beyond ego or status. The Ted Turner house portfolio reflects someone who values silence more than spectacle. Vermejo doesn’t scream wealth—it whispers conservation. St. Phillips Island could’ve stayed private forever, but Turner sold it to ensure public access and ongoing protection.
The properties share common threads: remoteness, ecological focus, and working ranch operations rather than passive ownership. Turner chose locations where the land still feels wild, honest, and quietly alive. That’s not typical billionaire behavior—most would’ve built golf courses and gated communities. Instead, he’s protecting bison migration corridors and bat caves.
Standing on those wide-open ranches, you understand why Turner chose this life over continued media empire building. The calm, the space, the freedom to breathe without the world watching—that’s worth more than any penthouse or private island resort. His properties aren’t just real estate investments. They’re legacy conservation projects ensuring future generations can experience American wilderness as it existed before development carved it into pieces.
FAQs
Can you stay in Ted Turner’s actual bedroom?
Yes, the Ted Turner Master Suite in Casa Grande at Vermejo Reserve is available for booking with a private sitting area, fireplace, and mountain views.
Is the Turner House different from Casa Grande?
Yes. Casa Grande is the massive 25,000-square-foot mansion, while Turner House is a separate 12,772-square-foot luxury lodge housing the property’s main spa and guest suites.
Why is Vermejo’s address 40 miles from the nearest town?
Vermejo’s extreme remoteness ensures wildlife conservation. The drive from Raton involves a 40-mile journey through high-desert prairie and forest within the ranch’s boundaries.
Does Turner still actively use these properties?
Turner frequently visits his Montana ranches, particularly Snowcrest Ranch. His involvement in conservation work keeps him connected to properties across his portfolio.
