Don’t miss a Movie Under the Stars’ free showing of Night of the Lepus, Saturday, September 23rd at 7 pm at the Historic Empire Ranch. Bring your own seating, food & flashlights. Snacks and water will be available for purchase.
Click here for more information.
Take a free audio driving tour of the Cienega Watershed and learn about the social and cultural history, ecology, wildlife management, and conservation efforts in the watershed. Start by downloading the TravelStorys.Com App to your phone or other device. Open TravelStory and select “Tour the Cienega Watershed” to save the tour on your phone. Once you’ve download the app and the tour, no Internet access is needed.
The tour includes 21 podcast-style stories that will automatically play at the appropriate location using your phone’s GPS. The route loop includes the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead (in Vail), Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, the Empire Ranch Headquarters, wildlife viewing and many other features along Hwy. 83 ending (or beginning) in Sonoita. And you don’t even have to drive through the watershed to enjoy the tour! You can download the tour to your computer or tablet, listen to each of the site descriptions, and view photos of the sites wherever you are!
Dedicated volunteers have been key to preserving the historic Empire Ranch House and Headquarters. Please join us on Saturday, June 3, 2023.
To volunteer, please submit a Volunteer Opportunities Form, and we will contact you with more details!
A bright sunny day greeted the riders and volunteers for the 2023 Empire Ranch Spring Trail Ride on April 1st. ERF President Faith Boice led two 1.5 hour rides through Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. A delicious chuckwagon lunch was dished up by the EZ Cattle Company Cow Camp Cafe’ Chuck Wagon Catering.
Click here to view photos of the ride.
We seek volunteers to work at our Gift Shop at the historic Empire Ranch. Volunteers are needed for five hour shifts on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Responsibilities include stocking, organizing, and cleaning the Gift Shop; processing sales using an iPad and Square software; providing general information about the Empire Ranch and Las Cienegas National Conservation Area; and completing various reports. Training for all tasks provided. Volunteers must be personable and willing to engage with visitors.
Click here to apply.
Explore the Historic Empire Ranch in an exciting new way. It’s called Agents of Discovery, the not-so-secret, secret agency dedicated to learning and playing outdoors.
To get started:
1. Download the free Agents of Discovery app to your mobile device at the Apple App Store, Google Play or visit www.AgentsofDiscovery.com.
2. After downloading the app, click on the Missions button and select the ones you want to play.
3. Preload the missions and head out to the Historic Empire Ranch to start completing your challenges!
You can now shop online for ERF Gift Shop items. Your purchase helps preserve and protect the Empire Ranch!
Items for sale include Empire Ranch Foundation denim shirts, t-shirts and books, souvenir coffee cups, Western jewelry and an ever changing offering of gifts for youngsters and seniors – and everyone else in between!
Click here to start shopping.
Help us create our Western Heritage and Education Center! The Empire Ranch Foundation has begun a capital campaign to renovate the New Ranch House to serve as conference space for education programs, a place for environmental researchers to come stay for a day or two while they study the beautiful area of the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, and as office space where our board members, or in the future, a new administrative director can work.
Click here to find out how you can help.