ARIZONA DAILY STAR:  Mon., Nov. 17, 2008

Land county would buy holds plentiful wildlife

By Tony Davis

 

4,135 acres south of Tucson has $18.6M price tag

As journalists took a four-hour driving tour around the Sopori Ranch last week, herds of deer strolled or burst into view numerous times: climbing a distant hillside, standing in silhouette in a shady stretch of mesquite-lined wash, racing across a dirt road.  The county Board of Supervisors is slated to vote in early December on buying 4,135 acres of these rolling, grassy hills and broad, sweeping vistas for $18.6 million from Phoenix-based First United Realty. 

This would buy the ranch's northern and western sides inside Pima County, at the Santa Cruz County line. Sopori is one of Southern Arizona's largest and oldest cattle ranches, dating back to the 1700s.

The rest of the 13,000-acre property lies in Santa Cruz County and will stay private.

FULL STORY:  http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/267564