When multimillionaire businessman T. Boone Pickens put his extraordinary Texas ranch on the market for $250 million (£190m) in 2017, it became one of the most expensive homes ever listed in the United States.

Over the course of nearly 50 years, Pickens poured $200 million (£152m) into building Mesa Vista, expanding it to just under 65,000 acres (26,305ha) and developing a luxury compound, a golf course, a church, and even an airport. While Pickens passed away in 2019, his magnum opus eventually sold for around $170 million (£129m) in 2022, a remarkable testament to its scale and grandeur.

Click or scroll on to explore the late tycoon’s longtime home and its astonishing amenities…

Known as the Oracle of Oil, Oklahoma native T. Boone Pickens built a vast fortune through his success in the petroleum industry. In the 21st century, Pickens' career took an unexpected turn as he emerged as a vocal advocate for renewable energy and conservation. Deeply committed to environmental stewardship, he used his Mesa Vista ranch as a sandbox for his beliefs about considerate land management.

Beyond his environmental efforts, Pickens also left a significant philanthropic legacy. While he lost his billionaire status in the years before his death, he ultimately donated more than $1 billion (£759m) to charitable causes during his lifetime, according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com.

The origins of Mesa Vista date back to 1971, when Pickens purchased 2,900 acres (1,174ha) in Roberts County, in the Eastern Texas Panhandle. An oasis of wilderness, the land bordered the Canadian River and was undeveloped, save for a primitive corrugated-metal shelter used to store livestock feed.

In the decades that followed, Pickens bought up large tracts of adjoining land, expanding the acreage to more than 100 square miles (259sqkm). The estate's landscapes are varied, spanning open prairies, elevated ridges, scenic waterfalls, and tranquil lakes. Pickens focused on restoring the terrain and its ecosystem, in addition to building several impressive homes.

At the heart of Mesa Vista sits the sprawling lodge compound, a long-time gathering place for Pickens' family and friends, as well as the site of important business meetings, conferences, and events through the years. The complex includes the main lodge building, flanked by the 6,000-square-foot (557sqm) family house, the 2,300-square-foot (214sqm) gate house, a pub, and a flood-lit tennis court. 

Nestled amid meticulously maintained parkland, the compound balances quiet seclusion with state-of-the-art amenities. Pickens' guests often shared the landscape with roaming wildlife such as whitetail deer and turkeys, which emerge at dawn and dusk.

Construction first began on the lodge in 1988. It's been expanded and altered through the decades to arrive at its current floor plan, which comprises 25,000 square feet (2,323sqm) of interior space and 10,000 square feet (929sqm) of terraces. 

The exterior features rustic stonework and a prefabricated steel panel roof that nods to the land's humble agricultural roots. During Pickens' tenure, Bronze sculptures were scattered artfully throughout the grounds – by the lodge entrance is Bruce R. Greene's Somewhere West of Wall Street, which depicts a modern cowboy reading a newspaper alongside his faithful dog.

One of the lodge's most impressive spaces, the large dining hall features a 28-foot (8.5m) vaulted ceiling supported by dramatic timber beams and framed by striking stone walls. The cavernous room served as a hub for the many guests who stayed at the compound over the years. 

Linked to the main lodge by a covered walkway, the guest wing offers seven self-contained en suite bedrooms, each finished with hardwood accents and stone flooring. Every suite has its own entrance, ensuring visitors the utmost privacy.

When friends and family weren't in residence, the lodge was often a meeting place for the movers and shakers of the business world. Corporate heads and CEOs would gather here to hash out multimillion-dollar business deals, while politicians and donors also staged fundraisers and events at the complex.

Pictured here when the property was listed for sale in 2017, this imposing room with its incredible vaulted ceiling and timber wainscotting was one of the compound's corporate meeting spaces. The long table is set out with leather desk chairs and a conference phone.

In 2010, Pickens and his wife, Madeleine, unveiled the lodge’s newly expanded floor plan to Architectural Digest. Their own home on the ranch sat three miles (4.8km) from the lodge compound, and they wanted a comfortable place to stay on-site when hosting guests, which often swelled to as many as 40 people on a weekend.

One of the key additions was the inviting great room. In this image taken after the remodel, lighting strips encircle the perimeter of the room, illuminating the spectacular timber ceiling. Two limestone fireplaces bookend the room, which features sumptuously upholstered seating areas. 

Along with the great room, the expansion included a master bedroom, dining room, art gallery, screening and conference rooms, and a library. Designer John Cottrell took the lead on decorating the new suite of rooms, with Pickens giving him free rein to make the large spaces warm and cosy. 

The double-height library was a particular highlight of the redesign, featuring a coffered wood ceiling, intricate wood-panelled walls, an open hearth, antique European décor, and two levels of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, connected by an intricately carved spiral staircase.  

A consummate host, Madeleine wanted plenty of space to entertain guests, which made the screening room an essential addition to the lodge. When the compound reached full capacity, she could field sports fans into the 36-seat theatre, where the impressive screen could show up to four games simultaneously.

Motorised leather seats with built-in cup holders allowed guests to recline in complete comfort, all beneath a magnificent hand-painted ceiling that imparts an elegant, cinematic atmosphere.

In the early 2000s, Pickens began laying out ambitious plans for the construction of his private home at Mesa Vista. An elaborate centrepiece of the ranch, set a few miles away from the bustling lodge compound, it was envisaged as a peaceful waterfront escape. After years of renovations and extensions, the residence was completed in 2008.

Perched atop a hill and framed by semi-circular terraced gardens, the home, with its circular turrets, sweeping archways, and cave stone façade, stands as a regal castle crowning Pickens' former wilderness empire.

Flanked by metal lanterns and set inside a deep, domed porch, the entrance of the Lake House is nothing short of stately. It was designed around the magnificent arched front door, inset with exquisite stained-glass panels, which was originally installed in the entryway of Golden Age American actor and singer Bing Crosby's house.

The property encompasses a total of 11,500 square feet (1,068sqm) of living space. During Pickens' tenure, the floor plan included three luxuriously appointed bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms.

In this listing image of the elegant entryway, sunlight pours through the glazed front door with its intricate lead detailing. A Persian rug covers the Travertine floor, alongside an antique console accessorised with matching candelabra lamps.

The home's décor may have channelled the aesthetics of eras past, but it employed state-of-the-art systems to keep the living spaces comfortable throughout the seasons. A water-source heat pump was installed to heat and air-condition the interior, utilising renewable energy generated from the estate's numerous waterways.

Situated on the home’s upper level is this impressive space, used as the primary sitting room when Pickens and Madeleine were in residence. Its architectural focal points include a spectacular vaulted roofline supported by exposed oak beams and a grand, open fireplace.

Lined with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, the welcoming room was designed with an easy flow between indoors and out. Built into the hillside, the top floor is at ground level, allowing the space to open onto a partially covered terrace framed by a colonnade. By day, the patio would have served as an extension of the Pickens’ living area; by night, it could be closed off and transformed into a cosy retreat.

While two guest bedrooms were located on the lower floor, Pickens and Madeleine's spacious master suite was located on the upper level. This image from the listing likely shows the primary bedroom, given its monogrammed pillows emblazoned with the oil tycoon's initials. 

Rich with tartan and soft, enveloping textiles, the bed is pictured here cocooned in a tall canopy adorned with red, green, and cream tassels, mirrored across the pillowcases and table covering. Family photos adorn the dual bedside tables, alongside a pair of gilded lamps.

During Pickens’ time at the property, the top level of one of the circular turrets housed a private dining area – a soaring space dressed in elaborate swagged curtains, an extravagant chandelier, and matching wall sconces. Pictured on the right, the circular antique six-seater dining table offered the couple a more intimate dining setting than the large banquet hall in the lodge.

While the home also includes an elevator, the upper and lower floors are connected by a beautiful stone spiral staircase imported from France. The textured stone walls of the stairwell provide a pleasing contrast to the staircase’s smooth steps.

Along with the guest rooms, Pickens designed the lower level of the Lake House to accommodate a wine cellar and tasting room, an office, a gym, a utility room, three bathrooms, a closet, a mechanical room, and a safe room. 

The petroleum mogul's personal office is shown here in this listing image. An open stone hearth sits adjacent to a magnificent mahogany desk inlaid with regal motifs. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the room.

Pickens managed his business ventures here until 2018, when he took a step back from work at the age of 90 due to his declining health.

In addition to its generous interior living space, the Lake House has 3,800 square feet (353sqm) of terraces and porches. Bronze railings run across the exterior balconies, which featured sitting areas illuminated by metal lanterns when Pickens called it home.

Steps lead down from the covered patio to the swimming pool and Jacuzzi, both designed with a flowing, circular shape. The same organic lines are echoed in the landscaping, where pristine box hedges curve around the pool. The semi-circular waterfall fills the backyard with the gentle rush of water.

Pictured here is the breathtaking view from the home’s brick-paved wraparound balcony, taking in part of the estate with its tranquil waterways, arched viaduct, and sweeping stretches of verdant prairie.

In the early 2000s, Pickens undertook an extensive project to enhance the ranch's surface water and help optimise the ecosystem – an unusual feat for a private citizen. The tycoon dredged and constructed a network of dams, waterfalls, and lakes, as well as creating an artificial waterway called Boone's Creek, which runs parallel to the Canadian River.

This listing photo captures the rear landscaping of the Lake House, where manicured grounds blur into the surrounding rural terrain. A waterway winds down the hill and across the estate, providing an essential resource for the animals that roam Mesa Vista. Pickens kept a herd of 400-500 cattle on the ranch, and quail and deer feeding stations were added to support local wildlife.

When Mesa Vista was sold in two parcels for around $170 million (£129m) in 2022, both buyers appeared committed to continuing Pickens' environmental stewardship. Cattle rancher Travis Chester acquired the 27,000-acre (10,927ha) eastern portion, while businessman Bill Kent led a group of buyers that purchased the 36,000-acre (14,569ha) western tract.

Elsewhere on the estate, the picturesque golf course is worthy of a wilderness resort, set adjacent to the lodge compound amid rolling prairie land. It includes two fairways, two greens, and nine tee boxes.

This blend of luxury amenities and stunning natural landscapes appeals to Bill Kent, who heads the group that now owns the western side of the ranch, including the lodge. He envisions the property’s future as a membership resort where visitors can experience – and help preserve – its rural beauty. In December 2022, he told local Texas newspaper The Midland Reporter-Telegram: "I want to honor the property, be good stewards of the land, and do what is in its DNA."

Shown here is the estate’s 800-square-foot (74sqm) chapel, built in 2007 near the lodge compound. It includes a working bell tower, stained-glass windows, travertine floors, and a limestone exterior.

Another notable structure on the property was Pickens’ childhood home. For his 80th birthday, his wife, Madeleine, had the house taken apart and moved from Holdenville, Oklahoma, to Mesa Vista, complete with its original street sign and the sidewalk stone where Pickens etched his name in 1939. After his death, the home, which was excluded from the sale, was relocated once more to Oklahoma State University, his alma mater.

Just east of the lodge compound is the sprawling kennel complex, commissioned by Pickens in 2003 to house his bird dogs. A lifelong quail hunter, he believed that hunting contributed to effective land management.

Topped with a steel roof, the main kennel spans 11,000 square feet (1,022sqm) and was designed to house 40 dog pens, along with a full office, wash area, veterinary lab, and upper storage level. During Pickens’ tenure, a fenced exercise area sat next to the kennel, alongside a 5,000-square-foot (465 sqm) maintenance outbuilding.

Incredibly, the estate also has its own airport, situated around 12 miles (19km) from the lodge compound. Enclosed by an eight-foot-high (2.4m) game fence, the complex comprises a 25,000-square-foot (2,323sqm) hangar with a lounge and restroom, as well as a pilot's apartment on the upper level with two bedrooms and bathrooms. 

Approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the airport features a 6,000-foot-long (1,829m) illuminated runway capable of accommodating most private aircraft. Just a 55-minute flight from Dallas, Texas, the remote ranch is easily accessible from major airports.

Speaking to Architectural Digest, Pickens reflected on the creation of Mesa Vista and its extraordinary legacy: "When you're 80 years old and you have the money, why not? You do everything to make the land perfect, hoping the next owner has the same passion."

While Pickens is no longer the guardian of one of America's most incredible private estates, his reverence for nature's resources and passion for conservation live on, imbued in the land of his beloved Mesa Vista for future generations to enjoy.

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