Built to endure.
Built to endure.
Built to endure.
A Texas ranching legacy set within the Sierra Madera impact crater, a rare geological landmark worth preserving.
A Texas ranching legacy set within the Sierra Madera impact crater, a rare geological landmark worth preserving.
A Texas ranching legacy set within the Sierra Madera impact crater, a rare geological landmark worth preserving.
Tough country.
South of Fort Stockton, La Escalera stretches across Pecos and Brewster counties in one unbroken piece of land. The ranch has been in the Lyda family since 1992 and is run with a simple approach: take care of the cattle, take care of the land, and leave things better than you found them. Cowboys work horseback and helicopters are used to help gather cattle across the wide country.
South of Fort Stockton, La Escalera stretches across Pecos and Brewster counties in one unbroken piece of land. The ranch has been in the Lyda family since 1992 and is run with a simple approach: take care of the cattle, take care of the land, and leave things better than you found them. Cowboys work horseback and helicopters are used to help gather cattle across the wide country.
Improvements are practical and long-term, built to keep the ranch productive while protecting the land that surrounds it. At the center of this country stands Sierra Madera, a rare 100-million-year-old impact crater rising from the desert floor. Across the ranch runs the historic Comanche Trail, worn into the land long before fences or roads. What began here long ago continues today.
Improvements are practical and long-term, built to keep the ranch productive while protecting the land that surrounds it. At the center of this country stands Sierra Madera, a rare 100-million-year-old impact crater rising from the desert floor. Across the ranch runs the historic Comanche Trail, worn into the land long before fences or roads. What began here long ago continues today.
Sierra Madera Astrobleme on La Escalera Ranch
Sierra Madera Astrobleme on La Escalera Ranch
Sierra Madera Astrobleme
Preserve the Sierra Madera Astrobleme.
Sierra Madera is the result of an ancient asteroid impact that reshaped this part of West Texas during the Cretaceous period. The collision forced deep limestone and geologic strata upward, creating the prominent central uplift that still rises from the valley floor today. The blast fractured the surrounding rock and pushed deeper formations to the surface, leaving shatter cones and other impact features still visible across the landscape. Unlike many impact sites that are buried or eroded beyond recognition, Sierra Madera remains clearly legible from both the ground and the air and is recognized as one of the most intact exposed astroblemes in North America.
The structure of the crater still shapes the land today. The broad basin forms a natural valley where water drains and grasses take hold across the valley floor. Fractured rock beneath the surface influences how water moves through the ground, feeding stock tanks that support cattle across the ranch. What began as a violent event long ago now forms the quiet country where La Escalera carries on its work.
It's a landscape worth protecting.
Sierra Madera is the result of an ancient asteroid impact that reshaped this part of West Texas during the Cretaceous period. The collision forced deep limestone and geologic strata upward, creating the prominent central uplift that still rises from the valley floor today. The blast fractured the surrounding rock and pushed deeper formations to the surface, leaving shatter cones and other impact features still visible across the landscape. Unlike many impact sites that are buried or eroded beyond recognition, Sierra Madera remains clearly legible from both the ground and the air and is recognized as one of the most intact exposed astroblemes in North America.
The structure of the crater still shapes the land today. The broad basin forms a natural valley where water drains and grasses take hold across the valley floor. Fractured rock beneath the surface influences how water moves through the ground, feeding stock tanks that support cattle across the ranch. What began as a violent event long ago now forms the quiet country where La Escalera carries on its work.
It's a landscape worth protecting.
Next stop: West Texas
Next stop: West Texas
Next stop: West Texas
Next stop:
West Texas
Cretaceous period - 100M years ago
Cretaceous period - 100M years ago
Cretaceous period - 100M years ago
Cretaceous period
100M years ago
Sierra Madera Astrobleme - 8 mile diameter
Sierra Madera Astrobleme - 8 mile diameter
Sierra Madera Astrobleme - 8 mile diameter
Sierra Madera Astrobleme
8 mile diameter
Sierra Madera Astrobleme
8 mile diameter
Sierra Madera Astrobleme
8 mile diameter
Before Apollo 17 drove the Moon, NASA crews trained at Sierra Madera
Before Apollo 17 drove on the Moon, NASA crews trained at Sierra Madera
Neil Armstrong examines a sample
from the Sierra Madera impact crater
Neil Armstrong examines a sample
from the Sierra Madera impact crater
Neil Armstrong examines a sample
from the Sierra Madera impact crater
Neil Armstrong examines a sample
from the Sierra Madera impact crater
One giant leap for West Texas
One giant leap for West Texas
One giant leap for West Texas
One giant leap for West Texas
A crater that prepared astronauts for the Moon.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey brought Apollo astronauts to West Texas for field geology training. Sierra Madera drew particular interest because of its exposed impact structure, central uplift, and fields of shatter cones. Astronauts studied these formations to learn how to recognize impact-altered rock and identify meaningful samples.
Separate from these broader geology tours across West Texas, the rugged terrain within the Sierra Madera basin was also used for rover mobility training. Its fractured limestone slopes and crater-scale landscape provided a practical setting for practicing navigation and movement across terrain similar to what crews later encountered on the lunar surface.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey brought Apollo astronauts to West Texas for field geology training. Sierra Madera drew particular interest because of its exposed impact structure, central uplift, and fields of shatter cones. Astronauts studied these formations to learn how to recognize impact-altered rock and identify meaningful samples.
Separate from these broader geology tours across West Texas, the rugged terrain within the Sierra Madera basin was also used for rover mobility training. Its fractured limestone slopes and crater-scale landscape provided a practical setting for practicing navigation and movement across terrain similar to what crews later encountered on the lunar surface.
Gene Lyda Works cattle in the Sierra Madera Astrobleme
Gene Lyda works cattle in the Sierra Madera Astrobleme
Gene Lyda Works cattle in the Sierra Madera Astrobleme
Working cattle at Sierra Madera
Cattle
La Escalera Ranch runs a reputation herd of Black Angus cattle managed through Lyda Cattle Co. under Gene Lyda. The program focuses on low-stress handling and consistent herd management suited to West Texas conditions.
Each fall the cattle are worked with the ranch veterinarian and sorted by age and calving window so buyers know what they’re getting. Pens and feedlot facilities are built for efficient, humane operation, supporting a program focused on herd health and practical ranch management.
La Escalera Ranch runs a reputation herd of Black Angus cattle managed through Lyda Cattle Co. under Gene Lyda. The program focuses on low-stress handling and consistent herd management suited to West Texas conditions.
Each fall the cattle are worked with the ranch veterinarian and sorted by age and calving window so buyers know what they’re getting. Pens and feedlot facilities are built for efficient, humane operation, supporting a program focused on herd health and practical ranch management.
Center-pivot irrigation growing seasonal forage for the La Escalera cattle herd
Center-pivot irrigation growing forage for the La Escalera cattle
Center-pivot irrigation growing seasonal forage for the La Escalera cattle herd
Growing forage at La Escalera
Center-pivot irrigation growing seasonal forage for the La Escalera cattle herd
Center-pivot irrigation growing forage for La Escalera cattle
Farming
A fundamental part of ranching is producing quality forage for the cattle. Across La Escalera, a variety of grasses support the ranch’s Black Angus herd and help maintain its reputation for consistency. The ranch’s farming operations focus on improving grazing capacity and producing seasonal feed crops that supplement throughout the year.
A fundamental part of ranching is producing quality forage for the cattle. Across La Escalera, a variety of grasses support the ranch’s Black Angus herd and help maintain its reputation for consistency. The ranch’s farming operations focus on improving grazing capacity and producing seasonal feed crops that supplement throughout the year.
Ranch horses grazing within the Sierra Madera impact basin at La Escalera Ranch
Ranch horses grazing within the Sierra Madera impact basin at La Escalera Ranch
Ranch horses grazing within the Sierra Madera impact basin at La Escalera Ranch
Ranch horses at Sierra Madera
Ranch horses grazing within the Sierra Madera impact basin at La Escalera Ranch
Ranch horses graze the Sierra Madera impact basin at La Escalera
Horses
Horses at La Escalera are ranch raised and used in the daily cattle operation. They're trained for practical ranch work and are accustomed to the terrain and conditions of West Texas. From time to time, a few are offered for sale, carrying with them the same training and temperament that serve us here every day.
Horses at La Escalera are ranch raised and used in the daily cattle operation. They're trained for practical ranch work and are accustomed to the terrain and conditions of West Texas. From time to time, a few are offered for sale, carrying with them the same training and temperament that serve us here every day.
Wildlife
Wildlife remains an important part of the La Escalera landscape. The ranch supports whitetail & mule deer, pronghorn, elk, turkey, quail, dove and other species alongside the cattle operation. Land management practices such as brush control and water distribution also support wildlife habitat. Hunting has been limited, allowing populations to stabilize.
Wildlife remains an important part of the La Escalera landscape. The ranch supports whitetail & mule deer, pronghorn, elk, turkey, quail, dove and other species alongside the cattle operation. Land management practices such as brush control and water distribution also support wildlife habitat. Hunting has been limited, allowing populations to stabilize.
Copyright © 2026 | La Escalera Limited Partnership | All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2026
La Escalera Limited Partnership
All Rights Reserved.
385 Marathon Highway PO Box 1553 Ft Stockton, TX 79735
385 Marathon Highway PO Box 1553
Ft Stockton, TX 79735