Project Details
Area: SOUTHWEST
Size: 200 acres
Location: Catron County
Eco-Region: AZ/NM Mountains – Montane Conifer Forest
Conservation Values: Scenic Open Space, Wildlife Habitat, Cultural/Historical, Agricultural – Inholding: Gila National Forest
Type of Project: Donated conservation easement
Date Completed: October 2020
Lawson Springs
A Passion for the Property that Started Long Ago
For many of us, our natal grounds where we spent much of our youth exploring our outdoor surroundings, always seem to pull at our heartstrings, no matter how far removed we might be later in life. A native of the small town of Mangus, NM, now a historic ghost town just outside of Quemado, Jerry Thompson grew up with the Gila National Forest virtually in his “back yard.” As a child, however, little did Jerry know that he and his wife, Sara Cabello would one day acquire the Lawson Springs property, a unique 200-acre inholding with a rare perennial stream, tucked away quietly in the Gila National Forest.
Lawson Springs, rich in local lore, attracted a myriad of visitors over the years, including Native Americans who used the site for ceremonial purposes, and later, Perry Lawson who patented the land around the turn of the 20th century. As a person who traveled the corners of the Gila in his exploits, the fact that Lawson picked this particular place to settle in and build his cabin is testimony to how special this property is. Remnants of Lawson’s cabin are still visible on the rise that overlooks the perennial stream and its wealth of biodiversity that includes wild rose, alligator junipers, Gamble’s oak, mountain cottonwoods, and Apache pines.
A professor of history at Texas A & M International and a prolific writer of interesting western history books, it is no wonder that Jerry Thompson has a deep passion to protect the greater Gila region, and in particular, Lawson Springs. The Thompson family worked with NMLC to preserve this inholding in its pristine natural condition with a conservation easement, completed in December 2020. To know that this beautiful site at the heart of the Gila National Forest will not be fragmented with subdivision along this beautiful perennial stream is a wonderful gift that the Thompson Family has provided with the granting of this conservation easement. We are very thankful to have been invited to join the Thompsons in the writing of the next piece of history for the Lawson Springs Property. #
