The Bell Ranch originate with two Spanish land grants to Don Pablo Montoya in 1824. Lying along LaCinta Creek near the Canadian River, the historic Bell Ranch is bordered by present day Conchas Lake in San Miguel County, New Mexico about 30 miles (97 km) from Tucumcari. The land originally totaled 719,000 acres (2,910 km²) of rolling grasslands bordered by red rimrocked canyons and flat-topped mountains called mesas. This included the bell-shaped mountain for which the ranch was named that inspired the distinctive bell brand first registered in San Miguel County in 1875 by then-owner Wilson Waddingham. The brand has been in continuous use on the ranch since that time.