Texas family ends 8-year fight over 65,000-acre ranch worth at least $60m

A bitter family dispute over one of West Texas’s most historic ranches has taken an unexpected turn, with the heirs agreeing to divide the sprawling property rather than force a sale of the entire estate. The agreement involving the 65,000-acre Brite Ranch was reported by The Big Bend Sentinel on October 8, 2026, shortly before a jury trial was scheduled to begin. Court records from the Texas Court of Appeals and historical accounts published by the Texas State Historical Association provide further context on the dispute and the ranch’s legacy. The settlement brings the family closer to resolving a legal battle that began in 2018, when disagreements over trust management and the distribution of ranch income escalated into years of litigation.