West Texas ranch where Scalia died is celebrity retreat

Cibolo Creek Ranch And Resort, Marfa, Texas, USA

Emily Schmall, Associated Press

February 13, 2016 Updated: February 14, 2016 10:48am

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, AP

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas, after he"d gone to his room the night before and did not appear for breakfast, said Donna Sellers, speaking for the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington. He was 79. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP) MAGS OUT, , SAN ANOTNIO OUT, AP MEMBERS ONLY, MANDATORY CREDIT, EFE OUT, ONLINE OUT less A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, AP A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas, after he"d gone to his room the night before and did not appear for breakfast, said Donna Sellers, speaking for the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington. He was 79. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP) MAGS OUT, , SAN ANOTNIO OUT, AP MEMBERS ONLY, MANDATORY CREDIT, EFE OUT, ONLINE OUT less A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, AP A hearse and a SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas, after he"d gone to his room the night before and did not appear for breakfast, said Donna Sellers, speaking for the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington. He was 79. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP) MAGS OUT, , SAN ANOTNIO OUT, AP MEMBERS ONLY, MANDATORY CREDIT, EFE OUT, ONLINE OUT less A hearse and a SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Texas. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was found dead Saturday morning at the private residence in the Big ... more Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, AP FILE - In this June 7, 2006 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia listens to President Bush speak during a swearing-in ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshall"s Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File) less FILE - In this June 7, 2006 file photo, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia listens to President Bush speak during a swearing-in ceremony on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington. On Saturday, Feb. ... more Photo: Ron Edmonds, Associated Press A hearse and a SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A hearse and a SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A man guards the entrance to Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx. less

A hearse and an SUV leave the Cibolo Creek Ranch Saturday Feb. 13, 2016 on U.S. 67 near Shafter, Tx.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, Staff / San Antonio Express-News The U.S. flag blows in the wind, seen through columns at the Supreme Court building in Washington on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79. less The U.S. flag blows in the wind, seen through columns at the Supreme Court building in Washington on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died ... more Photo: Jon Elswick, AP This Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 photo shows the Supreme Court building at sunset in Washington. On Saturday, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79. less

This Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 photo shows the Supreme Court building at sunset in Washington. On Saturday, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79.

Photo: Jon Elswick, AP FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2011 file photo, U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia looks into the balcony before addressing the Chicago-Kent College Law justice in Chicago. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File) ORG XMIT: NYAS112 less FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2011 file photo, U.S. Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia looks into the balcony before addressing the Chicago-Kent College Law justice in Chicago. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. ... more United State Secretary of Energy Steven Chu speaks with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia while they walk in the processional during Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute"s 206th Commencement in Troy N.Y. Saturday May 26, 2012. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) less United State Secretary of Energy Steven Chu speaks with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia while they walk in the processional during Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute"s 206th Commencement in Troy N.Y. ... more Photo: Michael P. Farrell FILE - In this June 17, 1986 file photo, President Ronald Reagan speaks at a news briefing at the White House in Washington, where he announced the nomination of Antonin Scalia, left, to the Supreme Court as a result of Chief Justice Warren E. Burger"s resignation. William Rehnquist is at right. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Justice Scalia has died at the age of 79. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds) ORG XMIT: NYAS111 less FILE - In this June 17, 1986 file photo, President Ronald Reagan speaks at a news briefing at the White House in Washington, where he announced the nomination of Antonin Scalia, left, to the Supreme Court as a ... more Photo: Ron Edmonds Chief Judge of the State of New York Judith Kaye, center, talks with United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, right, as her husband Stephen Kaye, left looks on before a conference titled "Religious Freedom in America: Foundations and Future" at the Congregation Shearith Israel, Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, in New York. I have spent many private hours with Justice Scalia _ in print, said Kaye, who has led New York"s highest court for almost a dozen years since she was appointed by Gov. Mario Cuomo, a liberal Democrat. (AP Photo/Jennifer Szymaszek) less Chief Judge of the State of New York Judith Kaye, center, talks with United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, right, as her husband Stephen Kaye, left looks on before a conference titled "Religious ... more Photo: JENNIFER SZYMASZEK

West Texas ranch where Scalia died is celebrity retreat

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Rich in history as well as rugged West Texas landscapes and big sky, the Cibolo Creek Ranch where Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away has long been a secluded retreat for celebrities from business leaders to rock stars and actors.

Scalia, 79, was found dead on Saturday morning when he did not appear for breakfast, the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington said. A Catholic priest, the Rev. Mike Alcuino, was hurriedly summoned from 30 miles away in Presidio to administer last rites over the body of Scalia, a staunch Catholic and defender of religious freedom on the high court, according to Diocese of El Paso spokeswoman Elizabeth O"Hara.

The resort sits in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert, 15 miles from Mexico, at the foot of the jagged Chinati Mountains and 150 miles southeast of El Paso. The nearest town is Shafter, Texas, population 11.

The storied night sky is full of stars. Over the wide expanse of desert grasslands roam buffalo, wild pigs, mountain lions, Barbary sheep, elk and white-tailed deer. Bird hunts at the base of a bluff on the property include pheasant and chukar shoots, white-tailed dove and blue quail. The hotel"s weapons room provides an "array of rifles, pistols and shotguns, including fine-quality Spanish side-by-sides, and plenty of ammunition," according to the ranch website.

It was not immediately clear if Scalia traveled to the ranch alone or in a party, and whether he took part in the hunting excursions.

Front desk receptionist Elena Marquez declined to comment Saturday on whether Scalia had been a frequent visitor to the five-star resort, but said "people who come here do so because it"s pretty far from any other place." Rooms start at $395 and range up to $800, she said.

Milton Faver, a trader who became one of the most prominent cattle barons of Presidio County, established the ranch in Apache and Comanche Indian country during the 1850s, and built a series of forts to retain the land as his.

Houston-born millionaire John Poindexter, a Vietnam veteran and self-published military historian, bought and restored the antebellum forts spread over 30,000 acres to become luxury accommodations. Since the 1990s, Poindexter has kept a private home on the ranch.

The resort is 32 miles from Marfa, an artist mecca of about 2,000 made famous as the setting for the movie "Giant."

Actors Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson took Marfa by storm during the summer of 1955 to make the Texas saga about cattle and oil.

"No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" were also filmed there.

Other famous guests have included rock icon Mick Jagger and actors Julia Roberts and Tommy Lee Jones.

The resort offers its guests a private landing strip for airplanes.

A gray hearse was seen at the entrance on Saturday accompanied by an SUV. The two-car caravan pulled out onto U.S. highway 67, which runs between wide stretches of dry, ochre winter fields. A man sat guard near a brown stone wall at the entrance to the ranch, the West Texas mountains rising in the background.

Source: http://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/West-Texas-ranch-where-Scalia-died-is-celebrity-6829570.php

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Valentine"s Day by the Numbers

10 Romantic Valentine"s Day Gifts!
Photograph by Manjunath Kiran AFP/Getty Images

This year, Americans are expected to spend $19.7 billion on Valentines Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

The five most common items purchased for the holiday and their average prices, according to Bankrate, are a box of chocolates ($15.11), diamond earrings ($323.26), a dozen roses ($41.66), dinner for two ($80.46), and a bottle of champagne ($51.54).

According to LPL Research, the prices for common Valentines Day gifts increased by 1.3% in 2015, more than the overall rate of inflation. The firm also cites that the cost of a night out hasnt dropped in the 15-year history of their Valentines Day study.

With these stats in mind, weve rounded up a bunch of other numbers related to Valentines Day participation and spending.

According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, participating in Valentines Day varies across age, gender, and income.

Dating

According to data from the Census Bureau, there are 105 million unmarried people in the U.S., or 44% of all U.S. residents over age 18. Fifty-three percent of single people are women and 47% are men. For this reason, the dating odds favor single men.

According to the Hinge data science team, last Valentines Day the app saw a 230% increase in usage when compared to a typical Saturday.

According to Tinder, the app last Valentines Day saw usage increase by 7.6%, U.S. matches increase by 6%, and U.S. messages increase by 5.2%.

Cities

WalletHub compiled data to determine the best cities to celebrate Valentines Day. It compared the 100 most populated cities in the U.S. across four key dimensions: Valentines Day budget, Valentines Day activities, Valentines Day gift accessibility, and Valentines Day weather forecast. In order to identify the best cities for singles, the company compared the 150 most populated U.S. cities across two equally weighted dimensions: dating economics, and romance and fun.

Graphic by Analee Kasudia

Flowers

According to 1800Flowers, Valentines Day is the second largest holiday next to Mothers Day for the floral industry. The top flowers sold for Valentines Day are roses, lilies, gerbera daises, carnations, and tulips. Red roses are the most popular rose variety, followed by pink and purple.

1800Flowers president Chris McCann told Fortune that when Valentines Day falls on a weekend, like it does this year, e-commerce sales for the company go down. However, suburban brick and mortar shops see increased business, while urban shops see decreased business. He also said that sales are the best for his company when Valentines Day falls between Wednesday and Friday.

Netflix

According to an Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Netflix, movies and television shows are the top two icebreakers for a first date. Show-compatibility is important, with 13% saying they would ask someone out based solely on mutual interest in a TV show.

More than half of the respondents reported that sharing a Netflix account is a big step towards a serious relationship. More than half say theyd wait until dating exclusively before sharing an account, while 17% wait to be engaged or officially married.

Staying in seems to be the new going out. Seventy-two percent of those surveyed who are married or in a relationship say staying in and watching Netflix together is one of their favorite ways to spend a casual date night.

Icons by Freepik

Source: http://fortune.com/valentines-day-by-the-numbers/

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About 1.2 billion valentine cards purchased yearly Official

Late Show First Drafts: Valentine"s Cards

Women purchase about 85 per cent of an estimated 1.2 billion valentine cards that are sold worldwide annually, Felicia Bello, the Matron, Landmark University Medical Centre, Omu-Aran, has said.

Ms Bello said this at a health counselling initiative organised for secondary school students in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, on Friday.

Quoting statistics from the World Greeting Card Association, Ms Bello said the figure had made Valentines Day, the second most popular card exchange celebration after Christmas.

She said that the official card purchase figure for Christmas celebration was an estimated 2.6 billion cards globally.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the counselling activity tagged: Health Counselling toward Valentine was organised by Landmark University Community Development Impact Initiative (LMUCDII).

No fewer than 150 students participated in the counselling initiative.

Ms Bello said in spite of the fact that Valentines Day celebration had transformed into a global celebration of love, many persons, particularly the youth, celebrated the day wrongly.

Many people are introduced to habits that will destroy their destiny.

Many young girls from age 10 years to 15 years are defiled on the night of Valentines Day, with some of them ending up with HIV or unwanted pregnancy.

Many are initiated into cultism and other wicked associations some unknowingly as such celebrations usually start at odd hours, she said.

The matron, therefore, cautioned the students to shun all the negative and anti-social aspects of Valentine Days celebration.

She urged them to only embrace those positive aspects which had to do with sharing of affection, gifts, food items and even ideas that could enhance their future.

A resource person, Olubunmi Joseph-Fadipe, who presented a paper on Valentine, Love and G*d, urged the students to always allow G*d be their guide in their day-to-day activities, particularly on Valentines Day.

She bemoaned the fact that most Valentine Days celebrations nowadays had negated the original objectives of its innovators, saying that the development was doing more harm than good to the society.

Joseph-Fadipe said: Todays Valentines Day celebration, especially in this part of the world, has been hijacked by anti-social vices.In his remark, Abiodun Okunola, the Chairman of LMUCDII, said the counselling activity was aimed at sensitising the students to the need to eschew ungodly habits in their celebration of Valentines Day.

He said that the institution, through the initiative, had made donations to orphanages, while looking at practical ways of making agriculture more attractive to the youth, in partnership with Omu-Aran Youth Forum.

It is our belief that with the education and information which the students were able to garner from the counselling, they would be able to jealously safeguard their future, Mr. Okunola said.

Speaking, Oluwatomisin Jegede, a student of Landmark University Secondary School, Omu-Aran, said the counselling activity had greatly enhanced her knowledge on the positive and negative aspects of the Valentines Day celebration.

The schools which participated in the programme include Omu-Aran High School; Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran; Government Christian College, Omu-Aran; Victory Model College; Aperan Comprehensive College and Ofe-Aran Commercial College.(NAN)

Source: http://www.premiumtimesng.com/arts-entertainment/198383-1-2-billion-valentine-cards-purchased-yearly-official.html

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Happy Valentine"s Day, Say Shraddha, Aditi

Bundesliga Love - Happy Valentine"s Day
Bollywood celebrities, including Shraddha Kapoor, Aditi Rao Hydari, Arjun Rampal and Karan Johar, have wished their fans and followers on Twitter on Valentine"s Day on Sunday.

Here"s what they wrote on Twitter:

Happy Valentine"s Day my loves!!!Love you guys to the moon and back

? Shraddha Kapoor (@ShraddhaKapoor) February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine"s Day and may every day be filled with love forever!

? Aditi Rao Hydari (@aditiraohydari) February 14, 2016

"To love abundantly is to live abundantly, and to love forever is to live forever." #HappyValentinesDaypic.twitter.com/Kc2Pgr4n5M

? Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) February 14, 2016

With my Valentine - hope you guys are having a great day -#HappyValentinesDaypic.twitter.com/WpbQqyPUtk

? Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine"s Day. Love is the only truth,and I wish you all find that love and recognise and cherish it for eternity.#ValentinesDay

? arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) February 14, 2016

Love is a gamble where you can bet all you have...if you lose you"re still a winner....#HappyValentinesDay

? Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 14, 2016

Happy Valentine"s Day.... Love is the answer to all problems... Love, laugh & live generously....

? Arshad Warsi (@ArshadWarsi) February 14, 2016

Every woman is beautiful, today,and tomorrow, and that"s not defined by a rose or teddy bear, remember that. #HappyValentinesDay

? Sunny Deol (@IAMSUNNYDEOL) February 14, 2016

Source: http://movies.ndtv.com/bollywood/happy-valentines-day-say-shraddha-aditi-1277230

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Police: Double shooting reported at Independence High School, Glendale, AZ

Arizona: Double Shooting at Independence High School In Glendale

02/12/2016 at 7:50 | fox5vegas.com

Glendale police are investigating a double shooting at Independence High School near Glendale and 75th Avenue.

I can confirm there has been a double shooting at the high school at 6600 N. 75th, Glendale Police Officer Tracey Breeden said. . Dont have a lot of details yet. Im heading to the scene.

Details are sketchy but a large number of officers are at 6602 N. 75th Ave.

Read More

Source: http://kdwn.com/2016/02/12/police-double-shooting-reported-at-independence-high-school-glendale-az/

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NCS wrestling: De La Salle, Las Lomas repeat as duals champs

SCH - Champs-Élysées (Parodie)

BRENTWOOD -- Las Lomas High does not yet have the resume which De La Salle"s wrestling program has accomplished, but the two programs flexed some muscle Saturday to repeat as North Coast Section dual meet champions.

A week after winning the prestigious Mission San Jose Warrior Invitational, Las Lomas rolled crosstown rival Northgate 64-12 to win the Division 2 title. While the Knights were celebrating their second straight NCS duals title, De La Salle routed Liberty 59-6 in the Division 1 final for its ninth dual championship in 10 years.

The Knights made quick work of Northgate, opening the match with first-round pins by Angelo Westmacott (184 pounds) and Max Bossert (197). Dalton Thebeau (115) and Iaroslav Titov (134) also rang up first-round falls for Las Lomas.

"Everyone is putting the time in," Knights head coach John Welch said. "Everyone -- the wrestlers, the coaches, the school, the parents. That"s how good things happen."

The Spartans continued to assert themselves as the reigning power in the section on the mat. They lost just three individual matches in the tournament. They started with a 64-3 rout of Pittsburg, then shut out San Leandro 84-0 in the semifinal.

"I always prepare not to be that dominant," De La Salle coach Mark Halvorson said. "I"m pleased that we are that dominant. Liberty has a great team, and we wrestled really good today."

The Spartans were relentless in the final, starting when 184-pounder Mitch Van Loon pinned Estevan DeVilla in 1 minute, 45 seconds in the opening bout. Davon Skarich followed with a 73-second pin at 197, and Darryl Aiello pinned in 56 seconds at 287.

The dual featured three bouts between returning NCS medal winners. In a rematch of a 120-pound semifinal from last year, Patrick Ramirez of the Spartans pinned Tino Curiel in 4:49. De La Salle"s Donovin Guerrero beat Briar Edwards 9-0 at 134 pounds, almost a year after they met in an NCS final match. At 154, returning champion Justin Hansz salvaged some pride for the Lions with a 3-1 victory over Peyton Omania.

Source: http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_29515071/ncs-wrestling-de-la-salle-las-lomas-repeat

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West Texas Ranch Where Scalia Died Is Celebrity Retreat

BREAKING: Justice Antonin Scalia Dead, Obama to Nominate Replacement

Rich in history as well as rugged West Texas landscapes and big sky, the Cibolo Creek Ranch where Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away has long been a secluded retreat for celebrities from business leaders to rock stars and actors.

Scalia, 79, was found dead on Saturday morning when he did not appear for breakfast, the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington said. A Catholic priest, the Rev. Mike Alcuino, was hurriedly summoned from 30 miles away in Presidio to administer last rites over the body of Scalia, a staunch Catholic and defender of religious freedom on the high court, according to Diocese of El Paso spokeswoman Elizabeth O"Hara.

The resort sits in the middle of the Chihuahua Desert, 15 miles from Mexico, at the foot of the jagged Chinati Mountains and 150 miles southeast of El Paso. The nearest town is Shafter, Texas, population 11.

The storied night sky is full of stars. Over the wide expanse of desert grasslands roam buffalo, wild pigs, mountain lions, Barbary sheep, elk and white-tailed deer. Bird hunts at the base of a bluff on the property include pheasant and chukar shoots, white-tailed dove and blue quail. The hotel"s weapons room provides an "array of rifles, pistols and shotguns, including fine-quality Spanish side-by-sides, and plenty of ammunition," according to the ranch website.

It was not immediately clear if Scalia traveled to the ranch alone or in a party, and whether he took part in the hunting excursions.

Front desk receptionist Elena Marquez declined to comment Saturday on whether Scalia had been a frequent visitor to the five-star resort, but said "people who come here do so because it"s pretty far from any other place." Rooms start at $395 and range up to $800, she said.

Milton Faver, a trader who became one of the most prominent cattle barons of Presidio County, established the ranch in Apache and Comanche Indian country during the 1850s, and built a series of forts to retain the land as his.

Houston-born millionaire John Poindexter, a Vietnam veteran and self-published military historian, bought and restored the antebellum forts spread over 30,000 acres to become luxury accommodations. Since the 1990s, Poindexter has kept a private home on the ranch.

The resort is 32 miles from Marfa, an artist mecca of about 2,000 made famous as the setting for the movie "Giant."

Actors Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean and Rock Hudson took Marfa by storm during the summer of 1955 to make the Texas saga about cattle and oil.

"No Country for Old Men" and "There Will Be Blood" were also filmed there.

Other famous guests have included rock icon Mick Jagger and actors Julia Roberts and Tommy Lee Jones.

The resort offers its guests a private landing strip for airplanes.

A gray hearse was seen at the entrance on Saturday accompanied by an SUV. The two-car caravan pulled out onto U.S. highway 67, which runs between wide stretches of dry, ochre winter fields. A man sat guard near a brown stone wall at the entrance to the ranch, the West Texas mountains rising in the background.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/west-texas-ranch-scalia-died-celebrity-retreat-36925246

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