Oklahoma National Stockyards for sale
The Oklahoma National Stockyards, the world’s largest stocker and feeder cattle market, is for sale. Founded in 1910, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is the last terminal market in existence.
Since it was started, more than 102 million head of livestock have passed through its gates. Cattle auctions are held on Mondays and Tuesdays. The area, known as Stockyard City, is famous for western apparel stores and eating establishments, such as Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.
The ONS are also located west of Exchange Avenue and south of the Oklahoma River. The facilities are easily accessed from Interstate 40, a major east-west transcontinental highway—making it valuable real estate in the heart of Oklahoma City.
Although the stockyards span 60 acres, the company that owns ONS possesses 102 acres of real estate. The remaining 42 acres consist of undeveloped land and other businesses.
Selling an Oklahoma institution
In January, there was discussion of the stockyards location being a potential building site for the new Oklahoma City jail. At the time, the land was not for sale, but there were concerns the property could be acquired through the power of eminent domain.
The Livestock Marketing Association circulated a press release at that time with a statement from Ben Hale, president of the Oklahoma City Livestock Exchange. Hale said if the government took the land, it would negatively impact livestock commission firms, businesses surrounding the stockyards and livestock producers who rely on the auction.
In the same press release, Jerry Reynolds, president of the ONS, said the auction’s economic impact is more than $1 billion a year, and more than 130 people are employed by the business.
It seems the threat of eminent domain is no longer a concern, as it was announced that the new jail would be built in a location on Grand Boulevard in Southeast Oklahoma City. However, on Oct. 18, it was announced the ONS property is looking for a buyer.
Chris Bakwin, great-great-grandson of Nelson Morris, founder of the company that started ONS, cited low cattle numbers as the motivation of the sale. In 2024, cattle numbers were the lowest they have been since 1951. Other factors, such as drought and input costs have put a stop to herd rebuilding.
Bakwin, who is also board chairman of the stockyards, said ONS previously sold a million head in a year, but with the challenges in the livestock market today, the cattle moving through the auction each year have dwindled to 340,000.
Newmark Robinson Park, a real estate firm in Oklahoma City, will be handling the sale of ONS. Bakwin expressed hope that, “the brokers handling the sale can find someone who will protect the culture and businesses already there, but develop the area further.”
Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].
