HYANNIS, Neb. (AP)--Media pioneer Ted Turner, Nebraska's largest private landowner, has purchased more land in the state.

Earlier this month, Turner purchased the 58,226-acre Fawn Lake Ranch in the Sandhills of southwest Cherry County. Turner paid $17.78 million for the ranch, which is located north of Hyannis. Turner now owns about 380,000 acres in Nebraska.

Turner will use the new land for his bison ranching operations, said Russ Miller, general manager of Turner Ranches.

Turner, founder of the cable news channel CNN, features buffalo meat in his restaurant chain, Ted's Montana Grill.

The ranch's size, abundance of prairie grass and numerous wet meadows made it an appealing buy, Miller said.

"We're in the Sandhills because of good grass, good water and good people," Miller said.

The Sandhills in western Nebraska are hills of sand and wetlands that grow just enough grass to feed cattle and keep the hills from blowing away. Ranching is the predominate use of the land.

Turner bought the ranch from the Milligan family, who had sold the media mogul a 44,744-acre ranch in Sheridan County in 1998.

Fawn Lake Ranch features two buildings, including the main house, that are insulated with straw bales. The buildings are listed on some websites that feature historic straw-bale buildings.

Turner Ranches has no plans to remove or dismantle the straw-bale buildings, Miller said.

"I see no reason to tear something down that has historic value," Miller said.

Date: 3/23/05