Chapoton Ranch

 park, ranch, nature preserve, cattle ranch

at 1,053 acres this ranch is the largest undeveloped tract on Galveston Island's West End. This ranch has been in a sort of limbo state since its sale to Chicago-based Marquette Land Investors in 2006 who are planing the large, and controversial resort development featuring 4,000 single-family homes and condos, a marina, an 18-hole designer golf course and a 15-story hotel, that goes by the name "The Preserve at West Beach". Due to hurricane Ike in 2008 the development seems to have been put on hold leaving the ranch on the island for now.

Update December 2014:
"After more than six years of effort, Artist Boat has secured a grant that will allow it to purchase the final piece of a 367-acre section of what was destined a few years ago to be part of the largest residential development ever planned for Galveston.
The land secured by Artist Boat was to be a marina, part of a 1,053-acre development known as the Preserve at West Beach."
~Houston Chronicle
Update February 2017:
"Artist Boat has secured $1.4 million to purchase and preserve a [285 acre] portion of the proposed Anchor Bay canal subdivision...."
~Artist Boat Facebook Page

All land purchased by Artist Boat will eventually become a Coastal Heritage Preserve