Brackettville, TX 78832 - Edwards County

Situated where the Hill  Country meets the Brush Country, the 5,698-acre T&C Ranch in Edwards and Kinney counties provides complete privacy in a ruggedly beautiful setting. Neighbored by large ranches and nestled in the expansive elbow room between Rocksprings, Brackettville, and Barksdale,  the ranch is a secluded oasis of tranquility that boasts star-studded night skies and superlative wildlife habitat.

The ranch's terrain is diverse, encompassing bottomlands, majestic bluffs with views "to the end of the world," and Indian Mountain, the area's highest peak rising more than 2,100 feet. One of several caves on the ranch has been explored. In at least one location, Native Americans etched pictographs into the rock to record their history.

Three observation decks are placed at prime locations throughout the ranch to maximize the views. One of the decks is roofed and outfitted for skeet shooting, allowing guests to hone their marksmanship while soaking up the scenery. Most of the ranch roads have been improved, providing stress-free access throughout the property.

Cedar has been strategically removed throughout the ranch, opening space for native grass, forbs, and nutrition-rich brush. Several varieties of oaks, elm, sycamore, Texas persimmon, and other native species dot the land, providing shade and shelter for game.

The majority of the ranch is high-fenced, but a few select sections have been low-fenced to maintain eligibility for inclusion in Boone &  Crockett Club records. Native white-tailed deer, historically managed under an MLDP 3 permit, and Rio Grande turkey are plentiful. Free-ranging exotics, including elk, Auodad, red stag, Addax antelope, Axis, Fallow, and Sika deer, are spotted regularly.

In recent years, T&C Ranch has been managed solely for wildlife, and management efforts include a protein feeding program. Approximately 24  box blinds, each seating two or three hunters, are set up on the ranch in close proximity to timed corn feeders. A Fortune 500  company currently holds a year-round lease and uses the property as a hunting and entertainment destination.

Nine water wells (one solar and eight electric) with varying production and several stock ponds are scattered throughout the ranch. Sycamore Creek and Little Sycamore Creek run through the property during wet years.

Lodging, Living, and Entertaining

While the T&C Ranch is a haven for those who love wildlife and the outdoors, its amenities make time spent indoors as enjoyable as time spent afield.

With nine bedrooms and four baths, the lodge, which anchors the headquarters compound, is set up to accommodate large groups of hunters or family and friends. Expansive covered porches invite guests to sit and enjoy one another's company, as does the rock patio with a fire pit in sight of the burbling waterfall in a park-like setting. A barbecue area is nearby, with a wide assortment of grills and pits.

Pole-mounted kerosene lanterns illuminate the outdoor paths with a lustrous glow at night.

Built from rock, the lodge's livable space is defined by large windows, high ceilings, and warm wood. A towering stone fireplace anchors the Great Room, setting off the eye-catching mesquite furniture arranged throughout. The lodge features a fully equipped commercial kitchen, a media room, an office, a utility room, and a walk-in cooler.

After a day in the field, guests can secure their belongings in one of 16 custom wooden lockers before gathering in the 8,500-square-foot saloon, a well-designed haven for fun. The focal point is an antique-style bar that hearkens back to the Old West and is equipped with beer taps as well as beer and wine coolers.

Guests can sit at the bar or on the custom mesquite furniture in the room. From every vantage point, they can see the bandstand. In addition, the saloon boasts a commercial kitchen, a pool table, shuffleboard, poker tables, a jukebox, and a merchandise room for souvenirs of their stay.

If guests would like to travel without packing a bag, they can move to the trophy room, which is spacious enough to accommodate life-size mounts of game from around the world. A world map adorns a portion of the ceiling, and the wine grotto invites guests to sip vintages from around the globe.

To continue the international journey, guests can step outside to the  African Palapa. Its thatched roof, carved wood, and European-style mounts of African game transport guests to the Serengeti. Built to catch the breeze, it's the perfect evening destination.

For gatherings where the number of guests exceeds the lodge's capacity, T&C Ranch boasts three cabins, all freshly painted and two recently remodeled. Each has a kitchen, living area, bed and bath, and porches for relaxing. In addition, the ranch has an RV park complete with five full hook-ups.

The four-bedroom/four-bath main house with a sleeping loft is a short drive on a paved road from the headquarters compound. The rock house was sited to provide a panoramic view of the unfolding landscape. To make the most of the awe-inspiring vistas, the home boasts multi-level decks, including a hot tub deck. From the decks, the sunrises, sunsets, and velvet night skies surpass anything ever created for the big screen.

The primary bedroom flooring, made from imported African wood, is just one of the unique touches that elevate the home beyond the ordinary.

The well-appointed kitchen boasts two sinks, custom cabinetry, and top-of-the-line appliances. The master suite includes an oversized copper tub, ideal for soaking away the day's exertions, as well as a luxurious walk-in shower. It also has a stone fireplace and an oversized walk-in closet.

Ranch Infrastructure

The primary ranch entrance provides access via a private easement road. The second entrance fronts Cedar Creek Road, a county road.

The T&C Ranch has a 4,000' x 75' paved runway for those who prefer to travel by air. In addition, there is a grass landing strip and a lighted, concrete helipad with tie-downs.

Other ranch infrastructure includes a covered game processing area with running water and walk-in coolers, a double-wide mobile home used as the manager's house, a mobile home to house additional staff, an equipment barn, a workshop, an overhead grain storage bin with separate compartments for both corn and protein and two grain buggies, two overhead fuel tanks, a set of livestock working pens, a 2-acre chain link dog kennel, three gun safes, and three large ice makers.

For those who want to enjoy the best of the Hill Country and South Texas in one expansive, breathtaking package, the T&C Ranch is the destination of a lifetime.