From Ruple Ranch and Land:

Rancho Blanco, a historic property with a rich legacy, is making its debut on the market for the first time in 95 years. This roughly 2,868 acre ranch has been lovingly maintained by the same family for three generations. The ranch features a historic home, Casa Piedra, a roughly 7,000 SF masterpiece constructed in 1900 by the California architect, Caldwell. It showcases classic American Queen Anne features, including a wraparound porch, decorative shingles, and a spacious upstairs gallery.

An extensive two-year restoration (2020-2022) led by acclaimed Dallas architect Stephen B. Chambers, and executed by master craftsman, Troy Poole of Restoration Works of Dallas, restored Casa Piedra to its former glory. The sprawling home is unique to Sutton County one of a very few, (or perhaps, the only) fully-restored grand homes dating to the turn of the last century.

The ranch is steeped in Texas history. In 1885, at the age of fifteen, John A. Ward (Johnnie) and his older brother, set out on horseback from their home in Gonzales County, intending to ride all the way to California. The two met the Estado Land & Cattle Co. cattle drive to the G-4 ranch, in the area now known as Big Bend National Park. The ranch manager, the legendary James B. Gillett, Captain in The Texas Ranger and former deputy marshal of El Paso, hired them on as cowboys. Johnnie's legacy includes two prominent Big Bend landmarks Ward Mountain, where he once lassoed a bear, and Ward Spring, which he discovered during the terrible drought of 1886, saving the lives of the G-4 cowboys and their cattle. Johnnie returned from Big Bend and married his sweetheart, Virginia. The two settled on a ranch near Sonora around 1903 and acquired their first herd of Angora goats. They raised eight children, including John Jr., who joined his father in the goat business, father and son eventually becoming one of the most prominent goat breeding businesses in The United States. Flocks of Angoras dotting the rolling limestone hills looked like a swale of white, earning the ranch its name Rancho Blanco.

2868 Acres offered at $6,355,000

Garrett Ruple
Broker/Owner, REALTOR
(830) 569-3500
garrett@rupleproperties.com


Jason Ruple
Director of Operations/ REALTOR
(210) 441-9750
jason@rupleproperties.com

Hang on, let me check my numbers.
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....
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Dang! Nope.
I'll check back in on Thursday.

Wanna go 50-50?

Sad to see these deals. Places that can raise a family either family doesn't get along or they don't want to live that way and they sell. Good luck and whomever buys it will be very lucky. While I was at school all those west Texas gals had it all and couldn't wait to get to DFW Austin or San Antonio. Never made sense to me. May be dry but you can breathe and have pace of mind. .

I never thought of Sonora as west Texas. I guess some do.

jja79 said:

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I never thought of Sonora as west Texas. I guess some do.

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What do you consider it? It's definitely not hill country. Hell, it's 45 mins from ozona and that's definitely west texas

State travel site puts it in the Hill Country:
https://www.traveltexas.com/cities-and-regions/hill-country/



But yeah, it's kind of on the edge of a couple regions. I often say "West Texas" when referring to a broad region, though.

DustysLineup said:

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State travel site puts it in the Hill Country:
https://www.traveltexas.com/cities-and-regions/hill-country/



But yeah, it's kind of on the edge of a couple regions. I often say "West Texas" when referring to a broad region, though.

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That doesn't even have a west texas though. It has big bend country and puts even ozona in hill country.

Middle of nowhere. How do people live in such places?

Sorry, I can't outbid China

I would consider the line running from Sterling City to Barnhart and down to Ozona the eastern edge of west Texas.

infinity ag said:

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Middle of nowhere. How do people live in such places?

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Peacefully.

I grew up in Uvalde and have a ranch between Rocksprings and Sonora. Spent December31, 1999 there because I knew whatever happened in the rest of the world we would be okay out there. We guessed if the electricity went off that Y2K happened.

infinity ag said:

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Middle of nowhere. How do people live in such places?

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My family lived in Van Horn, Balmorhea and Fort Stockton and after 28 years in Houston wondered how people live there. Escaped a year ago.

All what you are used to I guess. I don't know what I consider Sonora but don't consider it west Texas.

To answer a few I consider Junction the start of west Texas. Doesn't have to be for all. I more or less consider west Texas where ranches get to be ranches and not ranchettes. I agree it gets more west Texas as you go. Semi arid areas with big country to me will always be west Texas

As to how could anybody live there maybe you have not spent enough time in an area where community is truly community. They come together at church or for Friday night lights or even a little old goat roping. They fellowship and visit. Find out who needs help and then head back to the ranch that has enough space to the end of your property you don't care how your neighbor lives. You worry about yourself, God, and family.

To me man was not designed to tell other man how to live, what color their house can be, how often the grass needs mowing, and to put up that stupid trash can and hide the basketball goal when not in use. Man was designed to respect others as equals and only our savior as our superior. Middle of nowhere seems to me where that happens the best.

To get thread back on track that is a wonderful piece of land and will make somebody a wonderful place. I just hope it is for home and not a hunting camp. Be a shame to have it just set most of the year but way many of these places are out on far eastern part of west Texas. Wink wink.

being advertised @ WSJ...

https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/texas-ranch-spanning-2-800-acres-selling-for-the-first-time-in-nearly-100-years-b0a092a6

probably getting snapped up by out of state billionaire

I've always considered West Texas to be in between Hillsboro and Waco.

That's east Texas. Once my dad and I had to travel from Fort Stockton to Mexia and I had no idea where that was until he told me deep east Texas. At least it was to us.

Turf96 said:

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Sad to see these deals. Places that can raise a family either family doesn't get along or they don't want to live that way and they sell. Good luck and whomever buys it will be very lucky. While I was at school all those west Texas gals had it all and couldn't wait to get to DFW Austin or San Antonio. Never made sense to me. May be dry but you can breathe and have pace of mind. .

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Oh, there's a couple of those West Texas gals who are still living in Sonora, Ozona, Northern Val Verde County, etc.. Wouldn't surprise me if a couple of them were Texags regulars.

TAMUallen said:

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jja79 said:

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I never thought of Sonora as west Texas. I guess some do.

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What do you consider it? It's definitely not hill country. Hell, it's 45 mins from ozona and that's definitely west texas

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And it's due south of San Angelo. Which is most definitely west Texas.

jja79 said:

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That's east Texas. Once my dad and I had to travel from Fort Stockton to Mexia and I had no idea where that was until he told me deep east Texas. At least it was to us.

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The Zookeeper said:

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I've always considered West Texas to be in between Hillsboro and Waco.

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Add a comma in there and I'll agree with you.

Not to people from west Texas.

TexAgs Sponsors said:

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From Ruple Ranch and Land:

Rancho Blanco, a historic property with a rich legacy, is making its debut on the market for the first time in 95 years. This roughly 2,868 acre ranch has been lovingly maintained by the same family for three generations. The ranch features a historic home, Casa Piedra, a roughly 7,000 SF masterpiece constructed in 1900 by the California architect, Caldwell. It showcases classic American Queen Anne features, including a wraparound porch, decorative shingles, and a spacious upstairs gallery.

An extensive two-year restoration (2020-2022) led by acclaimed Dallas architect Stephen B. Chambers, and executed by master craftsman, Troy Poole of Restoration Works of Dallas, restored Casa Piedra to its former glory. The sprawling home is unique to Sutton County one of a very few, (or perhaps, the only) fully-restored grand homes dating to the turn of the last century.

The ranch is steeped in Texas history. In 1885, at the age of fifteen, John A. Ward (Johnnie) and his older brother, set out on horseback from their home in Gonzales County, intending to ride all the way to California. The two met the Estado Land & Cattle Co. cattle drive to the G-4 ranch, in the area now known as Big Bend National Park. The ranch manager, the legendary James B. Gillett, Captain in The Texas Ranger and former deputy marshal of El Paso, hired them on as cowboys. Johnnie's legacy includes two prominent Big Bend landmarks Ward Mountain, where he once lassoed a bear, and Ward Spring, which he discovered during the terrible drought of 1886, saving the lives of the G-4 cowboys and their cattle. Johnnie returned from Big Bend and married his sweetheart, Virginia. The two settled on a ranch near Sonora around 1903 and acquired their first herd of Angora goats. They raised eight children, including John Jr., who joined his father in the goat business, father and son eventually becoming one of the most prominent goat breeding businesses in The United States. Flocks of Angoras dotting the rolling limestone hills looked like a swale of white, earning the ranch its name Rancho Blanco.

2868 Acres offered at $6,355,000

Garrett Ruple
Broker/Owner, REALTOR
(830) 569-3500
garrett@rupleproperties.com


Jason Ruple
Director of Operations/ REALTOR
(210) 441-9750
jason@rupleproperties.com

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San Angelo is definitely West Texas. Junction is definitely not. Ozona definitely is. Sonora is right on the line, but I'd say West if I had to pick.

Don't forget to file for the ag exemption!

jja79 said:

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infinity ag said:

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Middle of nowhere. How do people live in such places?

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My family lived in Van Horn, Balmorhea and Fort Stockton and after 28 years in Houston wondered how people live there. Escaped a year ago.

All what you are used to I guess. I don't know what I consider Sonora but don't consider it west Texas.

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I guess it works for some folks, but desolate places with no people around spook me. I don't even like upscale neighborhoods with long driveways and far away houses because when I stand outside my front door, I need to see houses and people and cars. Maybe it is my fear of abandonment