Menard, TX 76859 - Menard County

The Callan family were some of the early settlers of Menard County, arriving here in a covered wagon in 1871. James Callan was instrumental in bringing the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad to Menard in 1910 and donated 17 miles of right of way to the company along with a townsite named Callan. While the town of Callan never took off, the railroad which ended at Menard made it the center of livestock shipping to the stockyards in Fort Worth. Ranchers from Menard and neighboring counties drove their livestock to Menard which caused the town to experience somewhat of a boom in the 1920s until the end of World War II. In order house and entertain the cowboys that drove the livestock, Menard had several hotels including the four story Bevan Hotel built in 1929 along with 13 saloons scattered up and down San Saba Avenue. Menardville was a lively place on Saturday nights.

Being some of the first settlers of Menard County afforded the Callan family the luxury of picking the best land for their ranching empire. These three and a half sections are part of this great ranch and rich history of Menard County and the Texas Hill Country. Riding across this ranch, it is easy to see why the Callans chose this country to call home. Deep, highly fertile soils, shallow water, large live oak trees and an abundance of game make it one of the best ranches in the Texas Hill Country.

LOCATION: Approximately 8 miles northeast of Menard on Callan Lane.

DESCRIPTION: Approximately 2,240 acres (to be determined by survey) of level to gently rolling dark brown clay loam soils with very little rock. Soils are a little shallower and along Scalp Creek on the western side of the ranch. Scattered live oak, oak brush (shinnery) and small mesquites are invading the big open flats that make the majority of this ranch. Agarita, hackberry and scattered prickly pear across the ranch and a few large pecan trees along the south boundary in Scalp Creek drainage.

There is an excellent turf of native grasses as this ranch was never abused and has not been grazed in a couple of years.

FENCING: Perimeter fencing is good to very good. Cross fencing is good except for one stretch about a mile in length. There is some fencing along the east bank of Scalp Creek that was constructed for a Riparian Program administered through the NRCS. This program has expired so new owner can remove this fencing if so desired. Theres a set of pipe pens with an adjustable loading chute located in the center of the ranch with all pastures feeding to them.

WATER: There are three windmills with concrete storage tanks and a well with a submersible pump located at the site of the hunting camp. Water is piped from wells to several other locations across the ranch. Water can be found fairly easy in the 100 to 200 feet depth for home or livestock use. Scalp Creek flows only in times of heavy rains.

IMPROVEMENTS: There is a hunting camp house on the ranch however, it belongs to the hunters. This camp house could be purchased by negotiating a price with the hunters. If buyers do not want the house, it is my understanding that this building will be moved at the hunters expense.

WILDLIFE: Whitetail deer, wild turkeys, dove, bob white quail, predators including fox, coyotes, raccoons and an occasional bobcat. This ranch has been managed for quality whitetails for over 20 years and consistently produces some of the best low fence bucks in Menard County.

MINERALS: Seller will convey one half of all the oil, gas and other minerals that they own. Presently, there is no production on the ranch. There was a producing oil well that was abandoned years ago.

REMARKS: This is possibly the best livestock/wildlife ranch in Menard County. It is well watered and the turf of native grasses is second to none. Game management programs have deer and turkey populations in excellent numbers and above average quality.

Call Gary Roberson at (325)-456-8215 to schedule a showing.