LOCATION: This exciting new offering, once owned by revered UT-Austinite Harry Ransom, is located 5 miles SW of prized Dripping Springs in the historic Mt. Gainor area (Mt. Gainor School remnants are located on site), with frontage on E. Mt. Gainor Road (about ½ mile), and Gatlin Creek Road (about 2/3 mile), both of which are paved. This interesting area offers a mix of small and larger tracts, some of which are showplaces. Ranch neighbors are mostly larger, with a few 5 acre tracts and an 18 & 92 acre tracts adjoining to the north (across street), a 300+ acre neighbor to the east (across street), 7 to 60 acre parcels to the north, and a 5 and 100 acre neighbor to the west. The address is 3001 E. Mt. Gainor Road.
Dripping Springs, 6 miles by car, offers restaurants, supplies, groceries, services and even a Home Depot. Austin (everything else) is 25 miles east, artsy Wimberley is 12...
Dripping Springs, 6 miles by car, offers restaurants, supplies, groceries, services and even a Home Depot. Austin (everything else) is 25 miles east, artsy Wimberley is 12 miles south and Blanco is 20 miles SW. This area is highly prized for Austin commuters wishing to have children in Dripping Springs Schools, yet is decidedly rural and relatively uncluttered.
WATER: The ranch features about 1/3 mile of both sides of strong-flowing, rock bottom South Onion Creek meandering thru a remarkable pecan bottom. This creek flows clear spring water year round in “normal” years, with an extra-nice swimming/fishing/floating hole backed up by a private 6’ dam located on the ranch. This stretch of creek, though not permanent flowing, is regarded as strong, reliable water for the area, and is up to 6’ deep when at full strength.
A nice seasonal creek passes through the western canyon on the property, creating small pools and riffles beneath limestone outcrops and shady hardwoods. This creek is seasonal, but relatively strong, and offers potential for impoundment. A canyon to the east also flows water in wetter years, emanating from an overhanging grotto down to the narrow canyon floor below.
The area possesses abundant groundwater, and there are two good wells with submersible pumps located on site. One of these wells is at 390’ depth, and was pumped at 30 gpm. Other nearby wells have been pumped up to 75 gpm, mostly from the Trinity limestone. For further information on area groundwater, please contact the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.
LAND: There are few places with more stunning curb appeal than this exquisite farmstead. As one approaches from the north, a lush riparian bottom covered by towering pecan trees dominates the viewscape. The north end of the ranch,lying along E. Mt. Gainor Road, consists of a 40 acre bottom of trees and clean fields lined by incredible old rock walls, with gorgeous, wooded hills rising in the background to the south.
These hills are laced by two superb canyons. The western canyon offers a more expansive feel, with a wide, deeper soil bottom covered by nicely varied hardwood canopy of oak, elm, pecan, hackberry and sycamore. This canyon traverses the entire western end of the ranch, and is a peaceful haven of cliffs, grassy meadows and giant shade trees. What a fine place to hike/ride/drive to escape the noise and bustle of the nearby metropolis!
The eastern canyon is narrower, with more of a primitive feeling. The canyon walls tower 50 to 70’ above the streambed below, and an incredible variety of hardwoods and woody shrubs add intrigue. Both of these valleys provide excellent shelter for deer, turkey and songbirds, and definitely add an element not often found on ranches in this area.
There are gorgeous, elevated homesites on both hills, which overlook the owned bottomland and improvements below. The hilltop land has good cover of hardwood, and has had cedar removal on about 50%. Soils range from rocky clays on “top” to deeper, loamy clays in bottoms, and typical native grasses are well established. The north bottomland section offers adequate soils for uses such as improved pastureland, orchards or other, more intensive pursuits.
IMPROVEMENTS: A useful residential and equine compound rests near the north center of the ranch, and includes a cool 2BR, 2BA historic rock home of about 1,100 sq. ft., a nice 7 stall Barnmaster horse barn, tennis courts, riding arena, round pen, outbuildings and water well. At the NW corner of the ranch, there are two clean mobile homes, a water well, and a couple of outbuildings. Spectacular, wide rock walls accentuate these improvements and border a couple of pastures. The ranch is fenced, with some cross fencing, and ranch roads allow access to much of the property.
FINANCIAL/TITLE: Asking $2.88M, cash to Sellers, who will provide survey and basic title insurance. Seller will convey a portion of the owned minerals. An occupant of a mobile home (in corner of ranch) has a life estate in it, and it is believed that the mobile home (nice) will remain with the Property upon cessation of that LE. There are visible electric distribution lines (single wooden
poles) crossing a portion of the ranch. The ranch lies in the Dripping Springs Independent School District, and 2008 taxes were $4,801 at ag rate.
SUMMARY: This highly desirable ranch boasts all of the best attributes one could ever want – location, scenic beauty, strong spring water, hills, canyons, bottomland and useful improvements. The highest and best use would be as a premier Austin commuter estate site for someone desiring the prized Dripping Springs Schools, or perhaps proximity to the revered Regent’s School in SW Austin near Oak Hill. Without a doubt, Mt. Gainor Farm is a “must see” for qualified prospects for this area, and it is an easy, one hour inspection tour to gather in the highlights. Come on!
The information contained herein has been diligently assembled and is deemed reliable, but is not warranted by Broker or Seller, express or implied, and is subject to change, prior sale, errors and/or omissions and withdrawal from market. Buyers must verify accuracy of representations on their own, as well as investigate potentially pertinent natural attributes, laws and regulations, and draw their own conclusions regarding the usefulness and value of the property for a given purpose. SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY – DO NOT TRESPASS.
Buyer’s brokers must be identified on first contact, and must accompany buying prospect on first showing to be allowed full fee participation. If this condition is not met, fee participation will be at sole discretion of LANDTX, David E. Culver, broker.