LOCATION: This fine ranch/investment lies partly within the city limits of Dripping Springs, with about 3,500’ frontage on Creek Road, which serves the Onion Creek drainage in the western part of Hays County. The site blocks southward growth of the town, and is surrounded on 3 sides by ranches and rural estates, and has Onion Creek flowing thru for over one mile.
This is about 20 minutes from SW Austin – Oak Hill, 15 minutes north of artsy Wimberley and about 30 minutes from Bee Cave/620. Houston is about 3 hours east, and San Antonio is about one hour south, and San Marcos is about 35 minutes south. Dripping Springs is a rapidly-growing, sought-after satellite of Austin, with Home Depot in place and HEB on the way, with schools that are highly-regarded and many other services and goods stores.
WATER: The property owns both sides of Onion Creek for about 3/4 mile, with ownership...
WATER: The property owns both sides of Onion Creek for about 3/4 mile, with ownership to the centerline for another ½ mile of so, yielding about 2 miles of live water total frontage. This ranch is home to one of the prettiest, constant-level lakes of deep water seen anywhere in this vast drainage, which begins near Blanco and flows into the Colorado River east of Austin near Garfield.
A second lake on Onion Creek is also a significant water feature, and a third, much smaller lake, is shared with a downstream property owner. These lakes are home to bass, catfish, perch and sunfish, and provide the highest level of potential water enjoyment activities – from floating, swimming, kayaking to fly fishing! The two larger lakes held water during recent drought.
It is believed that there are 3 water wells currently located on the property, and groundwater is available at about 300 – 400’ in the area. An area groundwater map is available upon request. The average annual rainfall for this location is 32”-34”. For further information on area groundwater, contact the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation district at their website or call 512.858.9253. Limited quantities of water may also be available on site from Dripping Springs Water Supply Corp., two meters currently on site.
LAND: The land rolls gently to the south from Creek Road, with good soil pastureland comprising most of the northern section of the ranch. Low knolls are studded with granddaddy liveoaks, offering scenic homesites overlooking the clean fields to the creek below. A larger tract subdivision of the northern section would be easily accomplished along Creek Road, if one so desired.
Onion Creek bisects the ranch from the west, flowing to the SE, and the land south of the creek is more typical Hill Country with 150’ hills rising above deep canyons with limestone ledges and colorful hardwoods. One of these canyons is especially interesting and long, and provides habitat for wildlife and songbirds, while providing protected and private shelter for anything seeking it.
Above the creek, to the south, are fairly level, upland plains, populated mostly with Spanish Oak, liveoak and elm, as well as some woody shrubs and native grasses, with very little cedar. There is a surprising amount of clay soil found in this area, some of which might be suitable for improved pasture or cultivation of hay crops. Deer, turkey and varmints are observed, and hogs do not appear to have a significant presence on the site, which also affords several scenic vista points to the north and east.
This has been historically operated as a working cattle ranch by the owning family, and thus has been fairly well maintained with few signs of brush or shrub regrowth. A level area just north of the creek allows for a landing strip of about 2,000’, which has been used in the past year.
IMPROVEMENTS: The improvements include a rambling main house overlooking the prime waterhole on Onion Creek below. This home is fairly large, in fair to poor condition, and has its own swimming pool, outbuildings and landscaped yard. This area is scenic to be sure, but the structures mostly require extensive renovation or removal, and contribute little to overall value of the offering.
Another restored home has been moved on site just to the north of the main home, and is quite livable and amply-appointment with nice yard, porch, etc. The ranch is fenced and cross fenced, and there are adequate roads which provide access to most of the acreage.
FINANCIAL/TITLE: Asking $18,500/acre, sellers will provide current survey. A mildly intrusive, mid-sized electric transmission line with gray monopoles crosses the ranch near the creek. There are residential tenants on the north section of the ranch who can be terminated with short notice. The property is located in the prized Dripping Springs ISD, and 2009 taxes were $9,065.31. The property is served by Pedernales Electric Coop and Verizon.
SUMMARY: This is a fine recreational ranch with superb investment location and potential. There is little doubt that Dripping Springs will continue to grow wisely, and that this tract has tremendous, long term development potential. Deepwater Ranch truly does have some of the prettiest and biggest water on Onion Creek, with good, pretty land to boot. There can be few land investment opportunities with as solid of a foundation as this one – and significant entitlements for future development would only seem to be a matter of time. We welcome your inquiries and tour requests, and hope to see you soon!
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. This is a co-listing with Land Advisors Organization, Austin, TX.
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.