Papalote Creek Ranch

The ranch is located along paved FM 796 in Bee and San Patricio Counties, approximately 35 miles northwest of Corpus Christi, 108 miles from San Antonio, and 190 miles from Houston.

Its proximity to Corpus Christi provides convenient access to coastal fishing, a commercial airport, supplies, dining, and other amenities while maintaining the privacy and character of a large South Texas ranch.

The Papalote Creek Ranch enjoys a diverse mix of native and managed pasture, riparian habitats associated with the creek systems, tillable cropland and South Texas brush country. Papalote Creek, Bullshead Creek and Aquilla Creek traverse portions of the property creating scenic landscapes, seasonal water resources as well as prime habitat for wildlife.

Large trophy live oaks, bull mesquites, diverse South Texas brush and grasses thrive on the ranch, all benefitting from great soils as one moves from the multiple creek bottoms to the uplands. Many areas of the ranch have been sculpted to improve wildlife habitat and grazing opportunities alike.

The white-tailed deer herd has been managed using Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s  Managed Lands Deer Program. Over the years the management program has produced an exceptional whitetail deer herd that has yielded a top buck scoring 206” along with multiple bucks reaching into the 180’s. The white-tailed deer herd is native with the only introductions being native deer that were TTT’d from a low-fenced property in Artesia Wells, TX. 

The miles of creek bottoms and riparian zones provide excellent habitat for wildlife by creating travel corridors and thermal cover during the extreme weather conditions.  

The ranch has a history of exceptional quail production and hunting. In the past, the ranch maintained a large kennel of bird dogs for quail hunting and field trial purposes.

Approximately 765± acres are currently in cultivation, with typical crops including cotton and corn, with the balance of the ranch providing exceptional grazing. The ranch’s farmland is also equipped with 2 irrigation wells and a small pivot that are not currently in use.

The ranch has maintained a robust agricultural operation over the years primarily focused on livestock grazing and including both dryland and some limited irrigated farming under the pivot or via flood irrigation. At present the farm is leased to a tenant who is dryland farming.

The ranch is equipped for a rotational grazing program with cattle being rotated through 19 primary pastures.

The ranch headquarters is accessed by an approximately two-mile paved private road from the main entrance on FM 796.

Four homes are located within the headquarters area, with two additional employee residences located elsewhere on the ranch.

Main Lodge: The main lodge can accommodate approximately 20 guests and includes a commercial-style kitchen and butler’s pantry, making it well suited for family gatherings, entertaining, and hunting groups.

Welder House: This spacious five-bedroom home features bright, open living areas filled with an abundance of natural light, offering a comfortable and welcoming retreat for guests or family.

Foreman Home: Featuring a new HVAC unit, the 3-bedroom 1-bathroom foreman’s home requires only minor updates.

Elsner House and South Farm House: Both are ideally suited for housing temporary staff and labor during peak operational seasons.

Please ask Broker for photos of the various improvements.

Equestrian improvements include an eight-stall horse barn, tack room, breeding pens, and round pen. Additional ranch infrastructure includes two sets of cattle-working pens and two sets of dog kennels.

The entire perimeter of the ranch is high-fenced with galvanized fencing, with the exception of 77+/- acres that is low-fenced to the south.

The Papalote Creek Ranch has an extensive water system developed to serve livestock and wildlife throughout the property.

Water resources include 5 water wells, 30± water troughs, and 23 ponds. Several of these lakes and ponds have water piped to them to help maintain levels during periods of drought. Miles of underground pipelines distribute water to storage and troughs across the ranch, while Papalote Creek, Aquilla Creek and Bullshead Creek provide additional seasonal water. In addition to the 5 wells currently in use for the operations, there are 2 irrigation wells and 11+/- windmills that are not being utilized at this time.

This offering is surface only. There is no active production on the ranch.

Wind Energy:

The property’s size and location have created opportunities for wind energy development in the past. Wind energy companies have previously expressed interest in the ranch, providing a possible additional income opportunity subject to future agreements and development. To leave all choices open for the next owner, the current owner has chosen not to reserve any wind rights.