Dolen Ranch - Liberty County, Dolen, TX
Dolen Ranch - Liberty County, Dolen, TX
428± acres of a historical cattle and hunting ranch located in Dolen, TX directly off of FM 223 less than an hour from Houston, TX. The ranch has been owned and managed by the same family since the 1800’s and this is the first time it has ever been offered on the open market. Improvements include a total of three houses as well as multiple barns. The main house is a newer, beautiful, custom 3,900 SF 5 bedroom/4 bath home that sits on the highest bluff with views overlooking the ranch. The landscape is a beautiful blend of pastures and mature oak, pine, pecan and hardwood timber. The pastures and hay fields provide grass for the livestock while the scattered timber areas create habitat and cover for the native wildlife. White-tail deer, wild hogs, doves, waterfowl, squirrels, and all manner of native wildlife call the ranch home. Being near the Trinity river, this property is extremely game rich. Large low fence neighbors create a zone that allow wildlife to vibrantly thrive. There are four water wells, three ponds, as well as multiple wet weather creeks along with Winters Bayou that provide ample water for the livestock and wildlife. Winters Bayou runs along the Southeastern edge of the ranch and creates a Cypress slough that makes ideal waterfowl habitat. The property has a large amount of elevation for the area having over 65 feet of elevation change with the highest bluff sitting at 130 feet. This ranch with its location and history is a rare gem that is worth taking a look at.
Key Attributes
Location
45 minutes from Houston, TX
3 hours 30 minutes from Dallas, TX
3 hours 15 minutes from Austin, TX
Topography, Rangeland & Habitat
The houses and ranch infrastructure sit high on a large bluff that overlooks the ranch providing an incredible view. Elevation ranges from 130′ down to 65′. Across the ranch there are varying rolling elevation changes spread over the hills and valleys. The hills are sandy loam soils that drain water well and are a productive resource for the grass and trees. The ranch is a mixture of large mature oaks, hardwoods, pecans, and pine timber that is blended amongst the pastures. The mature timber provides shade for the livestock as well as cover and habitat for the wildlife. There is no shortage of large majestic, decades-old oak and pecan trees on the property. Timber thinning completed in 2021 in select locations has created areas that allow for additional grazing. These timber-thinned areas could be regenerated into hardwood forest if desired. A railroad track runs across the ranch and there is a road crossing that goes over the tracks to cross back and forth. There is also an underpass that is open underneath the tracks that allows for cattle to be pushed through from pasture to pasture.
Wildlife
Large low fence neighbors and being situated not far from the Trinity River create a wildlife rich environment. White-tail deer, hogs, waterfowl, squirrels, doves, and all manner of native wildlife are seen on the ranch regularly. The whitetail bucks in this area are known to be significantly larger than other parts of East Texas with several being taken in recent history well into the Boone and Crockett class. The Trinity River is a major flyway for waterfowl and this area can hold an incredible amount of ducks during the season. There is a duck slough along Winters Bayou on the Southern portion of the ranch that has been known to hold waterfowl. Additionally to Winters Bayou, there are several places on the property that could easily be turned into high-class waterfowl areas. Wild hogs are present in large numbers and can be sighted regularly.
Agriculture
The Dolen Ranch has been run as a cattle operation for generations. This property has a rich history of being continuously involved in farming and ranching operations since the early 1800’s. The ranch is currently set up for a cow/calf operation with plenty of pasture land, hay fields, barns, and water for livestock. Predominantly pasture land, the ranch could be converted into a number of other uses as well.
Improvements
A total of three houses, four water wells, and three barns sit on the property. The three houses are described below:
The main house is a custom-built 5 bed 4 bath 3,900 sf home built in 2016. The main house is beautifully designed with an open concept and large covered outdoor porch for entertaining and enjoying the vast views of the ranch. The main house sits in a primary location at the ranch on top of the highest bluff that overlooks the valley below. There is a large multiple vehicle carport as well as concrete driveway creating ample room for parking.
The guest house is a 1,500 sf well finished 2 bedroom/1 bath cabin designed with a rustic feel. The cabin has a nice entertaining porch on one end and a large vehicle storage carport on the other end.
The third house is an older pier and beam 1,800 sf, 3 bedroom/2 bathroom home. This house is currently only utilized for storage. The house is in good physical condition and could be renovated into a modern home or re-purposed as an office or many other potential uses.
The barns are set up as a horse barn/feed barn and the other is currently utilized as an equipment shed.
Water
There are four different water wells located in strategic locations across the ranch. These locations are designed to provide water for all of the houses and barns as well as multiple locations to water livestock in the pastures. The ranch has three ponds as well as a couple of wet weather creeks. Winters bayou runs along the Southeastern border and creates a cypress slough that is ideal habitat for ducks and wildlife. There are several locations that look favorable for additional pond or lake construction if desired.
Electricity
Electricity is located in multiple locations on the ranch. Power is provided by Sam Houston Electric Co-Op Inc (SHECO).
Minerals
Minerals are negotiable.
in the news
Liberty County ranch, owned by one family for 200 years, lists for $4.3M
