Austin Real Estate Pros Who Own Ranches
While most real estate pros are heading out of town on summer weekends for cooler climates and beach getaways, some are heading out to the ranch. (Branding is literal for these folks.)
Gary Davis, Sendera Investment Group
Sendera Investment Group president Gary Davis (here, with his youngest son, Jordan) tells us the ranch life is all about hunting and spending time with family and friends, especially during hunting season and the holidays. The avid hunter started acquiring land for La Sendera Ranch in 2005, first with nearly 500 acres in the Texas Hill Country near the small town of Junction. Over the years, he’s acquired 240 more acres of adjacent land. The property has about a half mile of frontage along the North Llano River, which has outstanding bass fishing and kayaking. Gary tells us the ranch has expansive views with elevations up to 2,200 feet and natural springs running throughout. The existing ranch house (which is over 100 years old) was renovated and new roads were developed on the property, along with clearing about 300 acres of cedar from the property.
Gary tells us the ranch is a deer hunting operation with various exotic animals such as fallow deer, axis deer and black buck antelope released over the last few years, as well. He spends his weekends at the ranch and during deer season, he’s there three to four days per week. When he has to work, he runs Sendera with his brother, Chris. The Austin-based firm owns and operates multifamily properties and recently acquired the 412-unit Presidio at the Landmark off 1604 and Vance Jackson in San Antonio. The property will be renamed Sendera Landmark and improvements are planned for the property’s kitchens and bathrooms, as well as exterior paint and amenity upgrades.
Lance Morris, The Retail Connection
The Retail Connection president Lance Morris heads out to his ranch on 325 acres outside of Llano almost every weekend. Lance grew up in a farming and ranching community, and while his family loves living in central Austin, he and his wife wanted their girls to also experience the rural lifestyle they both enjoyed. Additionally, the allure can be attributed to his great love and respect of Western heritage, the American cowboy and all that they represent. In addition to his family ranch, which is a cow/calf operation raising Brangus cattle (which is three-eighths Brahman and five-eighths Angus). His wife’s family has a 660-acre cattle ranch in Wilson/Atascosa County southeast of San Antonio. The family also owns a 400-acre farm on the San Antonio River in Wilson County that is used for crop production and two 100-plus acre cotton farms in Shallowater (in Lubbock County).
Lance and his twin daughters spend a lot of time atop horses; Lance participates in cutting horse events and his twins are barrel racers. A typical day on the ranch means Lance is up as early as possible to enjoy a cup of coffee and the sunrise. Next, he’s cooking breakfast for the family or guests, if there are any. Then, the day involves heading out to the barn and gathering up and saddling whatever horses will be ridden that day. A little time is spent in the arena before heading out to check fences and water tanks, check on the cattle and basically enjoy the scenery and relax. After lunch, Lance tells us he’ll jump in the Polaris Ranger and go tend to whatever needs to be done, as well as feed the cattle a couple of bags of cake (cattle feed). Dinners that feature beef, venison or pork from the ranch with family and friends and a good glass of wine is usually how he ends the day.
