7 Canyons Ranch

For anyone that wants to drop out, walk away, escape from the madding crowd — I have found the place, the 7 Canyons Ranch buried deep in the Texas Hills at the edge of beyond. This is the Texas Hill Country of days gone by. Remote. Unscathed. Untrodden. A symphony of hills and trees and sky and weathered wood.

The Barndominium

After attempting to settle into our rustic cabin dubbed as the Vintage Cowboy Barndominium, we sit on the front porch and rock. Back and forth, we rock. A deep ravine is beyond, edged by a field of grass before it begins its steep descent to the water below. The roof over my head sings to me, sounding like raindrops falling on tin, but at this moment, the sky above is a brilliant blue. Still, the popping and pinging continue. 

High green hills surround us. A gentle breeze ruffles my hair. The resident gray cat — minus a foot and a large part of his tail — limps by, undeterred by his traumatic past. He is a survivor. A black cat lopes after him. One of the ranch’s longhorns, standing on three legs, attends to a foot held high — how does he do that? A bright yellow butterfly is blown by the breeze and bounces along unseen currents of wind. The rocking, the peacefulness of the afternoon, has lulled Michael to sleep. 

Flies are abundant this year at home, and they have followed us to our serene escape. Their buzzing wakens Michael, and he goes inside for the Yard Guard. Quiet reigns. Soon a second line of the buzzing insects takes the place of their fallen comrades. It seems like a good time to tour these beautiful surroundings in our convertible. 

A Ranch Tour

We turn to the right, crossing the tiny bridge which allows human access over the ravine and the cattleguard that is supposed to hinder four-footed creatures from venturing forth — but doesn’t. The right turn leads us to a circular path that in turn leads us to the owner’s residence and another rental — The Treehouse, a garage apartment.

At a dead-end, we retrace our route and drive toward the entrance, hoping there will be sideroads to explore. However, drivable sideroads are not in abundance, but wildlife is. Elk, bison, Texas longhorns, scimitar oryx, red stag, wild pigs, lemurs, and wild turkeys are listed as part of the exotic, natural world we might see. Some of these wild creatures have affectionately been given names by the owners, with instructions not to approach them — they are wild.

Our drive takes us by a small herd of buffalo lounging under the shade of a tree on our right. A single elk across the way appears to be standing watch.

We end up on the grounds of the lodge, which initially drew me to this magical 500-acre spread.  The lodge lures and calls my name. Driving closer, we get a better view, and the closer I get, the more inviting it seems. The structure is rustic and weathered, and stately. All of it beckons. I decide that we must stay here the next time we pass this way.

Wildlife Comes to Visit

Later, back at the Barndominium, Michael is looking longingly out the living room window. Suddenly he calls out to me, “Charlotte come here.”

I emerge from trying to organize our things and stand beside him. The stately elk we saw on our drive has entered our corner of the world. He stands still as the morning calm, surveying this small portion of his kingdom. We open the door and take our place in the rockers on the porch. Sadly, the lone elk walks off, but soon the small resident herd of buffalo takes his place. They scatter and begin munching anything green they can reach — mainly grass. The two babies — calves of indeterminate age — make their way to the shallow pool of standing water in the deep gully beyond. The largest — the bull we call the Grandfather — plops on the ground and ignores the world.

When the buffalo herd moves on to greener pastures, we go inside and read ourselves to sleep.

7 Canyons Ranch

If you love Texas and if you love country roads, you will love this ranch. If you yearn to drop out, drop away — you will love this ranch. My daughter called it magical. I had no idea this was the magic ranch she referred to until we bumped into the Treehouse on our impromptu tour and recognized the picture she sent.

Located at 11 Seco Pass Road in Tarpley, Texas, you really need to experience it for yourself. Check out their website https://www.7canyonsranch.com/about-us and check out all they have to offer. Or, give them a call at 830-796-1319, or email them at info@7canyonsranch.com