Open range horseback riding over the ranches is one of the most popular ranch activities of our guests. Horses are available for all skill levels from beginners to accomplished riders. Texas Ranch Life provides horses to guests who need them and riders who want to improve their skills can practice in the covered arena. Horse paddocks are available to rent for guests who choose to bring their own horses.

    The rolling hills of Lonesome Pine Ranch with vistas of over 20 miles provide views of Texas ranch country unparalleled anywhere. In the springtime, wildflower meadows covered in blankets of bluebonnets seem to stretch on forever. Beautiful native pecan bottoms, live springs, limestone outcrops and tall prairie grasses make horseback riding over the ranch a favorite.

*We ask that all guests follow stable rules.  For the safety of everyone riding, we do not allow guests to gallop or canter.  Horses are by nature herd animals, and if one begins to run, they all want to run.  This can create dangerous situations for less experienced riders who may be along for the ride.

(Horseback riding by advance reservation only.  Negative Coggins and Signed Release of Liability required.)

For more information and to meet our horses, go to our stables page. 

    Texas Ranch Life has several authentic, historic wagons.  Hay rides are available for groups of 10 or more and can vary in length and availability, depending on the season and the individual needs of the guests.

Call Taunia at 979-865-3649 for price quotes and more information or e-mail her at texasranchlife@gmail.com

    Texas Ranch Life is a working Texas longhorn ranch.  Daily there are cowboys riding and training the horses, feeding the livestock, treating the animals for injuries and disease and managing the ranch.  Overnight guests have the opportunity to experience Texas history in the making when they stay at the ranch and observe the action.

    Groups can also come out for day visits for pre-arranged demos of ranch work and cowboy skills including roping, bronc riding, cattle herding and cattle drives, steer doctoring, cutting, team penning, cattle branding and bronc breaking and training.  Your group can witness some of Texas' finest cowboys hone their historic skills.

Call Taunia at 979-865-3649 for price quotes and more information or e-mail her texasranchlife@gmail.com

    The Elick ranch handles its cattle using traditional methods as well as using more modern equipment and techniques. In Texas, stock raising and cattle handling has much of its tradition, equipment, and methods heavily influenced by its Spanish history. By 1775, Texas was teeming with cattle and horses, which had reproduced by the thousands from stock abandoned or escaped from the six major Spanish entradas into Texas during the 1680’s to1760’s. These military entradas were led by aristocratic Spaniards who possessed extraordinary military and organizational skills with the purpose of exploration, conquest and settlement. They were composed of hundreds of men having the martial skills to deal with exploration of a hostile land along with the skill of a herdsman to handle huge herds of horses and cattle which accompanied them and were necessary to their survival as they passed through Texas from Laredo in the south to Nacogdoches in the east. By 1775, these Spaniards, mostly military officers with families, had settled on ranches, granted to them by the King for their retirement.

    Much of the equipment used by the Texas ranch cowboy today has its origins from the Spanish conqueror. The Texas saddle is a direct descendant from the Spanish military saddle adapted by the Spanish ranchero, as are the spurs (espuelas), rope (la riata) chaps (chaparras) and many other articles found today as standard equipment for the Elick cowboys working on the ranch.

    In early Texas frontier days, most cattle were wild and running free on the Texas prairies, demanding a fleet horse and a skilled rider if the cattle were to be caught so they could be identified, marked, treated, and sent to market or slaughter. This required that they be driven to a corral (corrida) or in some cases, lassoed (lassear) out on the prairie by a rider on horseback with a rope tied to the saddle horn. The Elick ranch stills handles its cattle in the same way, driving the cattle from the pasture into ranch corrals where the cowboys can ‘work’ the cattle for various purposes. At times, the cowboy finds he must rope a cow from horseback in the pasture when it is inconvenient or impossible to drive the animal to a corral. This requires a well-trained, fast horse to get the cowboy within catching distance of the cow, and one strong enough to hold the cow once the catch is made. Elick ranch horses are American Quarter Horses bred to be fast and strong, and have in them that ‘lot of cow’ mind, which makes them eager to do the work. Good cattle and horse handling skills ensures humane treatment for all livestock on the ranch, which is of paramount importance to everyone on the Elick ranches.

    Ownership of stock can only be accomplished by branding the animal with the owner’s distinctive wrought iron brand. The Elicks have two brands, JE and ELK, which are branded on either the left hip and left rib depending on whether the animal will be later retained to go into the cow herd or sold as a yearling for the beef market. In the spring, new calves must be worked, so the cattle are gathered on a convenient holding ground where the calves are roped, dragged to the ground crew, worked, and branded. Cows are inspected for any health problems, worked, culled, and released back into the pasture. In the fall, the pastures are gathered again, so that the calves are weaned off the mothers, sent to the Elick feedlot operation on Prairie Place Ranch, cows are worked, culls are sent to market and any branded calves are worked.

    Catch and release bass, crappie and bluegill fishing is available for both day fishing and is complimentary for overnight ranch guests. With over 15 fully stocked lakes ranging in size up to 13 acres, guests are sure to catch their fill.  Bass over 6 pounds in weight have been caught in the 13 acre lake in the center of Lonesome Pine Ranch. Fisherman enjoy striper bass fishing in the 8 acre lake at Prairie Place Ranch. Over two miles of San Bernard River which runs through the center of Eagle Roost Ranch has live water year round.

     Guests use their own equipment and bait. The fishing is off the bank although guests are allowed to bring small boats that can be carried down to the banks.

    Careful efforts have been made to restore the habitat for wildlife and we are now able to offer limited hunting. When Lonesome Pine Ranch was first acquired in 1988, the deer population had been heavily poached since most of the area had been in absentee ownership. Thankfully, 20 years later, the deer population has rebounded and our first buck was taken off the ranch in January, 2004. A maximum of two bucks will be taken during each hunting season on Lonesome Pine and two bucks on Eagle Roost.

    With many lakes and ponds, goat weed patches and seed plots, dove hunting is very popular during the season. Quail hunting is available on Prairie Place Ranch with wild birds and on Lonesome Pine Ranch with released birds. Guided coyote and raccoon hunting is also available.

    Explore thousands of acres on trails and through uncharted forests on your bike.  We have areas for all skill levels, as well as miles of rolling dirt roads in the area. 

    Explore the ranch's beautiful hidden wonders on board a guide driven kawasaki mule.  Appropriate for all ages, this 2 hour adventure will take you through the ranch forests, past herds of Texas longhorns and American bison and across the 1600 plus acres at Lonesome Pine Ranch.  Guides will identify indigenous flora and fauna and help the kids find animal tracks or pick flowers for souvenirs. 

    During the adventure, the guides will stop periodically to answer questions about the natural habitat and environmental history of Texas Ranch Life, to put out corn for the deer, and for an outdoor picnic snack.  After the drive, kids can take away our educational coloring book on the Texas cowboy and Ranching and the habitat of Texas Ranch Life.*

    *Minimum of 4 people and maximum of 8.  Adventures take place Saturdays at 4pm, and availability is subject to weather.  Meet in the Headquarters Barn at 3:45pm.

$45 per person

    The ranch is the perfect place for artist retreats or photography classes. 

    With over 4,000 acres of Texas landscape, Texas Ranch Life is the perfect place for a photo shoot or film location. There is a wide range of scenery, all located within a 25 mile area and conveniently accessible from Houston, Austin or Dallas. Locations include tall grassy prairies, high rolling hills with 20 mile vistas, pecan bottoms, expansive bluebonnet and wildflower fields, numerous private lakes up to 13 acres in size, and 3 miles of gently flowing San Bernard river with white sandy beaches. Buildings include eight historic homes and a chapel, spanish hacienda, covered arena, open rodeo arena and two round pens, old barns, log cabins, windmills and cattle pens (both wood and pipe), mobile homes, and dilapidated farm houses and lots of cedar fence.

    Livestock includes several American bison, mixed breed stockers, stock dogs, quarter horses and paints, colts, ponies, matched pair of Percheron wagon horses and one of the largest registered Texas Longhorn cattle herds in the country. Wildlife is abundant on all the ranches and includes whitetail deer, coyotes, alligators, quail, dove, pheasant, ducks, bobcats and mountain lions.  Numerous selections of wagons, buggies, chuckwagons, carts, period saddles and tack are also available, as are wranglers, models and actors.

    Photo credits include Riverwoods Clothing catalogs, Hawaiian Tropic calendar, Self Magazine fashion and beauty shoot. Film credits include music videos, travel programs, commercials, television and movies and are available upon request.

Call Taunia at 979-865-3649 for price quotes and more information or e-mail her at texasranchlife@gmail.com

    Experience professional grade trap and skeet shooting.  Gun handlers will provide demonstrations and instruction for groups.  State of the art equipment is available for use of groups of 10 or more.  Fee includes use of beautifully engraved, pigeon grade, over/under shotguns, protective gear, 15 rounds per guest and clays.

Call Taunia at 979-865-3649 for price quotes and more information or e-mail her texasranchlife@gmail.com

    For an authentic Cowboys and Indians experience, Texas Ranch Life offers supervised tomahawk throwing at our outdoor range for the bravest of guests.  For small and large groups, this unique event allows guests to interact and challenge each other in a safe and fun environment. 

Call Taunia at 979-865-3649 for price quotes and more information or e-mail her at texasranchlife@gmail.com

    Let your kids experience Texas first hand in our kids' corral.

Open only by advance reservation, and subject to availability, parents can bring their kids down to the tack room at the Headquarters Barn to rummage in our trunks of western gear, try on their best cowboy or Indian disguise, learn about the ranch and Texas' cowboy ranchin' history and look at books and games on the cowboy lifestyle. 

    Parents can play billards in the tack room or hang out in the barn alley while their kids enjoy the 'corral'.

    All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult and supervised during their visit.  Parents are responsible for their kids safety at all times. Texas Ranch Life representatives may be on hand to meet your kids and answer questions, but their presence is not guaranteed as there may be ranch business or cattle and horses that need tending during this time.