Property Description:
At approximately 266 acres in deep South Texas, this historic ranch is ready to be formed into whatever you desire. There is a good mix of brush and grass providing cover for wildlife, and the ranch borders a federal wildlife refuge, so the hunting potential here is excellent.
The property is flag-shaped, with a long, wide line leading from La Sagunada Road to the main body of the ranch. No improvements exist on the property other than low perimeter fence, so the possibilities are endless for the creative mind. There is water and electricity close by, and with a few strategically placed senderos this ranch could be a hunter’s paradise. With the low-fenced wildlife preserve next door, one can witness way more dove flying over this ranch than seems possible.
From the main gate, it is a short drive into bustling Rio Grande City and the greater Rio Grande Valley, including McAllen and Harlingen. This area is known for its large deer, and finding a ranch at this price this close to a major city in Texas is getting more difficult by the day.
It is not often that a ranch with this much discernible history comes on the market, much less one that is a blank canvas to be shaped. The property has been in the same family since the 1890’s, and the patriarch who originally purchased land in this area is a fascinating character who played several important roles in Texas history. Dr. Alexander M. Headley was a British physician born in England at the time of the Texas Revolution. The early 1860’s found him in Arkansas, and when the American Civil War broke out he served as a surgeon for the Confederacy. His hair turned white before the end of the war, earning him the moniker el doctor canoso (the grey-haired doctor). After Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Dr. Headley accompanied Gen. Joseph Shelby on his ill-fated retreat to Mexico in an effort to reestablish a base to continue the war. He wasn’t in Mexico City long, however, before he settled in Camargo, Mexico (just across the border from present-day Rio Grande City, Texas), and established a medical practice. Several sources identify Dr. Headley as attempting to broker a truce between Ranger Captain Leander McNelly and a group of Mexican citizens during a tense stand-off concerning cattle stolen from several large, historic ranches, including the King Ranch. He regained his U.S. citizenship in 1880 and continued to practice medicine on both sides of the border, treating many during the yellow fever epidemic of 1882-83. A foray into politics again found him at odds with the Rangers, and several accounts exist of an attempt to usurp the sitting local powers by gaining control of the courthouse in present day Hidalgo.
You get some bang for your buck with this ranch: hunting potential, affordability, and a history that is priceless. Come take a look for yourself and start planning where to rattle for the big bucks.
This is a surface sale only. The information provided, while believed to be true and accurate, has been provided by a third party and should be verified. Buyer agents must be present at first showing to be eligible for a commission.
