The Bandera, Texas property, which features an 18-hole golf course, lodging, conference center, and water park on 291 acres, went up for auction on February 6. The property became the nation’s first dude ranch 70 years ago.
Seventy years after it became the nation’s first dude ranch, the Flying L Hill Country Resort in Bandera, Texas was on the auction block on February 6 at the Bandera County Courthouse, the San Antonio, Texas-based KSAT 12 reported.
Bankruptcy records show Trey West Vacations, the current owner of the 291-acre property, has $5,996,626 in debt, owes $216,621 in delinquent taxes and $96,375 in penalty, interest and attorney fees, KSAT reported.
All that remains of the air park is an old hangar and a pilots lounge with a Texas historical marker next to it. The marker had to be replaced when it was later determined famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright had not designed the lounge or other buildings. The air park later was replaced by an 18-hole golf course that is a favorite among locals and winter Texans, KSAT reported.
The property features a water park, basketball, tennis, volleyball, putt putt, horseback riding, fishing, and hiking opportunities. It also offers lodging and conference facilities.
“This is one of the big things that draw us to Bandera,” said Terry Stadstad, of North Dakota. “We could go to Kerrville or down in the (Rio Grande) Valley. But we get everything we want in Bandera.”
In return, Stadstad and his golf buddies said they contribute to the Bandera’s economy every year. “It makes us quite nervous what they will do,” said Jerry Vetterkind, of Wisconsin. “Are they going to continue being a golf course? That’s our main concern.”
Karen Queen, who lives at the Flying L, is crossing her fingers about the new owner. “I hope whoever buys it will invest a little money in it, and won’t take everything it makes out of it. And doesn’t run it into the ground,” she said.
Queen and her husband, Clint Bock, said while they’re not surprised the Flying L is about to be auctioned off, they are disappointed, KSAT reported.
“You can only ride a horse so long before you let it rest. Or if you don’t, it’ll drop over. I think that the horse dropped over,” Bock said.
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