F.M.Road 474 East of Boerne
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HISTORY: This lovely old house, situated on the Guadalupe
River, is ideally suited as a resort and guest ranch. The latest is the
Guadalupe River Ranch which was developed in 1986 by Walter Starcke. See article
in Express-News, September 7, 1986, p1-G. for story.
On Sunday, February
4, 1996 there was an article on page 6K of the San Antonio Express-News written
by Jacque Crouse extolling the news about the Guadalupe River Ranch. She says in
the article, "Built in 1929 by the president of Alamo National Bank, the 8,000
square-foot lodge with hardwood floors and stone fireplaces had been at various
times the home of actress Olivia de Haviland, a turkey farm and a
brothel."
On September 4, 1996 the San Antonio-Express staff writer Roy
Bragg discussed the Ranch in his Main Streets & Back Roads.He says," A
former turkey farm and juvenile delinquent facility, the ranch has become a
destination of choice for corporate retreats and vacationers. What once was an
unappealing assortment of shotgun shacks is now a cozy collection of cabins,
five-star hotel rooms and killer scenic vistas."
On November 3, 1996 an
article was written by Lelsie Hicks for the Express-News, introducing Ed
McClure, a former hotel executive with Phoenix Hospitality Group, Inc., who had
joined the staff of Guadalupe River Ranch, adding his expertise in hotel
management.
Again on March 9, 1997 an article "From Ruins to
Rejuvenation", by Ron Bechtol appears in the San Antonio-Express. He mentions
the art work done on the ranch in the paragraph, "Guadalupe Handprint Fabrics
utilizing designs by partner Eron Howell and artists such as Brad Braune, was
established as the core enterprise. It functioned for seven years until the
demands of the property overwhelmed the idea. At this point Starke decided to
turn Guadalupe River Ranch into a retreat for executives and intellectuals in
need of a spiritual jump-start."
Before the Guadalupe River Ranch was in
operation we find the house was used for a school, at least for a short time.
There is an article in the Boerne Star on September 2, 1982 heralding the
opening of a new school. The teachers were to be Cathy Rhea and Anna
Flatten.
Before the opening of the school we find that the property was
known as Golden Fawn Guest Ranch. The Boerne Star printed an announcement of an
Open House for Golden Fawn Guest Ranch in September of 1974.
When the
ranch was a turkey farm it was owned by the Ammann family. Other uses named
above are not substantiated in the Library files.
Source: Boerne Public Library files, February, 2000.
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