Juan’s Place. That’s what I came to call it over the years, even though its proper name was Block Creek Ranch, named by the “Goat King” of Texas, Juan’s grandfather, long before many along the road called Old No. 9, and FM 1376, used “Block Creek” in the names of their parcels. I heard about the place from Dad and my brother Gary, when I was around 16/17, that’d be approximately 1977. They’d been to look at the ranch for a deer lease. Juan’s mother (who then owned the place) was showing it in her pickup. Gary rode in the bed and Dad rode in the cab of the pickup. It was +/- 3200 acres, about 4.5 miles north of Sisterdale. About half-way around the ranch, Dad told Gary to ride up front and he’d ride in the bed. It didn’t take Gary too long to figure out why. The lady driving didn’t use deodorant, and, it’d obviously been quite a while since she’d had a shower.

We leased the place and opened it up to a few close employees at our company, to pay their own way. It was a magical time. Dad brought his brother a couple of times, and, even though Dad worried incessantly about how much he’d talk (we’re a family of talkers), everybody loved Johnny. Our service manager, who is (he’s still alive at 96+) THE toughest man I have ever met in my life, would shoot his limit opening weekend and proceed to bitch for a year about the price.

Not many folks realize how rough it can be just north of Boerne, with extremely deep canyons, steep canyons cut into the hills, and places with names like Boot Leg Springs and Ghost Canyon. Many of my most cherished hunting memories are from being on that place. We lost it for a few years, to a corporate entity with lots of cash. Dad passed during that time and our family was rocked. By that time I was working at the family business. Gary had preceded me there by many years. He told me to “Go find a lease.” The first thing I did was go see Juan’s mom. She told me to contact Juan, since he now owned the ranch. The corporation that had got it from us had shot up the place and broken so many rules that Juan was ready for a change.
We leased it again, as a corporate lease, taking our customers, some fantastic, some not-so-fantastic, and had many more great times. I left the place when we sold the company. Others stayed on it, privately, including my brother and our General Manager, who was like another brother to us, for many more years. The ranch was sold, in 2019, busted up in to 300-400 acre parcels. The General Manager friend sent me this picture of the last evening as they got their stuff off the place.

(The guy can frame a picture.)

I saw Juan’s mom, when I was there with my mom, several years ago, outside the business she’d operated for many years in Fredericksburg. My mom and her had had a connection, both having “damaged” children. Mom’s by a doctor’s forceps, Juan’s mom’s by the 60’s. Juan’s mom was elderly, and I know, as we said goodbye, that she was confusing me with one of her kids. (She’d always been interested in my “artistic side”, music, etcetera). She was a square-head, definition-of-stoic, cast out from “proper Fredericksburg society”, old German lady. But she said “I love you.” And I told her that I loved her too. And I did. ‘Funny what a darn deer lease can bring into your life.

Great story and picture. Good stuff.

Beautifully written Sir

great story on your lease.

I have been on my lease 15 years and am now 70 years old. Funny how the need to kill a trophy buck each year tends to fade as we fade. But I still pay to hunt this lease and enjoy others as they or their children take beautiful bucks. I am happy just to get away to the ranch and sit in a blind and enjoy nature. Also love having my grandkids out to teach them all about hunting (funny how trapping an 18 year old for 3 hours in a stand so that they have to listen to what Poppa T tells them is priceless. Have taught lots of lessons to my kids and grandkids while hunting for deer. Life is good!

I just recall the Cibolo Creek and waiting for the can of refries to heat up. I was always envious of you rich Churchill boys and the access you boys had.

Life is good, alright.

I have somewhat the same situation. I bought my place about 40 years ago. $408 per acre; now worth many times that.

133 acres of recreational property; a synonym for junk land that is only good for getting away from town. Grandson and his buddies have been going there since they were children. They are now grown and do 90% of the work for the old guy(me).

They seldom hunt or even go there. Just me and wife mostly and I seldom shoot anything other than at my range.

Thinking about selling because I can’t do the stuff it needs. Damn, that’s a hard trigger to pull. Worth a lot of money but, being debt free, I really don’t have much need for the money. Don’t have expensive tastes.

Been procrastinating about this for quite awhile. If/when I die I figure wife will grab the cash and head to Winstar.

Dave....I too have been around for a long time........As soon as you sell the place ..ya'll wish ya hadn't, sure as shootin'. I have a small lot on the river, I keep thinking I will sell it some day, but when I do think that I also know I will never get a place to replace it.
I had it too long to loose now.
good luck.

great story Creek!!! brings back many fond childhood memories for me growing up around various hunting camps around central Texas with my dad and his hunting buddies. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing Creek! Reminds me of my journey with my boys.

Great story, thanks for sharing.

We've been on the same lease for 29 years. The original guys (including my Dad) have passed on. We're on our 3rd generation. I know it's not the same as owning land but we have a lot of history out there. The landowners folks are buried in the lower pasture and my Dad was one of the pallbearers. Same fire pit and horseshoe pit and constantly broken water lines as always. I've shot 3 mature bucks in 29 years—plus my share of does, pigs, coyotes, ducks, and dove. As a place to kill game it's not exceptional but as a place to relax and appreciate your blessings I wouldn't trade it.

I like this post

Great thread Creek! Great stories told by all.

GREAT THREAD! I had stopped hunting after the 2001 season as my father no longer wanted to hunt as he got older. For 5 years I did not hunt. Then I thought about all of the great hunts and memories I had with my father and knew I had to do the same with my sons. Seventeen years ago, I put a lease wanted add on Craigslist for a family lease in the Jack/Young County area as I passed thru there going to and from my Parents in Lubbock and figured it would be a great place to hunt. I was not wrong. A land owner replied to me. It so happens he also was in I.T. in the metroplex, same as me but had grown up in Windthorst and purchased 100 acres close to his family land north of Loving and was open to leasing it. It was perfect, 100 acres, year-round access. Plenty of dove, deer and hogs, large stocked pond with two deer blinds on it already and he would maintain a winter wheat food plot. I asked what he wanted and he said what would I pay? I could have said less, but I figured $15 an acre for a decent small acreage place would not be bad so said $1500. He has never asked for more money in 17 years. We have taken several 130-140 class bucks off this little place and more hogs than I wish. Plus caught plenty of fish and more. Best of all are all the memories, that is priceless. My youngest son does not like to hunt but he does like fishing. My oldest however hunts with me on it as often as he can. Every deer and hog he has ever shot has been here. Here he is with the 8 pointer he shot just before Christmas.

Great memories were made and shared. That's what hunting is all about. Not the size of the antlers.

My grandfather and his brothers and cousins found a lease in Mason county in 1954. The land owner allowed 8 paid hunters and guests were allowed after opening weekend. The only way to join the lease was when a family member died. I got on the lease in 1994. We lost the lease in 2005 after the second generation owner died and his his 2 daughters wanted the place for their husbands. I am sure a couple thousand deer fell to my family during the 51 years we had that old lease. I learned a lot from those old men and did a lot of growing up there. It’s a shame that kind of place is getting harder to find and hold on to.

Amen!

Thanks for the thread Creek. Great story and some great replies.

And some of us went to school at lowly Devine High School...
Adios,
Gary