Sandyland Ranch: A Special Piece of Land on the Pedernales River
View of the Pedernales River from the adjoining conservation easement. // Stephen Ramirez
For Carolyn and Roy Horton, it’s not enough to appreciate the beauty of their property on their own—it has to be shared. “It’s a special piece of land,” they say. “We have a ½ mile of the Pedernales River giving our cabin gorgeous views.” Artists and photographers agree—both magazine and commercial shoots have set up shop on the beautiful bluffs to take advantage of this incredible landscape. The Hortons find it energizing. “We had a crew of 54 people out here. It was too cool. We love that other people can see the beauty of the land just as we do.”
They’ve also hosted hikes in partnership with TLC and the local Sierra Club, invited professional photographers to capture the beloved bluebonnet season, and even started a herd of longhorns. “We’ve grown a small herd,” they say. “It’s been the single most rewarding thing.”
"We love that other people can see the beauty of the land just as we do.”
Neither landowner grew up on farms—both spent childhoods just outside of big cities—and didn’t get involved in ranch life until their 40s. “Now we’re getting older, but we just love to live on our land.” TLC has been instrumental to that transition. “TLC is a resource that makes that easier for us. If we have questions, we know we’ll get solid advice.”
The Hortons have joined forces with their neighbors on either side so that all three properties have conservation easements. “We can do so much more when we work together. These ranches are now more than the sum of their parts.” According to the Hortons, it’s all about attitude and intention. “We wanted to protect the nature of this place, and we wanted to do it for future generations. If people approach things with that attitude, there is nothing that can’t be worked out.” They know how lucky they are to live on this river, with a view of the changing seasons in this beautiful corner of the state, and they want to share both the enthusiasm for conservation and the passion for the land itself with fellow Texans. “We’re very fortunate and grateful to be stewards of this place.”
The Hortons started a small herd of longhorns on the property. // Stephen Ramirez
The Horton's cabin on the Pedernales River. // Stephen Ramirez
Roy and Carolyn Horton pose with Buddy on their porch overlooking the river. // Beverly Guhl
Celebrating 40 Years of Conservation
We have been collecting stories and photos from people that have made this organization what it is today, highlighting all the hard work, special moments, and conservation successes we have had over the last four decades. We have been sharing these throughout the year here: https://www.texaslandconservancy.org/40-years-of-conservation
As we move forward to the next 40 years, we hope you will continue to support this important work and help to create a future where being in nature won’t be a thing of the past.
Join or renew your TLC membership today—$40 for 40 years!