Way Out West Texas: Cibolo Creek Ranch

MARFA, Texas (KOSA) - Cibolo Creek Ranch is one of the oldest ranches in Texas. It not only has breathtaking views, it also has a rich history dating back to the mid 1800s.

Milton Faver settled in what is now known as Cibolo Creek Ranch in the mid 1800s. Over several decades, he established a solid trading business, forts that stood as strongholds and cattle operations that supported trade with Indians, local settlers, silver miners and U.S. Army troops stationed nearby.

The ranch endured over the years and in 1988 John B. Poindexter, a war veteran and entrepreneur purchased the first component of the ranch.

“Its primary attribute was history. I can’t think of a ranch in West Texas more important than this one. This one has scenery, mountains and beautiful views,” said Poindexter, the owner of Cibolo Creek Ranch.

Poindexter began restoring the ranch in the 90′s with the goal to keep the ranch’s authenticity and integrity fully intact.

“When the construction actually began, we did things like take the photographs out, blow them up and count the number of adobes up the side of the building to make sure we built it back with the right number,” Poindexter said.

It was not just about restoring the buildings, Poindexter also reintroduced indigenous animals to the land as well.

The 30,000-acre ranch has been returned to its pre-pioneer condition through an extensive restoration process.

“We want to be able to say to anyone who walks in the front door that you’re looking at a fort and a coral that the owner in the 1870s would say ‘oh yeah this is home,’ a bit more fancily decorated, but still very much a building nearly identical to what he had,” Poindexter said.

Tom Davis, the ranch manager, said when you’re at the ranch, you’re surrounded by history.

“We have multiple museums on the property and they’re open 24/7 to guests that are staying here and it really helps guests put the pieces together of what this place was like and really the authenticity of the fort,” Davis said.

Without the ranch’s history, people would not be able to fully appreciate what the land is today. While there is so much to see and learn around the resort, it is still a working cattle ranch as well.

“We have cattle that we rotate around the ranch, we do everything horseback. We have great cowboys from Ojinaga, Mexico and Presidio and really everything outside these four walls is dedicated to cattle,” Davis said.

The herd consists of Black Angus, commercial Black Brangus and a Wagyu-Angus cross that they serve in the restaurant.

It’s no easy task running a cattle ranch, it’s physical hard labor, but Cesar Armendariz the ranch foreman said it’s rewarding work.

“Working cattle and being on horseback, keeping the tradition alive from back in the days working cattle on horseback,” Armendariz said, “for me it doesn’t really feel like a job coming out here and doing what I do. Doing it for a living, it’s pretty fun.”

Cibolo Creek Ranch is a window back into rich Texas history for anyone who visits, but it’s also a home to the man who restored the brilliance of the land that was and continues to be.

“It is my home. I share it with strangers and friends of course and many categories of persons and to me it’s being a good host in your home,” Poindexter said.

You can find more information on Cibolo Creek Ranch here.

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