LANDOWNER SPOTLIGHT: RED CORRAL RANCH

Having fun nurturing people and the land.

Few marketing taglines convey as much, or as accurately, as the one used by Red Corral Ranch. As Plateau Land & Wildlife Management clients since the company's founding in 1997, Colleen and James Reeves, and their Red Corral Ranch in Wimberley, Texas, represent a successful marriage of bountiful business and smart wildlife management.

Over the past 30 years, Red Corral Ranch has evolved into a nationally recognized holistic and environmentally aware retreat. Nestled on the ranch's 1,100 acres are bed and breakfast facilities and a special event venue, an iconic location for Texas Hill Country weddings. But beyond the ranch's "party barn" where hundreds of couples have celebrated the start of their new life together, and past the inviting cabins and cottages where hundreds of guests from around the world have relaxed and recharged, the ranch has also played host to thousands of other guests. Some hatch new life in the ranch's dozens of bluebird boxes, while others roam the hills as part of a healthy, well-managed deer population. Some flit and flutter about colorful butterfly gardens, while others nest in safe and secure Golden- cheeked Warbler habitat.

The Red Corral Ranch double path of economics and environment began in 1969, when Colleen and James purchased the rolling hills, grand oaks, and spectacular wildflowers of the Wimberley property as a weekend and vacation retreat from the family's city life, and respite from James' busy medical practice in Austin.

Recalls Colleen, "we both grew up in farming and ranching families, and we felt the need to break away from the city and reconnect with the land."

Like many families who purchase property for a "weekend" retreat, the Reeves found themselves devoting more time to the ranch and Colleen, in particular, developed a deep passion for land management. She threw herself into learning as much as she could about taking care of the land in classes and seminars, even traveling to other states for intensive training. Thanks to her active involvement in learning more about land management, Colleen became aware of the PlanIt Texas Project, and its search for a working site to demonstrate the feasibility of an economically successful ranching operation compatible with the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

In the wake of the Golden-cheeked Warbler being listed as endangered in 1990 pursuant to the ESA, massive conflict churned in the Texas Hill Country (Edwards Plateau), where habitat for the bird occurs. Large numbers of landowners resented and resisted actions by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to preserve the habitat. They worried that their land values would decline and their ranching livelihoods would be decimated if the protected birds were found on their land. From this atmosphere of fear and conflict was born the PlanIt Texas Project, a collaboration of federal, state, and local organizations representing a spectrum of views regarding the ESA, including the Texas Nature Conservancy and its then representatives David Braun and Beyrl Armstrong.

Colleen found the premise of the PlanIt Texas experiment to be an immensely interesting one, prompting the Reeves to offer up their ranch to serve as, essentially, the project's 1,100 acre laboratory. The size of the ranch was considered a good model for the area, and Red Corral Ranch was chosen as the PlanIt Texas working site.

As the various representatives helped and monitored the ranch in running cattle, operating a hunting enterprise, and developing an eco-tourism bed and breakfast, all within the ESA guidelines, Colleen remembers watching the suspicions and fear of the "other side" slowly but surely melt away.

"Whether federal, state, or local, we all came to realize there was no 'enemy,'" says Colleen. "Many of us had defined ourselves differently, but everyone's goal was the same - protecting and valuing our precious Texas land."

Ultimately, the impact of PlanIt Texas went far beyond 1,100 acres in Wimberley.

The PlanIt Texas experiment and the efforts of it members, including David Braun and Beyrl Armstrong, resulted in Wildlife Management Valuation (WMV) being voted into the Texas Constitution, allowing landowners managing for wildlife the same tax benefits as agricultural valuations. Braun and Armstrong also went on to found Plateau Land & Wildlife Management which has, to date, successfully converted over 2,200 properties to WMV and positively impacted more than 525,000 acres of Texas open space, including Red Corral Ranch.

"Working with Plateau in our wildlife management has provided a sense of safety," says Colleen. "They are very aware of the environment, know the ins and outs of wildlife management, and appreciate the sanctity of private property."

Following the successful completion of PlanIt Texas, Colleen became inspired to broaden the use and purpose of the ranch by expanding the facilities and opening the land to the public. The ranch would now offer a variety of amenities to the bed and breakfast guests, as well as host corporate and spiritual retreats and, upon the suggestion of Plateau's Beyrl Armstrong, host weddings -- today, one of the ranch's greatest claims to fame and income producers.

"Opening up this beautiful land to the public and offering more services has given us a unique opportunity to demonstrate to even more people that there are many of us who still care deeply about the land," observes Colleen. "Red Corral Ranch demonstrates that you can make a living without sacrificing the environment."

With Plateau's guidance, the Reeves have taken great care with the land and the environment. Activities are conducted when seasonally appropriate -- no loud brush management at Red Corral Ranch during bird breeding season -- and their efforts to recycle and reuse have not dissipated since the day they bought the ranch in 1969. Indeed, in early 2011, Red Corral Ranch installed its first rainwater collection system on the venue's "party barn" to collect water to keep the surrounding grass green in the most environmentally responsible way. Always keen on the details, Colleen notes "brides prefer green grass."

This year, Plateau is working with Red Corral Ranch to implement a rotational "flash grazing" program to effectively manage grass growth (far beyond the party barn) with the temporary grazing of cattle, a win-win arrangement for both Red Corral Ranch and understanding cattle ranchers in need of grass-rich land.

"Flash grazing with conservative stocking rates will allow the ranch to economically and effectively control excessive grass growth without depleting the perennial native grasses," says Kasey Mock, Plateau Business Development Coordinator. "It's a pleasure to work with clients like James and Colleen who have a high appreciation for the land, a desire to do what's best for it, and are open to alternatives. They understand the need for a diverse plan of approach and consulted with Plateau as to what would be best for their land."

On the Red Corral Ranch website, visitors will see the expected photographs of happy brides and enticing images of cozy guest cottages, but they will also see something less expected -- an outline of the ranch's holistic goals. Among those stated goals:

Maintain and improve a quality piece of land and a way of life that will provide the opportunity for our children to continue the management of the land.

Appreciate the opportunity for stewardship of the land.

"We know that the creeks that runs across our land, the trees and native grasses that grace our hills, and the wildlife in our ranch habitats have an impact that spreads far beyond our fences," says Colleen. "As we nurture the land, we also nurture and, hopefully, inspire people to do likewise and we really do have fun doing it."

Red Corral Ranch has become an iconic Texas Hill Country wedding location. Photograph of a bride and groom at the ranch in Wimberley, Texas by J. Cogliandro Photography.