The 250-acre Colbert Ranch has been in the Colbert
family since the 1980s. This beautiful land hugging the
South San Gabriel River was once home to dinosaurs and wooly mammoths, whose footprints can be seen nearby. Prehistoric elephants and Sabertooth tigers once roamed here, along with the tiny Eohippus, a dog-sized ancestor to today’s horse. Their fossils have been found in caves in Georgetown. Bison, bears, panthers, wolves, coyotes, deer, and even alligators were once plentiful. Herds of wild horses (musteños, or mustangs) and longhorn cattle flourished after escaping from the early expeditions of the Spanish conquistadores.

Pre-historic hunters found shelter here as early as 10,000 years ago. The indigenous Tonkawa tribe called the area “Land of Good Water” for the clear river and many coldwater springs. A tribe of fierce warriors, the “Tonks” were experts at flintwork and buffalo hunting. They were expert horsemen, and may have been the first to introduce the bow and arrow from Middle America, using wood from the native Osage orange, or bois d’arc (“bow wood), tree. The Tonkawas flourished until a long feud with the neighboring Comanches nearly wiped them out in the 1860s. Other tribes that probably crossed this land were the Apaches, the Tawakonis, and the Choctaws. Arrowheads and spearheads, as well as many flint chips (“percussion flakes”) have been found on the Colbert Ranch. The flint was probably mined near Austin on the Colorado River.

White settlers began moving into the area early in the nineteenth century, building homes from local oak or limestone. The thick native grasses and plentiful water were perfect for cattle and sheep, as well as cotton, wheat, and pecans. Just downriver, the town of South Gabriel was founded in 1871. It was home to a cotton gin, a gristmill, and numerous other businesses until the route of the Northwestern Railroad passed two miles to the northeast. The townspeople were forced to move to where the action was, and in 1882, thirteen residences and two shops were moved to the new town of Bertram. Each building required thirteen yoke of oxen and two days to move while the family cooked, ate and slept in their homes. The Colbert Ranch was long known as the Simmons Place for the family that built the old house that still stands on FM 1174, near the low-water bridge where a local resident was once lost in the river during a spring storm.

Burnet County is said to have suffered as many Indian raids as any county on the Western frontier, due largely to the many tribes who lived and hunted here, and to the dense cedar thickets that made good hiding places for escaping raiders. After the Civil War, cattle thieves and vigilantes made their own laws.

As you enjoy your horseback ride, try to imagine the giant prehistoric animals, the resourceful Native Americans, and the hardy settlers in whose footsteps you follow.

View our photo gallery!
        

We pride ourselves on the professionalism of our operation. Patti Colbert has worked in the horse industry for over 30 years. From teaching riding lessons to working for the internationally recognized American Quarter Horse Association, her experience proves her one of the best in the business. Patti and her husband Joe are eager to share their passion for the horse and western lifestyle with you!

At Colbert Ranch we are ready to spoil you with the best "down-home hospitality" a dude deserves. Whether it’s horses, hayrides or home cookin’ we provide services to:
     • Families and groups
     • Corporations
     • Private parties