Las Escobas Ranch

When you buy a ranch, you acquire the history and legacy of that property. The Las Escobas Ranch has both in spades, beginning in 1767 when Porciones #109, #110, and #111 of the jurisdiction of Cd. Camargo were granted to Jose Salvador Garcia, Santiago de la Garza and Jose Antonio Guajardo. The entire ranch began at 18,681 +/- acres and is one of the most historic Starr County Ranches The ranch continued to grow under the ownership of the next generation lead by Jose Felipe Guerra and Josefa Gonzalez Garcia who by 1860 had grown the ranch through inheritance and purchase to a total of 46,450 +/- acres. This propelled the Las Escobas Ranch to one of the largest and most profitable stockraiser operations in Starr County by the 1880s. By this time the family had grown, and the ranch supported 14 different family circles with around 80 total inhabitants. At this point the ranch housed many school aged children so before passing in 1891 Felipe Guerra hired both Spanish and English-speaking teachers to run a school on the ranch. Many consider this to be one of the first bilingual education programs in Texas. When Felipe passed, he died with the absence of a will. His tomb is still located on the main homestead site alongside others including his wife, Josefa. In 1894 the ranch was partitioned after its patriarchs death into 13 shares awarded to different family members. One of the larger shares of 18,681 +/- acres was inherited by Maria Emilia Guerra de Salinas. This 315 +/- acre tract owners namesake comes directly from Maria Salinas. The only portion of the large ranch that was immediately lost upon Felipes death to a non-descendant was a tract that was subject to loan debt by another very well know South Texas rancher, John P. Kelsey, who purchased a tract on the steps of the Starr county courthouse after the tract was sold per county ruling. Today there is still a large group of descendants and heirs that maintain cattle and hunting operations at and around the original homestead on Las Escobas Road. The 315 +/- acres are located a stones throw from this site. The ranch fronts the county road and is used for its prime wildlife hunting habitat and lush stands of Buffel and coastal grazing grasses. The ranch is largely untouched other than a small camp, interior central cross fence, and a strategically placed 30 +/- acre root plowed pasture. The ranch is incredibly unencumbered by any production sites or transmission pipelines. This is a must-see ranch with great vistas from the iconic Starr County lomas throughout, along with fertile valleys lined with huge bull mesquites and thick virgin brush.