2430 Private Road 4402 , Sonora, TX 76950(Sutton County)

The terrain is typical of the western edge of the Edwards Plateau ranch country. Oaks and junipers proliferate amid rolling limestone hills, rough ridges and open prairies. Diverse native flora offers ideal pastureland for livestock, and abundant cover for wildlife. Historically, the property has been utilized for ranching, but it is also ideally suited for recreational use, boasting abundant wildlife, including white-tailed and Axis deer, dove, quail, turkey, songbirds, pollinators, and a range of native species. This array of wildlife offers both excellent hunting and unparalleled wildlife-watching. All-weather roads provide reliable access to house and hunter camps.

THE NORTH SIDE (2,866.53 acres; five water wells)

The crown jewel of the ranch stands in the valley at its center—the meticulously preserved 7,000-square-foot Victorian home, known affectionately as Casa Piedra. Constructed in 1900 by architect J.E. Caldwell for rancher, Tom Adams and his wife, Mary, the house reflects the classic character of The American Queen Anne style architecture, complete with wraparound porch, gabled roof, decorative shingle work, and an expansive upstairs gallery. The house offers six bedrooms, two and a half baths, and sweeping views of the surrounding valley and hills. Complimenting the home is a greenhouse, steps away from the kitchen, as well as a large historic barn.

A comprehensive two-year restoration (2020–2022) led by Dallas architect Stephen B. Chambers and master craftsman Troy Poole of Restoration Works of Dallas returned Casa Piedra to its original striking character. It remains one of the few fully restored grand residences of its era in Sutton County. Constructed primarily of cement, its thick walls earned it the nickname, “The Fortress.” The family’s pending application to the National Register of Historic Places underscores the home’s architectural and cultural significance.

Recent improvements include 110 acres of selective brush clearing providing improved habitat for deer, grass for grazing livestock, and an improved caliche road.

A concrete pad, suitable for trailer / RV parking, lies on a hill near the north entry, close to a windmill, tank and trough. The pad has functioning electrical outlets, making it an ideal location for a hunting camp.

Dark skies, clear air and unobstructed views make this ranch a perfect location for star-enthusiasts and astronomers. On a clear night, see breathtaking glimpses of the Milky Way and innumerable constellations. Set up early with a simple telescope or binoculars, and, as a prelude to the stars, enjoy a spectacular West Texas sunset.

THE JESSE PLACE (1,928.56 acres; five water wells)

The southern parcel, known as The Jesse Place, offers quiet seclusion, a well-maintained hunting cabin and an abundance of white-tailed and Axis deer, as well as turkeys.

Early corrals built of stone without cement, in the “dry-stack” style characteristic of ancient builders, still stand, resilient as ever despite the passing years, a reminder of the ranch’s long history.

Shearing stands and pens lie near the ruin of a rustic house, dating to a bygone era, when the house was rumored to have belonged to one Mr. Jesse Owen, who was, for reasons unknown, said to be lying low from the law. Tucked away from the main road, this portion of the ranch enjoys the delightful combination of peace and quiet and abundant water, thanks to its five water wells, making it ideal for modern outdoors enthusiasts.

The Jesse Place offers not only ranching and hunting opportunities, but unique opportunities for exploration.

The "Big John Cave,” discovered and named by John Ward, Jr. in the 1930’s, lies somewhere on the southern parcel; its location lost to secrecy and time. The cave opens into a large chamber with multiple feeder tunnels leading off in different directions. The entrance was sealed long ago, to protect the goat herds, but a collection of stalagmites and stalactites from the cave, discovered in a closet of the house, was donated to Caverns of Sonora, renowned as “the most heavily decorated cave in North America.” Caves are prevalent throughout the area, and it is reasonable to believe there may be additional caves as yet undiscovered on the ranch.

The “Diamond Mine” is an area rich in calcite, where the ground sparkles with amber-colored gem-like rocks, and Ward grandchildren once searched for softball-sized crystals. As with the cave, the precise location of The Diamond Mine has been lost to time, but it is out there still, waiting to be rediscovered.

The "Frog Pond” is a dirt tank reservoir fed by a windmill. Turkeys, deer and other wildlife frequent its waters, and it is fondly remembered for the quantity of tadpoles that emerge each spring.

HISTORY: THE STOCKMAN’S PARADISE

Sonora, known since the early days of ranching as “The Stockman’s Paradise,” is situated along The Dry Devil’s River on the western edge of the Edwards Plateau. A wide selection of native grasses and forbs flourishing in this stunning landscape attracted early ranchers and drovers even before 1889, when the first water well was drilled.

Wool was in high demand in 1880’s Texas for everything from clothing, including Army Uniforms, to rugs, blankets, and upholstery. Angora mohair was preferred over sheep wool for its superior softness and durability, and it was soon discovered that Angora goat flourished in the dry climate and rugged pastures of this area. Cattle, sheep, and horses thrived here as well, earning the nearby town of Sonora its nickname, “The Stockman’s Paradise”. As the wool industry grew, Sonora also became known as the “Wool Capitol of Texas”, and eventually, of the United States.

Into the rough rolling ranchlands of Sonora rode the cowboy, John Ward (1869—1929), and his bride, Virginia. John, already a local hero in the Big Bend of West Texas, earned his fame working longhorns on the legendary G4 Ranch alongside Captain James B. Gillett, a notable Texas Ranger and former deputy marshal of El Paso. Named after John is Ward Mountain in Big Bend, where he lassoed a bear, and Ward Spring, a reliable water source which he discovered during the terrible drought of 1886, saving the lives of the G4 longhorn herds and cowboys.

On leaving Big Bend, John returned to his childhood home in Wrightsboro to marry his sweetheart, Virginia. The couple briefly ran the post office and dry goods in Segovia, before moving to Sonora in 1903, where they bought a ranch and a herd of Angora goats. The goat venture proved successful, and the couple raised eight children.

John’s second son, John Jr. (1899—1981) served a stint in The U.S. Army during World War I, then joined his father in the goat business. Father and son selectively bred Angoras for soft fleece so long it often trailed the ground.

As the Ward & Son Angora business flourished, they expanded their herds, leading John Jr. to purchase land adjacent to his father’s. The combined ranches of father and son, dotted with wooly Angoras as far as the eye could see, became affectionately known by the business name, Rancho Blanco.

Ward & Son grew to become one of the preeminent goat breeding establishments in the United States. Their champion Angoras won over two decades’ worth of trophies and blue ribbons at the State Fair of Texas and numerous other livestock competitions. The highest-priced Angora ever sold in The United States in that era was a Ward & Son buck. Eventually, Ward & Son began exporting breeding stock internationally to breeders in South Africa. John, Sr. now a revered authority on selective breeding of goats, served as President of The American Angora Raisers Association and was active in the American Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. At the time of his death, he owned several ranches. It is worth noting that the Champion Angora Ranch in Sonora was the one the family chose to keep.

Following the death of John Sr. in 1929, John Jr. continued the goat business. Following in his father’s footsteps, he served as President and Director of the Texas Sheep and Goat Raiser’s Association, among other civic honors, continuing the tradition of champion goat-raising and winning numerous blue ribbons in his own right. His son, John Allen (1929—2009), the third generation of Ward Ranchers, joined in the goat business as a young man, but left to serve his country in the Air Force as a pilot in the Korean War. After his pilot days, he became a lawyer, returning often to ranch, which despite all his travels, remained to him the most beautiful place on Earth. He enjoyed a fine retirement on Champion Angora Ranch, riding horses, watching sunsets, and raising Black Angus cattle. He conserved a small herd of Angoras, descendants of the original champions. Following his death, the last of the Angoras were sold, and the property was managed for wildlife, with a view to constant improvement of the white-tailed deer population.

THE NEXT ERA

Who will steward this marvelous ranch into the next century? This land has not been sold in nearly 100 years. A meaningful chapter of Texas ranching history can be felt across every inch of this gorgeous 4,795.09 acre property. An extraordinary opportunity, this beautiful ranch is ready to be cherished by future generations.