Plenty of Hill Country ranches come with a few prancing deer. Buffalo Ridge Ranch, a 351-acre spread outside Llano now listed for $14.25 million, comes with a bison herd.
The property sits in the Riley Mountains about eight miles southeast of Llano, with more than 4,400 feet of frontage along County Road 312. Location, as always, is one of the selling points. It’s a short drive to San Antonio and Austin — and if the future owner’s wine stock gets low, Fredericksburg is only 28 miles away.
There’s also almost as much water as Schlitterbahn. A seven-acre lake, built in the ’90s, sits at the center of the ranch and reaches depths of almost 40 feet. It has proven resilient, holding about 15 feet of water even during the 2011 drought, and a solar-powered well now keeps it topped off year-round. A covered dock stretches out into the water, outfitted with a mini pontoon boat.
Elsewhere, nearly 13,000 combined feet of Honey Creek, Pyramid Creek, and Salt Branch Creek wind through the property, along with two natural springs, a second 1.5-acre lake, and a half-acre entrance pond. As one might imagine, the fishing is good.
The 4,500-square-foot residence, sitting on one of the ranch’s highest points, is designed to take in the property’s breathtaking views with large windows in almost every room. The three-bedroom, three-bath home also includes a roomy covered back porch, a pool, and a covered picnic area for sipping said Fredericksburg wine.
Rustic touches, like the reclaimed farmhouse timber on the living room mantel, contrast with a complete smart home system.
Guests stay in a 2,050-square-foot barndominium, which also faces the lake. Half of it holds living quarters with three more bedrooms and bathrooms. The other half stores vehicles, boats, and equipment. Other improvements include a climate-controlled shop, a five-acre livestock facility, two wells, and paved roads connecting both entrances to every major structure.
The high-fenced ranch is ideal for hunting axis deer, red deer, and Rio Grande turkey. The smaller lake holds 50 to 60 ducks during the season — more during peak migration. A shooting range with two covered pavilions and a skeet range with an automated thrower are loaded for target practice.
Buffalo Ridge Ranch is listed by Louie Swope and Hunter Shannon of West & Swope Ranches. In-person viewings can be booked through the property page, but curiosity seekers can take a virtual tour below:
Photo courtesy of West & Swopes Ranches
The main room offers indoor-outdoor living.
