Terlingua Ranch

[Doc Savage]

Just out of curiosity can anyone tell me what the "lawsuit" at TR was all about?
I thought it was about differences in taxation between the "original" owners and the "newcomers" but I could be wrong about that (probably).  TWWG

TWWG,

As a property owner there and on NEITHER side of that issue, here's my preception of the lawsuit. It was brought basically to roll the fees back to the way they had been years previously, along with a whole list of amusing accusations that are basically unprovable (granted, I think there may be a seed of truth there, but as the lawsuit was written, they were very vague and would have been difficult to prove, i.e. conspircey to raise fees). There was no two level fee structure. However the flat fee did in fact present an advantage to large property owners vs. smaller ones, but that was supposedly voted on by the members. Now there are lots of rumors of how things were handled in getting rid of a past director and the manner in which the vote for fees was made. I honestly can't say that law was violated as has been inferred, however even if law itself wasn't broken, it does appear on the face of it that the rules were manipulated in a way to give advantage to the ones wanting a change.

I think that the biggest challenge to the whole of TR is that there are lots of folks in management and on the board who have no clue as to how business and management work in today's world. They seem to be back about 50 years in terms of tools and effeciency. The worst mistake I ever made was making a detailed read of the finiancial reports of the ranch. I question the effeciency of the management and their ability to adequately manage the POA (that includes the BOD and isn't just singling out the paid management). Rather than working smarter and looking at cost effectiveness, the rule of thumb seems to be to increase "taxes" (fees). Whether there really is or not, the impression is definately there that it is a "good old boy" regime and lots of special perks seem to be doled out without regard to their actual cost.

Having said all that, the BOD and GM isn't the big one eyed ogre that many try to make them out to be. I believe that they are working to the best of their ability, but need to shift their way of thinking some and open up more. Lots of the past bickering and hard feelings have driven things to where they are now and that all just needs to be dropped by both sides and have progress start again. I'll have to say that I've found the BOD and GM both willing to listen and consider changes. One of the biggest problems is that most of the ones disagreeing with them tend to get personal and argumentative rather than trying to discuss issues.

YMMV, but that is my impression of everything.

Robert

[Kathleen]

OK, my thought was since the Lodge was a land owner, then they could provide permission to a friend/guest, just like you might provide such permission for a relative that was visiting you out there.  From what you wrote me (thanks for the response) sounds as if one would need permission from each and every land owner who's land the road crosses.  Very difficult to do since most do not live out there.

I wonder if a iron ranger affair might persuade landowners to allow road use, if someone other than NPS took control.  Or, if a wealthy owner were to take control of the Xmas Mts, he could even buy out the effected owners, or buy out their road acreage.  With NPS, as I understand it, these kinds of options for access are gone forever, and thereby nobody will ever go out there after the initial newness wears off.

Thanks again for your insight.

>>>>>>>

No, as an owner, I can give my guests permission to drive on my road and the roads to get to my property but I can't give them permission to drive on anyone else's road in Terlingua Ranch. Neither can POATRI
Kathleen

[TheWildWestGuy]

Thanks for the clarification Doc Savage.  I don't think I would like the "flat fee" taxes either because someone with 1000 acres pays the same as someone with 10 acres.  It just seems fundamentally unfair for the fees to be based on anything other than value/acreage/useage.   I can see where owners of smaller new tracts might think that the "good olde boys" who own the larger tracts are getting special treatment.
Since it isn't likely that the TR owners are going to make any great strides in efficiency they should look to increase revenue and income.  I agree with Fred here that access to the Christmas Mtn's and some sort of toll road/iron ranger or pay-to-use system might bring in some easy money.  Walling off the Christmas Mtns with "no tresspassing" signs and blocked gates isn't going to bring in any money or increase anyone's property values.  Seems like there should be some way for everyone to be happy.   I know I would be willing to pay some $$ for access and would be more likely to buy property in Terlingua Ranch if it included access to the Christmas Mountains.
Everyone could be a winner here... TWWG

[Al]

I have some land I own to the center of.  So I have limited knowledge of a similar situation in Texas. 

The county wanted to take over "the road" but I would have had to agree to deed it to them or the road would have to be declared abandoned which didn't happen.  If there is a dedicated easement then it must be recorded in the records of the county courthouse.  If there is no easement one can still access one's property if one has the prescriptive right to do so but it can be more complicated.  As long as it is gated there should not be an issue about the road being public but intuitively it would seem that landowners that rely on that easement for access to their property would not be restricted to have whom ever they desire use the easement to access their property. 

Anyway, that's what seems to make sense.

Al

[Undertaker]

I love it the last wild place left and same arguments as living in the big city.

[Al]

Doesn't matter how much land you have there are always neighbors. Good neighbors are a blessing for sure.

Al

[Roy]

Kathleen, anyone who served on the board for TR has my respect.  I own a parcel of land there and have followed the lawsuit "follies", etc., pretty closely over the last couple of years.  You folks did good.
And don't let LandCruiser get you down;  if you could cope with the the nonsense on TR, you can cope with his BS.

>>>

Well you probably wouldn't agree with me politically. ;-)
I was one of the two board members that AGREED with the lawsuit.
ahhh well, what part of the part of the ranch do you own land?
Kathleen

I own a parcel in the North Corazones;  not developed.  I've been there a few times, plan to eventually build something out there.
Doc Savage described the situation pretty well, from what I could see.  I felt that raising fees was justified, but the tactics were way over the top.  Still, I thought the suit was ultimately a waste of time and money.
I get to put up with the same kind of nonsense here in Corpus;  the property owners association where I live has legal authority to collect fees and dues, mostly to dredge and maintain the canals we live on, which definitely keeps our property values up.  But whenever they actually have to collect the money to get something done, people start raising hell about having to pay for it, and start calling lawyers.  Meetings turn into shouting matches, etc..  Like I said, follies.  
Undertaker, you're right on the money.

[Doc Savage]

Roy,

Where's your place at? Our piece of heaven is in the North Corazones also. I'm on top of the ridge between Jack Eden Mesa and Nine Point Mesa. We might be neighbors (in a West Texas manner of speaking). We plan to put a retirement place in one day, and just camp on it and enjoy until then.

Robert

[Roy]

I'm a little southwest of you,Doc (I think).  There's a ridge on the southern edge of my spot; hopefully will provide a little shade.  Got a nice view of Nine Points Mesa to the north.

[Doc Savage]

We could be real close. I'm at track 8298. The access is just up the ridge above what I've heard called "Bradford's trailer".

Robert

[Francie]

Has anyone stayed at Terlingua Ranch? I had heard it was a good place to go... however I don't know any real details about the place. Web sites are good, but I'd like to hear some real feedback from you all.

We have stayed at TR twice this year and will go back again. We live in the city so getting away from customers, phones, computers and traffic are the goals. Not having cell service except in specific spots has its advantages, too. We've met some wonderful folks out there, too, and even made a good friend. TR offers the basics but in my opinion does it very well. You do not have daily maid service but there is someone available if a need arises. Sometimes I really enjoy staying in an upscale hotel with room service and a spa, and sometimes I like having privacy, peace and quiet. TR place provides privacy, peace and quiet (and beautiful views) to a T.

[LandCruisers4Life]

Sounds good !!

 

[mbent]

 
There once was this bum named Amol Omo (Emil?)-(sorry amol if i forgot how to spell your name!) I didn't know him that long unfortunately bc he lived in a crappy little trailer down there in Study Butte...for a while in the 80's and he burned up in it and died. We loved hanging out with him though. He was a retired physicist (i'd heard)....also had heard he'd worked for los alamos...soft-spoken...lived in a dump...you know, your typical bum...didn't have much....probably just some books, some smokes, some beer, basic stuff.  He had payed his dues to society...didn't have to prove anything. Drove a beat up old car, no clearance, no pretense, went wherever the hell he could and wanted to go in it and, when he took us w/him, we were honored to be chosen because, you see, with amol, it would always be something so cool, something we would never forget and something we would never have been able to find on our own; this was not guide-book type stuff! We knew, if we were w/amol, it was going to be magic time! He was soft-spoken, curious, super-intelligent and a gentleman.

Most people passing through would never have given him the time of day bc to them he would have looked like some stinky bum....it's kind of like the big bend area in general...the yankees i used to work w/in midland (no offense to anyone) would NEVER come down south bc they just didn't think it was 'pretty'! I was always like, 'good, the less people, the better!' In the same way, I'm glad people didn't know what a jewel he was....for then, we might have had to share him bc he was too polite to have refused anyone...or, maybe that bum facade was a way of culling out the fakes...hmmmmm..... ....god rest his soul! I wish he was still down there! Anyone else know him? At least please correct me on the spelling of his first name..........

[optique]

The first time we stayed at the TR ranch, we did so because the Basin rock cabins were full. I was not expecting much of an experience, but it turned out to be FANTASTIC!!

The next time we just added the TR to our itenerary. For one thing, I saw a fair amount of wildlife there, including a rattler that made some great snapshots.

TR is not so much a wilderness experience, but it has a charm all its own.

I highly recommend it.

Steve.

[Red Hawk]

Due to cut backs and slow season income, Terlingua Ranch Resort is closed temporarily. Hopefully to re open in the fall. No lodge. No cabins. No restaurant. No music. No pool, no showers. Wah