Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

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Entire home

Lots of acreage to explore and 2 private lakes.

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6139 sq m

Popular amenities

Washer

Barbecue grill

Kitchen

Air conditioning

Fireplace

Dryer

Explore the area

Tarpley, TX

Hill Country State Natural Area26 min drive
Medina River31 min drive
Lost Maples State Natural Area32 min drive
San Antonio, TX (SAT-San Antonio Intl.)89 min drive

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed

Guest Room #1

1 Queen Bed

Master

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Ensuite

Shower only

Main Bathroom

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Outdoor play area

Dining Area

About this property

Deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country a whole new world awaits with the promise of adventure. A little more than an hour NW of San Antonio, Shadow Dance Ranch offers a private self-catered escape from the city. The newly remodeled private 3/2 guest house decorated in "Cozy Texas Ranch House" offers all of the amenities of home. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes and rugged terrain, Shadow Dance offers wide open spaces to be explored and incredible views from every angle, sunup to sundown. Twenty-five acres of spring-fed lakes and three miles of Hondo Creek afford an opportunity for swimming, paddle boating, canoeing as well as catch and release fishing.

The guest house includes 2 bedrooms with a queen bed in each as well as a third bedroom with bunk beds. Other amenities include a full kitchen (pots, pans, dishes, full size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher and coffee/tea service), a large living room with a wood burning fireplace, poker table and satellite TV, charcoal BBQ grill and outdoor seating. The guest house is very private and is the only guest house located on a 2000 acre working cattle ranch and former exotic hunting ranch. Because it is a working cattle ranch we have a strict "NO PETS" policy. WiFi is available and spotty cell service depending on your carrier.

Herds of Axis, Fallow, Black Buck and White-tailed Deer, Aoudad and Native Wild Turkey create an excellent atmosphere for wildlife viewing.

Birding opportunities on the ranch and at nearby Hill Country and Lost Maples State Natural Areas and Garner State Park are abundant throughout the year. The Texas Hill Country is home to approximately 430 bird species, the most popular being the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo.

Due to the dark skies at Shadow Dance Ranch star gazing is popular year-round and great for viewing annual meteor showers.

Poker table, ping pong table, cornhole boards, paddle boats and large outdoor charcoal/wood BBQ grill, picnic table and hammock will ensure you don't have to leave the ranch to have a good time.

Property manager

Jeralyn

Premier Host

Languages

English

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

The river is currently dry in most locations on the Sabinal river.

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 28

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

NO PETS.

No guns, fireworks, ATVs or dirt bikes. Street bikes o.k. No hunting, fishing is catch and release only. Do not pass through closed ranch gates.

All outdoor activities will be at the guests' own risk.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Long-term renters welcome

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed USD 999.99, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Tarpley

Located in Tarpley, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Hill Country State Natural Area and Tarpley Crossing Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Bandera Beach Club Tubes, Kayaks & Shuttle and Love Creek Orchards Cider Mill and Country Store. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Tarpley, TX

What's nearby

Hill Country State Natural Area - 26 min drive
Medina River - 31 min drive
Lost Maples State Natural Area - 32 min drive
Garner State Park - 44 min drive
Frio River - 65 min drive

Getting around

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) - 90 min drive

Restaurants

‪Mac & Ernie's Roadside Eatery - ‬7 min drive
‪Steel Horse Cafe - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike! located?

This family-friendly Tarpley holiday home is located on the riverfront, 10.9 mi (17.5 km) from Hill Country State Natural Area, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Bandera Beach Club Tubes, Kayaks & Shuttle and Tarpley Crossing Park. Bandera Sports Complex and Mansfield Park are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Roxanne A.

23 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Something For Everyone

Our stay at this beautiful home in Texas Hill Country was wonderful. We relaxed outdoors in the shade watching so many different birds and had fun researching their names. The cows came to water and four horses came by one day for a stroke along their face. We fished with tackle we brought along. Ping pong, horseshoes, hiking, paddle boating, and card games filled our time too. At the end of the day we slept in such comfortable beds with plenty of pillows. We enjoyed the serenity this wonderful location offered.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jason W.

2 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Hill Country Getaway

What a great getaway to the Hill Country! We really enjoyed our stay, especially the lakes and hiking around the ranch. Wildlife - we saw an armadillo, a few deer, and several bird species. The ranch house was clean and comfortable. The porch and grill/firepit were nice as well as the separate, screened gameroom. It's a long way from home, but hopefully we can visit again!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

14 Mar 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Property

This was our second time visiting and we absolutely loved our stay!! The owner stopped by to welcome us when we got there and to make sure everything looked good in the house. They have made some improvements which were very nice and the scenery was just as beautiful as we remembered. We did not leave the ranch for our 4 day stay and enjoyed hiking, bird-watching, fishing, wildlife viewing (saw a beautiful blackbuck) and just being on a working cattle ranch. We definitely plan to return! This is a 5-star property!!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda M.

31 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay at Shadow Dance Ranch!

Relaxing visit on the ranch! Truly enjoyed the scenery and great atmosphere, especially evenings on the patio. Thank you for offering such a special place!

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

15 Nov 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fall in the Texas Hill Country - GORGEOUS!

This is my third trip to Shadowdance ranch, but this time I came during the fall and brought my sister and cousin for a 3-day getaway. I usually come with my husband for 4th of July. It's SPECTACULAR in the fall! Gorgeous colors and cooler temperatures, a fire in the huge fireplace inside and another in the fire pit outside at night...HEAVEN! We went to Lost Maples for a day trip, but because of the drought, the maples were not particularly showy this year. We enjoyed the park, but were more than happy to return to the ranch where we spent the entire day by the little lake, enjoying the beauty, peace, and solitude. At night, we took our chairs into the back yard and gazed at the incredible stars. There was a meteor shower, so we saw tons of shooting stars...what a treat!!! But even without them, the sky was just fantastic. Shadowdance Ranch is truly the best place I've ever stayed, and I'll be back...soon and often!

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles S.

15 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great time in Tarpley

We enjoyed our stay and the home was very comfortable and the host was very responsive and nice to work with. The ranch is very nice and we enjoyed the wide open space and night sky and saw plenty of meteors. Thanks and we hope to be back at some time in the future.

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Ashley H.

16 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Unplugged family vacation success!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this ranch. We loved seeing the cows, horses, deer, birds and fish. We hiked down the creek, hiked a bit around the property close to the guest house, fished at both lakes and went out on all of the little boats. The kids enjoyed the ping pong table and the hammock. Overall I would recommend this place to a family that’s wanting to spend your days in the peace and quiet of the country. The mornings were beautiful, 75-80. It hit 100+ each evening we were there and the ac struggled a bit but then cooled down by 10 or so. I messaged owner and they offered a window unit but we declined because it was still comfortable in the house. One other thing I noticed was there was small ants in the living room when we got there, not a huge trail or anything but enough to notice. But it is out in the country so it didn’t really bother me. One thing I would suggest to the owner would be to put a small pier or floating dock on the lake closer to the house to walk out to fish from. Thank you for sharing this property with our family, it is so beautiful!!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria R.

13 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Weekend getaway

This is our second stay, and it did not disappoint! If you are looking to disconnect from your weekday routine, and enjoy some peace and quiet, this is your place to stay! We enjoyed the paddle boats, ping pong, and just coming home to relax after a day of floating on the Frio! Will definitely stay here again.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

5 July 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Shadowdance Ranch - home in the Hill Country

I discovered Shadow Dance on VRBO last year, and now this is my 2nd Fourth of July there. This will become a family tradition. I feel so fortunate to be able to share my family's old ranch, built by F.L. Hicks in the 1850s, with my children. My family has sold off all our sections, so what a blessing it was to find out I could still visit the ranch and pass on the family history! This year, our aunt who still lives in Utopia turned 100 years old! She got to come out and see the place, possibly for the last time, and it meant so much to her! Besides the deep family roots, this place is a DREAM! My husband and daughter & her boyfriend caught HUGE bass in the ponds. We fished all day, and everything was so beautiful and tranquil, the time flew by. I feel 100% relaxed and rejuvenated. From our porch at the house, we watched cows, rabbits, hawks, hummingbirds, and all kinds of wildlife. This morning we woke to a visit from four friendly horses who let us pet them forever. At night, we watched the stars...not as brilliant as last year, but we got to enjoy a huge full moon. We went to Utopia for the 4th of July firework display. I can't understand how a small town can put on such an amazing, spectacular display! It's worth going there to celebrate the 4th every year! AND the house is just beautiful! Large windows overlooking the hills. Beautiful furniture and rockwork, and every kind of amenity imaginable. This really is the best equipped place I've ever stayed in!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

25 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Shadow Dance Ranch was exactly what we needed for a relaxing stay accommodating six people mostly adults. The ranch was beautiful with two lakes including a paddle and Jon boat at each location, large rock formations, cattle and other wildlife, and wide open spaces to explore. The house was clean and fit for fun including indoor and outdoor games. We are looking forward to coming back!

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Harvey H., Houston, Texas

16 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very Private, with Access to Many Hill Country Attractions

The beauty of this ranch is not only the rugged hill country setting, but how private it is. We could relax, read, talk, and hike, all by ourselves. Children who are accustomed to living in a city would be amazed at how wide open you feel here. We took advantage of dining at an amazing restaurant in little Tarpley (New Zealand lamb chops??!!), and drove to Bandera for live entertainment at night. We drove by the peaceful, quiet Medina River, then headed west to Lost Maples State Natural Area, then down to Utopia for dinner, and back to the ranch that evening. If we're in the area, we will definitely stay here again. My only suggestion . . . ditch the Rival drip coffee maker and buy a new one that works better! But otherwise, no complaints!

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

7 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Hill Country Property

Absolutely FANTASTIC property!!! My family and I loved our stay. We hiked and fished the whole time, enjoyed the horses and cows that roam the property along with the many deer and exotics and only went into town once for a great lunch at Mac and Ernie's. The house is great and comfy with a nice porch and fire pit that we enjoyed in the evening. Everything you need is there including a canoe, paddleboats and a jon boat to explore the gorgeous crystal clear lakes that are loaded with bass and bluegill. Our teenage sons loved going out on the water to fish and explore. It was especially beautiful in the evenings catching bass while watching a perfect Hill Country sunset. We definitely hope to return to this gorgeous property!!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Misty L.

19 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway!

We loved the property and the house! The house was very clean and spacious. The location is perfect for visiting Utopia, Lost Maples State park, and Bandera, Hill Country state park. We really enjoyed our stay.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Patricia m.

3 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Very accommodating

Our stay was unfortunately cut short due to a plumbing situation beyond control of the property owner. The host was very involved and provided us another lodging alternative when it was realized that the problem would not be fixed during our stay. For the overnight that we were there we absolutely loved the house and surrounding property. We played games at the card table (as well as pingpong & corn hole), enjoyed looking at the stars while sitting around the fire pit, slept great and the next day we hiked to the edge of the property up the hill. Everything was as beautiful and peaceful as expected based on the listing. The furniture, abundance of windows and decor were comfortable and provided a great setting for our family gathering. We hope to return someday to explore more of the property and enjoy all the place has to offer.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey M.

30 Nov 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Get Away from City Lights

A comfortable ranch house with cattle, exotics, and wildlife at your front gate. Easily housed five adults, although the bunk beds might challenge some. Perfect for those seeking big, dark sky nights and rugged, beautiful Hill Country views.

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Frank G.

29 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ranch House Stay

Great experience, very quite and well taken care of. Enjoyed the nights with my family just sitting outside and enjoying the vey clear view of the stars. Our host was very responsive when I had a question. Great place to stay and view the wildlife, and enjoy bird watching in the mornings while drinking your coffee outdoors. Me and my family will sure return to this spot with plenty to go out and see nearby. We just missed the chance to go on the local ponds on the paddle boats or canoe's but maybe next time.

Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Melanie G.

16 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Really nice home

My family and I stayed here for a couple of days and we really enjoyed our stay. The home was very nice and clean and the rooms are just the right size. If your looking for a place to get away from everyday life and just relax this is the place. The home sits about a mile off the road so you don't hear the traffic going by and has lots and lots of land to roam around and just take in all the beautiful scenery from the mountains to the deer and of course the humming birds. Sitting outside in the nice porch area at night was one of our favorite things to do and watching the moonrise was awesome. The only negative thing I can say about the home is that in the master bedroom the bathroom door didn't close all the way and the bedroom door was hard to close as well other than that this home was fantastic.

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

5 July 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful ranch in the Texas hill country

I was so thrilled to see Shadow Dance Ranch listed in VRBO. This was my family's original ranch, settled by my great-great-grandfather F.L. Hicks in the early 1800s. It belonged to my family until the last generation, when my grandmother and her brothers sold their parts to the current owner, who I've remained in touch with. I grew up going to the part right next to the main ranch, on the Hondo Creek, and never dreamed I'd ever get to spend more than a day there. So to get to stay on the property for 4th of July this year was like coming home! And my 99-year-old aunt who still lives near there got to come and visit. She was so happy...I know she never thought she'd get to see the place again! The ranch is so incredibly beautiful! We had fun driving around, exploring every road we could drive on. Then we hiked to places we couldn't drive, and loved seeing the cows, deer, rabbits, and all kinds of birds. Best of all was fishing in the two ponds. My daughter and her boyfriend went out on the canoe and paddleboat, while my husband and I fished from the shore. Everyone was catching BIG fish all day. It's catch & release, so no fish fry, but it was still a BLAST! My husband caught an 8 lb. bass! We had no idea there were going to be fish like that there! It was truly the highlight of the trip! At the house, we loved playing dominos, grilling fajitas one day and hamburgers & hot dogs for 4th of July out on the patio. We ate and then pulled chairs into the yard each night to stargaze. The night sky was just incredible! The house was perfectly comfortable and accommodating. It was equipped with everything! I brought tequila and limeade, but forgot my blender. I didn't know what I'd do without margaritas, but there was a very good blender in the cabinet! Great cookware and appliances, plenty of good soaps and shampoos, a person could move right in and not miss a thing! I didn't want to leave and come back to real life, it was such a refreshing and rejuvenating getaway! But we will definitely come back soon!

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

8/10 Good

Lily O.

29 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Country living

This place was very clean and there weren’t a lot of knick knacks everywhere - IDEAL! We were there during a 103° weekend and it was HOT so the AC was definitely struggling. It was a bit hard to stay cool, but it’s country living so that’s part and parcel. Property is gorgeous and there is a fun screened in patio area, separate from the house, that would be perfect for hanging and playing ping pong in slightly cooler temps. We selected the property to be close to Lost Maples and Garner State park. Each are about 30 minutes away so it’s a good medium. Only feedback would be to perhaps wash the quilts- they seemed a bit dusty. Thanks for having us!

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria R.

28 June 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Perfect weekend getaway for our family! The guest house was clean and tidy. The boys had fun on the paddle boats and later enjoyed playing ping pong in the back shed. We were able to bbq and then ended the evening with some star gazing and storytelling. The host was quick to reply to questions— highly recommend if you’re looking to escape, relax and unplug. Will definitely be coming back!

Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Senisa S.

25 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Good place to stay

Very nice affordable private cabin. Very clean

Stayed 2 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Patrick K.

20 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The new "Best Place".

We've been vacationing in Tarpley for 15 years at YRR and never even knew SDR was an option. With YRR selling off we were so fortunate to find this secluded. relaxing treasure. We put 3 hummingbird feeders up and had visitors in less than 3 minutes....feeders were left for future guests. Friends visited for three nights and simply loved the views, birds, solitude and stars.. We were lucky to catch the lunar eclipse while here. The wild hogs showed nightly under the full moon and the babies easily got in the yard and gave a show. They did no damage. The cows came to the windows occasionally and let us I know they were still the primary residents. On our walks 2 of the horses came to us for neck rubs. The back property is vast and beautiful. The lakes were low but we can imagine how awesome the place must be when not drought stricken. Antelope and whitetail came to area near house often. Just a great new 'best place'!

Stayed 7 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Kyle R.

29 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Thunder in the hill country

Nice and peaceful place to stay, was a little far from the motorcycle rally in Bandera than we would have liked , but a great place!

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

Hongfei W.

24 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

The ranch is so secluded and enticing. We enjoyed our stay. The only downside is that we had trouble with the keys to the door. It would be better if the owner can change the lock so it would be easier to open the door.

Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2022

10/10 Excellent

James F.

23 Mar 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property and land

We had a great time fishing, exploring the ranch, and spotting the local wildlife. Also, if you are in the area, we highly recommend the nearby diner Mac and Ernie's (checking opening day/hours before you stop by).

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022