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    only in texas

    This $4.85 million Hill Country ranch with its own lazy river is going wild on social media

    Amber Heckler
    Apr 18, 2024 | 10:30 am

    A sprawling 72-acre property for sale in Boerne has people going wild on social media, and it's not hard to see why: The Lazy River Ranch, located four hours west (about 240 miles) from Houston at 227 Seewald Rd., is a private paradise with a (relatively) modest price tag of $4.85 million.

    227 Seewald Road, Boerne, Lazy River Ranch

    Photo courtesy of Kuper Sotheby's

    The Lazy River Ranch is at 227 Seewald Rd., Boerne.

    The stunning property boasts extravagant amenities like a fully renovated 1,800-square-foot guest house with a two car garage, a driving range and multi-hole putting green, and an 18-acre fenced goat pasture. But the biggest highlight is (as the property's name implies) its own lazy river.

    The "river" was custom designed by San Antonio contractors Keith Zars Pools and includes features you'd only expect to find at a luxurious resort: It's temperature controlled and fully lit, so guests can enjoy floating or swimming at any time of day, all year-round. In the center of the lazy river, connected by a custom built bridge, is a green space with a sunken patio area, fire pit, and a swim-up bar. A beautiful waterfall across from the swim-up bar adds to the relaxed tranquility of the area.

    227 Seewald Road, Boerne, Lazy River RanchThe view from the lazy river is breathtaking in the evenings.Photo courtesy of Kuper Sotheby's

    The property first hit the market in July 2022 for $7.35 million, but that was before the ranch owners – who wish to remain private – split up the property into separate allotments of 27 and 72 acres, according to Kris Forks of Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, who has the listing. The acreage changes resulted in price reductions to its current $4.85 million price, as of April 3.

    An April 14 post on the Facebook page that features over-the-top homes, Zillow Gone Wild, made the Lazy River Ranch instantly social media-famous. As of publication time, more than 700 people had chimed in to comment.

    "If y'all peasants need me, I'll be in my lazy river in a rainbow swan floatie," one Facebook user wrote.

    Forks says he was delighted that his listing was featured. "That's always great to have that kind of exposure," Forks says.

    Other extravagant features that have people talking include:

    • A 5,000-square-foot renovated main house with Viking appliances
    • Custom glass sunroom with sliding accordion doors
    • Covered grilling gazebo area
    • Keith Zars Pools custom built Junior Olympic pool
    • A "rock beach" leading to the lazy river
    • 1,400-square-foot, one bedroom one bathroom pool house equipped with a full kitchen, laundry room, and custom cabinetry
    • Large garage building with extra storage rooms and a second story potential guest suite
    • 400-square-foot custom-built "game room"
    • A custom built shooting range with 30-, 50-, and 100-yard shooting decks
    • A barn with concrete floors for hosting ATVs, a Polaris Ranger, or other "toys"
    • A combination sport court
    • Additional 44-acre pasture for livestock with more barns and storage buildings
    Ostentatious property characteristics aside, there's one more thing that makes the Lazy River Ranch so valuable that people might not have noticed it based on the photos.
    "What I actually love about the property is it's seven miles from Main Street in Boerne," Forks says. "So it has [the] proximity to town, yet it's completely private."

    Of course, social media loves to throw some shade, too. Some commenters wondered about the high cost of maintaining the property, while others expressed sarcastic curiosity about other lavish features.

    "Everyone's talking about maintenance on the pool and lawn, and I'm wondering how they keep the windows on the sunroom clean," one X user replied under Zillow Gone Wild's tweet about the ranch.

    227 Seewald Road, Boerne, Lazy River RanchThe Windex budget for the sunroom must be substantial.Photo courtesy of Kuper Sotheby's

    Meanwhile, Texas social media users were quick to help out-of-towners with their pronunciation of the ranch's address.

    "Stopping in to inform that that town in pronounced 'bur-knee' because #texas in case anyone was wondering," wrote another Facebook user.

    More information about the property can be found on lazyriverranch.info.

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    Home on the Range

    Houston firm creates an eco-friendly escape on historic Texas tract

    Emily Cotton
    Apr 17, 2026 | 10:30 am
    Gates Crossing home exterior
    Courtesy of Gates Crossing
    Homes at Gates Crossing average 4,000 square feet.

    When Scott Frankel completed construction on his ranch property less than an hour’s drive West of Houston, the premier luxury home builder knew that the pristine wilderness surrounding the Brazos River in Washington County was something to be shared—and protected. A few years and 1,836 acres later, Frankel Design Build’s Gates Crossing development offers 40 premium ranch sites surrounding a 600-acre private game reserve.

    Developed on land originally settled by Amos Gates, one of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old Three Hundred,” the property honors its past with thoughtfully-preserved landmarks, including the historic Gates-Perry Family Cemetery and partnerships with the Texas Historical Society. Frankel Design Build made a financial contribution to support the Society’s restoration of nearby Washington-on-the-Brazos and the construction of a new museum celebrating the area's foundational role in Texas statehood.

    The complete restoration of the Gates-Perry Cemetery is something Frankel is particularly proud of. While not forgotten, the cemetery had fallen into disrepair, and a handful of haphazard restoration attempts failed to stand the test of time. Frankel Design Build tapped into their network of specialty masonry trades to restore the cemetery walls to their former glory. A dedication ceremony ensued, and Revolutionary War hero William Gates was honored with an America 250 grave marking, a prestigious recognition from the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution. The four-acre cemetery and surrounding park are managed by the HOA and will never be developed.


    View this post on Instagram
    A post shared by Gates Crossing at Washington on the Brazos (@gatescrossing)


    For a master-planned community, the word “undeveloped” gets tossed around a lot during a conversation with Frankel, who is co-president of Frankel Design Build with his brother Keven. The 40 ranch sites, ranging from 15 to 160-acres, plus Gates Reserve are the draw. Exclusive to residents, the reserve offers premier hunting, horse riding and ATV trails, a shooting range, and uninterrupted access to native wildlife and riverside terrain. Individual sites include stocked ponds for fishing, plus a larger pond site being developed in the reserve for duck hunting—those are the amenities, no fuss.

    “We wanted to cut down on common areas that aren’t something that can be enjoyed on your own,” Frankel tells CultureMap. “Instead of going in and doing what a lot of people do in new neighborhoods, which is put in the token pickle ball courts, tennis courts, basketball area — or worse, a restaurant — you’re sort of going out there to not do that. There are cute towns [like Chappell Hill] that are really close, that’s where you want to be for that. You’re doing this to kind of get out of the city, but the idea is to go out there and walk around in shorts and flip-flops, it’s more of a place to not be seen.”

    The surrounding natural landscape is further protected through Frankel’s environmentally-conscious building practices. The firm remains the only production builder in Texas certified under the LEED for Homes program, providing significant energy efficiency, insurance, and tax benefits to buyers while safeguarding the natural surroundings. Frankel shares that each home will be LEED certified, as long as it does not exceed the maximum size requirement, which he finds unlikely.

    “It’s as sustainable of a home that can be built out there,” he explains. “It’s Mother Nature, and we need to be mindful of her needs. We’ve done a good job of creating an architectural style that’s very cohesive. We are just developing a place to be a part of, just a small gated community. It’s just a different lifestyle, and so far we’ve been able to find clients that are really catching on to it. Its been really cool.”

    Each home in Gates Crossing is built through Frankel’s fully-integrated design-build process, encompassing architecture, interior design, construction, pool and outdoor living, and post-completion support through Frankel Home Care, a 24/7 concierge maintenance service powered by an intuitive digital portal. The firm also owns and operates AVEA Pools & Outdoor Living, offering design and construction for outdoor environments seamlessly aligned with each home.

    “The neighborhood is really about creating a long term place, where 10 years from now — when these are family ranches — people will forget about it as a development, but they will look at it as a very successful, safe place where everything is insulated and looks harmonious.”

    The newly-restored Washington-on-the-Brazos is one of Gates Crossing’s non-amenity-amenities. Known as “The Birthplace of Texas,” after the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed there on March 2, 1836 (eagle-eyed readers will note that the year matches the acreage of Gates Crossing), the Republic of Texas Complex includes a visitors center, the Star of the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, Barrington Living History Farm, and so much more.

    “The people who run it are fantastic,” says Frankel. “These are archeologists and historians who have been out there and are basically rebuilding the town square, it’s unbelievable. What they are doing will become a real attraction, like The Alamo.”

    Ranch sites begin at $850,000. Two speculative homes have been completed and are priced at $3,150,000. The main showhouse has been thoughtfully decorated by Houston interior designer Alexandra Killion, and potential buyers can set up viewing appointments with Samantha Medve, Medve Real Estate LLC (sam@gatescrossing.com) and Courtney Robertson, Compass Real Estate (courtney@gatescrossing.com).

    Gates Crossing home exterior

    Courtesy of Gates Crossing

    Homes at Gates Crossing average 4,000 square feet.

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