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The first European settlers in present-day Llano County were German immigrants. The German noblemen’s society, or Adelsverein, had purchased more than three million acres between the Llano and Colorado Rivers (known as the Fisher-Miller grant) in 1844 and while most of the German settlers stopped at the way-stations of New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, a few brave souls crossed the Llano River into their Comanche-dominated “promised land.”
The headline screamed “Yeggs Rob Hondo Banks,” (The dictionary defines “yegg” as: “a thief, especially a burglar or safe-cracker.”) and the Hondo Anvil Herald added, “One of the Most Daring Robberies Ever Staged in Texas Occurred Here Sunday Morning.” Although it was early in their careers, the Newton brothers (Jess, Willis, Doc and Joe) were already very good at their chosen profession.
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Enchanted Springs Ranch is not only a wonderful Hill Country attraction, but (as you might suspect if you’ve been lucky enough to visit) it’s a huge adventure for its owners, as well. The Texas Hill Country magazine has covered numerous bits and pieces of the Enchanted Springs Ranch story in past issues; this time we’ll attempt a sort of overview (but we’re warning you; you really need to see it for yourself!)
The number one hit movie of the July 4th weekend this year was Hancock, directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman. But those who watched Hancock were charmed by another character in the movie – 11-year-old Jae Head, of Goldthwaite. And if they had known Jae’s story, and been able to visit with him in person, they would have been even more impressed by this remarkable Hill Country personality.
Clint Orms loves Texas and the traditional cowboy heritage that has made Texas a place of worldwide legend. He has found a unique way to help preserve and promote that cowboy tradition: he makes, at his little shop in the Ingram Loop, some of the most intricately-carved and highly-prized silver belt buckles in the world.
Terry Boothe is one hundred percent Texan. He grew up on the farm near Onion Creek that his great-grandfather had acquired during the 1860s, and he is both fiercely proud and deeply appreciative of his Texas heritage. In fact, his mission in life (after a successful business career) is to help preserve the “traditional Texas culture” that “so enriched my life.”
Some childhood dreams DO come true. By the time Adam Woolley was nine years old, he knew that someday he wanted to create a town of his own, just like his great-grandfather’s hometown of Industry (the first permanent German settlement in Texas, near Brenham). When his fourth-grade teacher asked the class to write an essay on what they’d like to do when they grew up, Adam earned an “A” by detailing plans remarkably similar to what he has put together, thirty-four years later, in Bee Cave.
