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Prairie Oaks Ranch is among the most unique properties in all of Texas. The peaceful seclusion and serene rolling prairies conceal a complex, recreational retreat, designed for generational enjoyment. Grandparents, children, best friends or business associates will come to relax -- or to actively engage the outdoors on many different levels.

The ranch is located in North Central Texas only 90 minutes northwest of DFW near the small town of Bowie. Prairie Oaks Ranch has been under the same family’s stewardship for over 21 years. In each year it was intelligently and painstakingly developed, yielding a beautiful and environmentally respectful property that was far more costly than could be obtained in today’s market.

The ranch’s main entrance welcomes guests with lighted ranch brands on the steel pipe gates and a keypad entrance that allows automatic gate opening upon exit. The 1½ mile drive to the ranch house crosses two cattle guards and passes numerous, stocked ponds.

The main road twists through the prairie, passing a high fenced garden before reaching a western “livery” barn. From there, the road descends into the woods, beyond stone walls, sculptures and along a rocky escarpment until, in an instant, the road opens onto crisply mowed lawns and the main house overlooking Prairie Oaks Lake.

Every acre of the ranch was considered when the master plan was developed in 1988. Preferred habitat, water resources and all weather, low impact access, and were carefully integrated into a series of trails that reveal small meadows and every kind of wildlife.

600 acres were set aside for restoration of native grasses and cattle ranching. Sprinkled throughout are small feeder plots of Milo or nut sedge. Little depressions were made deep enough to hold water most of the spring. The attention to these details assures healthy quail, turkey and dove populations in every year.

Fishing, hunting, shooting, camping, hiking, football, volleyball, paintball, swimming or enjoying a round of golf on your own private, precision golf course. That’s right, your own private, 18-hole golf course!! If the 90 minute drive from the DFW seems a little slow, fly your plane to the Bowie Municipal Airport, which is 50 yards from the main ranch gate.

Prairie Oaks Ranch provides a pastoral setting for family, friends, or business associates on retreat with a many recreational alternatives for everyone. Manicured lawns meander around the 30 acre Prairie Oaks Lake. The ranch house and pool overlook the first and 18th holes of the private golf course.

Terrain & Trees

The upland prairies are filled with tall native grasses and in the spring, a wide variety of wildflowers. Native hardwoods are thick throughout the ranch, covering almost 30% of the land. They provide shade under a beautiful green leaved canopy during the summer and a spectacular show of red and yellow in the fall. Many red oaks have been grown in the ranch nursery and transplanted around the lakes along with weeping willows and bald cypress. When snow arrives in the winter, rye grasses soon poke through, green and tender leaves for deer.

Prairie Oaks is a gently rolling property with over 75 feet of elevation changes. Several deep gullies reveal ancient sediments and dinosaur bones hidden in the stones, some over 110 million years old. (Several bones have been restored by the paleontology department at SMU.) Views from many points, especially from the 4th floor lookout, are simply incredible.

Walking, Jogging, Hiking or Biking

The beauty of the ranch can be experienced along the over five miles of paved walking trails or seven miles of mowed hiking trails. You can view the ranch while hiking, biking, jogging, rollerblading or by hopping on your golf cart or all-terrain Segway! The concrete trails are marked and measured and frequent blue bird houses provide rare companions.

Art

The owners enjoy whimsical art. When you least expect it, original and ingenious art pieces sit nestled in the woods along the trails. Some are thoughtful; others are silly and even mythical. You have to experience them in the company of children to understand their full impact. Truly inspiring, truly clever and all crafted by the ranch manager.

Cattle

Home to 50 cow/calf longhorns, visitors enjoy feeding the herd sire from their hand or summoning the courage to enter Samson’s pen – the steer with a set of 84” horns. Prairie Oaks Ranch currently runs registered longhorn cattle, 25% from the historic WR (Wildlife Reserve) Longhorn herd. The entire 954 +- acres are perimeter fenced and crossed fenced into six separate cattle pastures, each with its own water sources. Holding pens border adjoining fields. A variety of native and improved grasses provide numerous cuttings for hay. Cattle are sold at auction, raised for breeding or sent to the local packer for family and hands.

Wildlife, Hunting & Fishing

While parts of the ranch are highly improved and manicured, you can still take a walk on the wild side. In fact, over 85% of the property remains in native habitat. In the winter, hundreds of mallards and pintails overnight on the lakes. In the spring, geese, Bald Eagles and Great American pelicans stop by. King Fishers work the lakes and Road Runners police the trails. White-tailed deer, Rio-Grande turkey, quail, dove and of course coyotes, bobcats and the occasional mountain lion all inhabit the property in healthy numbers. Rabbit, squirrels, raccoons and armadillos are enjoying a good year.

Since hunting has been limited in most years, you can find white-tailed bucks fighting down by the lake and wild turkeys strolling around the grounds of the main house. Sitting on the veranda at night you can hear the coyotes howling under some of the brightest stars in the State.

Prairie Oaks Ranch is the perfect property to build a perimeter high fence. Quality native white-tailed deer already inhabit the ranch but high fencing will allow the introduction of genetically improved deer as well as select exotics.

If fishing is your thing, then you can wet your line in the 30-acre lake or any of seven smaller ponds for Florida Bass, crappie or catfish. Lakes are clear and well managed. A unique engineering feature ensures the large lake won’t silt over. Fishing piers are conveniently located so you can try your luck at matching the unofficial record for a 12lb largemouth bass. Some ponds are used for breeding specific fish in quantity for other lakes.

Lakes ,Creeks & the Bridges of Montague County

Prairie Oaks Lake is a 30 acre lake built in 1968 by US Soil Conservation Service. The lake anchors the lower end of the ranch and is fed by Denton Creek. This lake has great fishing and can also be used for water sports such as jet skiing, tubing and sailing. The deepest part of the lake is currently around 17 feet. Most of the perimeter of the lake is lined with natural stone from the ranch and the lake has been dredged in the last 10 years.

Two smaller lakes are perfect for swimming and fishing and can be filled from Prairie Oaks Lake via underground pipes. Both of these lakes are clear and have camping platforms for overnight stays. Other ponds also have piers or camping platforms.

There are two active creeks that cross the ranch. A dozen bridges, including a suspension bridge, cross the numerous ravines and creeks. Three large steel bridges were salvaged from the county and have been used for primary roads, allowing even the heaviest equipment cross the creeks year round.

Prickley Gulch creek is fed by the commercial irrigation system so water rushes through its rocky, winding walls. At one point, a covered bridge spans the creek bed with a soothing waterfall and comfortable place to sit.

Golf Course

This is no homemade golf course. It was built over a period of four years and is in excellent condition. The fairways are mowed 3 times a week and the greens are mowed 5 times a week. The owner is a member of the GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) and the NTGSA. The course utilizes industry proven management techniques but with no members, it has the luxury of testing innovative and cost effective maintenance practices that have drawn the interest of other golf courses and several universities.
Prairie Oaks is a precision course covering three distinct terrains. The play is designed to reward experienced golfers with knotty dilemmas -- while rookies can feel like champs.
The front nine offers wider fairways and greens surrounded by bunkers. It is forgiving and provides sweeping views with dramatic changes in elevation. The 2nd & 9th fairway plays both ways. The greens average 8,000 square feet.
The back nine is more rigorous with numerous water hazards and menacing roughs. The course accommodates five foursomes with 13 greens -- four being played "both ways".
The total course spans 5,300yards. The longest hole is 443yards. It's a long, downhill, dog-leg ride ending with a green that perches on the edge of the lake. The hole is both beautiful and humbling.
The course emphasizes conservation. Chemical fertilizers have been largely replaced by organic amendments including compost tea that is produced in commercial quantity by a system that was designed and built on the ranch. Water is provided from surface runoff but a system of 6 wells could provide ground water if necessary.
Main House

Overlooking the lake is the beautiful 7,000 sq ft Texas version of a Cape Cod style main house. The home is designed for small groups and as a family or corporate retreat. It includes a heated outdoor pool and an 8,800 sq ft covered deck that wraps around the house and along the pool to an outdoor fireplace made entirely of native stone. The ground floor and the second and third floor have bedrooms and a small meeting room. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. There is a command center on the ground floor for all the computer and business center needs including high speed wireless internet and fax machines. The fourth floor is an "all windows" lookout for sunsets and stargazing.

The interior is appropriately decorated in western style furniture and appointments and is uniquely eclectic. The kitchen features state of the art appliances, multiple refrigerators and a very large walk through pantry conveniently located by the parking courtyard.

The 20 acres immediately around the house and lake are designed for convenient recreational activities and includes a regulation football field and volleyball court.

Bunk House & Barns

There are two large barns, both metal buildings. The Bunkhouse Barn has a concrete floor and extensive storage, a small shop and power mechanics repair facility. It also houses three suites with full kitchenettes, showers and bunks. Most sports equipment like the ATV's, sporting clay machines and boats are stored here (golf carts, Segways are kept by a special “sports” room at the main house). The smaller welded steel barn is used for tractors and mowers and houses the computers that run the commercial irrigation system.

Camping

There are six outdoor camping platforms and one fishing cabin. Three have 2nd or 3rd story sleeping to keep campers out of the Coyotes way. Outdoor grills and picnic tables are located at each site. Several platforms overlook private, large ponds known for their outstanding fishing and seclusion.

Security

While away, you can access the numerous, strategically placed surveillance cameras from your laptop or home computer. Anytime you want to escape, you can view the house, the lake and the golf course and numerous other locations on Prairie Oaks Ranch. The state troopers, game wardens and fish & wildlife officers frequent the ranch for retreats and training.
Prairie Oaks is a place for reflection and fellowship, a place for family and friends, a place for fun and recreation. The natural beauty and convenient facilities soothe the soul and invite you to see the one of the most unique and multi-faceted ranches in Texas.