4029 Seco Valley Rd

Blue Bird Ranch at Seco Falls is a breathtaking and idyllic Hill Country live water ranch for sale in Utopia, TX. Located 12.3 miles east of Utopia, TX and 82 west-northwest of San Antonio, the incredible 170-acre Blue Bird Ranch is nestled within the majestic hills of Utopia and along the banks of the crystal-clear Seco Creek. Bordered by large ranches on all sides, the Blue Bird Ranch offers quintessential Hill Country settings in a private and expansive atmosphere. The one quarter mile stretch of Seco Creek that borders the ranch features a large, engineered concrete dam and spillway built in 2003. The resulting lake provides a stunning private swimming and fishing oasis. While the dam allows for constant level water retention, it's maintenance valve allows for draining and cleaning when needed. In addition to providing habitat for native fish, the lake provides a stopover for waterfowl travelling along seasonal migration routes. Bald cypress, catalpa, maple and native trees line the lake, adding texture to the stunning backdrop of hills surrounding the property. Additionally, a small, irrigated and producing pecan orchard is set to provide additional shade and privacy along the lake shores. The ranch and it's improvements currently utilize water captured from Seco Creek for irrigation and household use. Beyond the park-like creek frontage and orchard, over 160 acres of usable hill country land provides an excellent mixture of open pastures, pecan bottom, game cover, and oak mots (with live oak, post oak, and Spanish oak varieties). Native brush species include mountain juniper, persimmon and assorted other native brush species. Proximity to Seco Creek provides the ranch with good class 3 soils throughout the majority of the property conducive to cultivation, grass, and pasture improvement. Native grasses on the ranch are generally strong and plentiful. From the creek bank, the ranch topography transitions into the hills to the north with a steady elevation gain to forty feet. The current owners have practiced fastidious land stewardship practices to include controlled burning, supplemental wildlife feeding, wildlife habitat management, and brush management which have optimized native plant and wildlife population balance and health. The numerous wildlife populating the ranch and surrounding Seco Valley include whitetail deer, axis deer and fallow deer as well as Rio Grande turkey, white wing dove and hogs. Currently under wildlife management, the property is fenced on 3 sides. The fencing is in good to excellent shape with a mix of netting and barbed wire. The improvements on the ranch are an entertainer's dream. The 7500 square feet barndominimum was built with guest in mind encompassing 5 bedrooms 3 full baths and 3500 square feet of living space. The home boasts a nice kitchen and dining area as well as a stunning and large screen in back porch. Sit back and let stresses fade as you listen to the birds and wildlife sing your stress away. In addition to the living space there is over 4000 square feet of barn space next to the house which include a X number of feet 3 bay workshop and X number of feet covered patio. Set up for working or storing large equipment or entertaining 50 guests the barn area of the home allows for diverse use and is an entertainer's dream. Serve your guests dinner while the lighted covered patio becomes your dance floor and let the good times begin. In addition to the excellent native grasses, tree species, wildlife and entertainment is a large 1/3 of an acre gravel pit is located on the ranch offering an abundant supply of all-weather road material to maintain and improve roads throughout the ranch. Behind the house and posing as the ranches backdrop is what is known to locals as Apache Hill. Believed to be home to the last major battle with Apache Indians in Texas the hill is a landmark in Seco Valley and is breathtaking in its rise and beauty. Annual Property Tax approx. $4400.