A conservation easement of historic proportions was purchased in the heart of the Texas Hill Country only a short drive from the Capitol of Texas. Hays County, the City of Austin, and the Hill Country Conservancy (HCC), with funding from the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), came together to purchase a conservation easement on the historic Dahlstrom Ranch, a 2,254-acre privately-owned holding located outside of Buda. This rare collaboration between a private landowner, county, federal agency, and city took shape in 2007 and will be the first private land preservation agreement of its kind. The privately-owned ranch will have the unique distinction of providing a 384-acre area for public education and nature programs proposed by a public access committee led by the National Parks Service and managed by Hays County.

“Through this conservation easement, Gay Dahlstrom, in partnership with Hays County, as guided by Precinct 2 Commissioner Jeff Barton, NRCS, HCC, the City of Austin and many others, has ensured that a majestic piece of the Texas Hill Country will not only survive, but allow our native wildlife and natural resources to thrive,” said David Braun of Braun & Associates, attorneys for Gay Dahlstrom. “Gay is an exceedingly modest and private person, but today she and her family have set a proud and important example for all conservation-minded Texas landowners.” The family’s history on the property dates back five generations. The Dahlstrom Ranch on Onion Creek has played an impressive role in Hays County’s heritage. The property also plays a key role in the area’s overal well-being thanks to its abundant aquifer recharge. The historic ranch features an impressive system of caves and sinkholes that directly convey clean water to the aquifer. Also, following a reduction in livestock grazing in 2005, the ranch’s wildlife habitat and native grasses have staged a welcome comeback.

In recent years, the Dahlstroms, like many other Texas families, were faced with the decision on whether to begin selling off their land to developers in order to pay estate taxes. Gay Dahlstrom chose to preserve the family’s heritage and legacy, retaining Braun & Associates to guide her through the process of obtaining a conservation easement that enabled her family to keep the ranch intact. This contract between property owner and conservation organization, while providing critical tax incentives, also allows the owner to protect the water resources, wildlife habitat, natural character, and other conservation values of the land. A conservation easement restricts the amount and type of development allowed on the property, and conveys the right to enforce these restrictions in perpetuity, while preserving the right to traditional agricultural uses and limited residential use.

“This partnership provides multiple benefits, keeping this land intact for the family’s ongoing use and enjoyment while preserving the unique caves and other karst features of the ranch and furthering enhancement of its ecology and wildlife”, said Frank Davis, Director of Land Stewardship at HCC.

“I am very pleased we are able to partner with Hays County and Hill Country Conservancy on this important project,” said City of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, a longtime supporter of the use of voter-approved bonds designated for the acquisition of open space.  “As our region continues to grow, it is important that we lead in the effort to protect our natural resources, and acquisitions like this one ensure we are doing our part to protect and enhance our environment, particularly our water quality, and the heritage of the Aquifer region and Texas Hill Country.”

Gay Dahlstrom’s son, Jack Dahlstrom Jr., has plans for ecotourism and nature and wildlife-related art exhibits on the property, with the ultimate goal to further the community’s understanding of, and respect for, the area’s heritage and environment. The Dahlstrom family has a long-term plan for continuing to restore the land and its native wildlife. “At the end of the day, my mother did this because she loves this land and appreciates all that it has given us,” said Jack Dahlstrom Jr. “Now, it’s our family’s turn to give back to the land, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone who worked so hard to help us make that happen.”

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Armstrong’s return to cycling may be the reason why the Texan’s 447-acre ranch outside of Austin has been on the market for a few months. The ranch, according to the popular men’s gadget blog Uncrate, features more than seven miles of mountain biking trails, 1,886 feet of Pedernales River frontage, and ownership in Dead Man’s Hole, a private swimming hole shared by area landowners.

The asking price? $12 million.

Along with the land you’ll get a modestly sized 4,241-square-foot home. The interior, however, is far from modest as it appears more resort living than a home.

Keep in mind if you plan to move there, the neighbors are quick to keep their little corner of heaven in pristine condition. Armstrong found himself in a tiff with his neighbors over Dead Man’s Hole. It cost him $850,000 to clean up the clear-watered retreat after a dam built on his property leaked sediment into the water.

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The Dixie Diamond Ranch sits on 695 acres of rolling Hill Country terrain just outside Bandera and about an hour’s drive from San Antonio. In addition to a four-bedroom, four-bath main house, it has a five-bedroom foreman’s residence, an eight-stall horse barn, and several other structures, including a huge warehouse. Five wells, several springs and ponds, and a small lake are interspersed with Spanish oak, native cherry, and pecan trees. Most of the cedar has been cleared off.

Floyd Seibert used to own the Dixie Diamond, but according to the San Antonio Express-News, Mr. Seibert is off for an extended stay at Club Fed, doing time for Medicare fraud as well as embezzling the medical plans and pension funds of his former employees. Old Floyd didn’t just get caught. He got caught using the Dixie Diamond to store records from his businesses. Now Uncle Sam and the U.S. Marshal Service are running the ranch. They’ve decided to put it on the market for $4.8 million ($7,000 per acre not including improvements) and use the proceeds to reimburse those poor unfortunate souls who Seibert bilked to the tune of $3.28 million almost 10 years ago.

Babo Teich has the listing. Guess what? Not a lot of wiggle room on this one. According to the terms, the Dixie Diamond is sold “As Is.” And don’t be fooled by the Wall Street bailout. Owner financing is not an option. This deal is all cash. Last but not least, the “US Marshals Service does not pay for Title Policy or Title Insurance.”

Wait a minute. Everything is negotiable, isn’t it?

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