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Texas Hill Country , Cover Stories, Attractions, Boerne, Texas, Things To Do
Enchanted Springs Ranch
Go back to the Old West at Enchanted Springs Ranch, just west of Boerne
ENCHANTED SPRINGS RANCH
by John Hallowell
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!)
Steve Schmidt is a Hill Country native (born and raised in Fredericksburg) who has traveled the world and come back home. After high school, he was accepted into the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, where he earned a B.S. in Mathematics, then spent ten years flying warplanes (mostly B-52 bombers). His second decade in the Air Force was spent finishing a PhD in Statistics and teaching at the Air Force Academy, writing books on statistics and leadership, and advising defense contractors on matters of efficiency. When he retired from the military, he continued and expanded his consulting work as a private contractor. In addition to the defense contractors, his clients included corporate giants such as Motorola, Texas Instruments, Sony, General Electric, Abbott Labs, H.E.B. and Dannon Yogurt. His work took him all over the world. His wife, Vicki, worked with him as a partner in the consulting firm.
After a globe-trotting decade, Steve and Vicki decided to retire, and bought themselves a beautiful 86-acre ranch off Highway 46, just west of Boerne; the ranch came with three old barns. Steve built old-west-style façades to beautify the buildings, and used the area for barbeques with family and friends. Everyone liked it, so he kept adding on. Soon, a friend who designs sets for Hollywood films advised him to build a whole western town. Schmidt was excited about the idea of a place where people could experience the Old West and learn a little of the Hill Country’s rich heritage. Enchanted Springs Ranch was born! As its fame spreads, there are more and more helpers – chuckwagon cooks, actors, re-enactors, cowboys, Indians, gunfighters, trick ropers, musicians and other entertainers to enhance the Enchanted Springs experience; ; they dress in period costumes and mingle with guests, adding greatly to the “old west” atmosphere.
Along with all the hard work, there has been quite a bit of publicity and a whole lot of fun. The proprietors of Enchanted Springs Ranch have had a chance to act in several commercials, TV shows and even feature films. Steve and Vicki were featured in a MSNBC Business special on October 21, 2007 (still available for viewing as of August 1, at the MSNBC website, “Your Business” section – it’s entitled Second Time Around). More recently, Steve and his brother-in-law, Grant Jacobs, starred with several celebrity actors in Palo Pinto Gold, an Anthony Henslee production which premiered in San Antonio two years ago. DVDs are now available at the ranch.
Enchanted Springs Ranch now includes more than 30 uniquely “western” buildings with facilities for all kinds of private events, plus a rustic (but luxurious) bed-and-breakfast, an old-fashioned church which serves as a wedding chapel, a gift shop, a theater, a Texas history exhibit, livestock pens and barns, a wild animal park, horse-or-tractor-drawn wagons and a wide variety of western-themed activities. A recent innovation is “Arrest-a-Guest,” where visitors can purchase an arrest warrant to have a friend locked up by the not-so-stern sheriff. There’s no telling what the “criminal” will have to do to get out (but everyone there will enjoy it!) Special events are held at regular intervals (call (800) 640-5917 or visit the website at www.enchantedspringsranch.com for up-to-the-minute information).
While Schmidt is still full of ideas to bring Enchanted Springs Ranch to his ideal of a western “mini-theme-park,” he isn’t planning any more building in the near future. “We’re just going to be fine-tuning for a while,” he says. “We’ve built as much as we need right now.” Indeed, the ranch already boasts enough features to attract thousands of visitors each year. “We’ve had guests from more than 80 countries,” he reports proudly. Many of them come back for more, bringing friends and family with them to see Enchanted Springs Ranch.
From September to May, the ranch is normally open to the public only on weekends (Saturday and Sunday, 10 to 5), but it is available for special events and private parties any time except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. A variety of catering and entertainment options are available for private events.
Merely listing features will not give you a true sense of the “enchantment” to be experienced here. The unspoiled beauty of the countryside and the friendly welcome you’ll receive from the costumed hosts and entertainers make this place a wonderful “time machine.” While you’re at Enchanted Springs Ranch, you’ll be transported back (for a short, enjoyable interlude) to the glory days of old west.
