Entrepreneur Sam Wilson set out nearly 40 years ago to find a special piece of Texas that would remind him of the ranch of his youth.
He wanted native trees and grasslands, rolling hills and panoramic vistas, and space for his family to build new traditions and priceless memories. He wanted a place out in the country, but close enough to schools, shopping, and business centers.
He found the perfect spot on a 64-acre parcel of land filled with wildlife, hundreds of native oak, cedar, and pecan trees and less than an hour from both Dallas and Fort Worth. He named it Shady Oaks Ranch and it became his family’s home, workplace, and playground — a country paradise to walk and explore, to fish, and to ride horses and ATVs.
In those early days, Wilson would drive a tractor and clear the brush while his children rode horses or ATVs throughout the property. Wilson not only brought in Texas Longhorn cattle but also carved a two-acre pond, completed with an island in the shape of Bevo, the University of Texas Longhorns mascot.
A stone house on the property had to be torn down, but the red-colored rock was used to help line the entrance to the ranch.
“He just loved the country and was very sentimental,” his daughter says. “It was raw land, but he started clearing it and building it to make it a showcase.”
With its sweeping vistas and Texas Longhorns grazing on the lush meadows, the legacy ranch twice served as the iconic backdrop for the Cattle Baron’s Ball.
Shady Oaks Ranch is now on the market for $14.9 million.
Susan Baldwin, an executive vice president and top producer at Allie Beth Allman & Associates who is marketing the ranch, calls it a unique piece of Texas with several options.
“Shady Oaks has something for everyone,” Baldwin says. “It is perfect for a family wanting to work the land and build a dream home and a family legacy. It also offers an opportunity for developers looking to build a unique Texas neighborhood with large lots and elegant country living close to schools and shopping.”
The ranch is located a few miles north of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Flower Mound, one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas. Shady Oaks is both a working cattle ranch and a country oasis. Its private lake is stocked with bass and catfish and the rolling hills provide the ideal setting for numerous recreational activities.
A 3,266-square-foot main log home with three bedrooms and three and one-half baths is nestled on a hill that is dotted with mature trees. A barn with horse stalls, a workshop and an office, and a separate 1,700-square-foot caretaker’s residence with three bedrooms and two baths also are on the property.
Shady Oaks Ranch is located in the Cross Timbers Water & Soil Conservation District and is served by the Flower Mound schools in the Lewisville Independent School District.
