Starr Lake Fork Ranch

Farm Description

It is not often that someone has the opportunity to become the third recorded owner of a tract of Texas land, but that is the case on Starr Lake Fork Ranch. The Starr Lake Fork Ranch is a highly desirable recreational ranch located approximately 85+/- miles east of Dallas in the rolling hills of East Texas, near the quaint towns of Emory & Yantis, Texas. This ranch has been utilized in the past as a hunting, recreational and timber production property. The 192.54 +/- ac. Starr Lake Fork Ranch is primed for development or family enjoyment. Over 3 miles of meticulously managed trails, roads, cleared areas and right of ways provide inspiration for the buyer who desires a premier East Texas lake property. Almost 1,500 ft. of linear Lake Fork Reservoir frontage lends itself to the sportsman or recreational enthusiast for further boat ramp, slip and dock development. There are currently no structural improvements located on the ranch.

Location Located in northwest Wood County, the main road and gate to Starr Lake Fork Ranch fronts CR 1792 approximately 15 minutes east of Yantis, Texas, 15 minutes north of Emory, Texas, and 30 minutes south of Sulphur Springs, Texas. The ranch is a convenient 1.5 hour drive northeast of downtown Dallas, Texas, and 2 hours northeast of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.

Directions From Yantis, Texas take FM 514 west for 5 miles, turn right continuing along FM 514 for 1.5 miles. Take a right at RS CR 3420, then baring right onto CR 1792 approximately 1.4 miles where the property lies on both sides of the road for the next for one-third of a mile.

History Following the annexation of Texas to the United States, 2,633 acres were granted to Oscar Engledow from the State of Texas on Sep. 7, 1847. Three years later, James Harper Starr began purchasing pieces of the Engledow Ranch including what is now Starr Lake Fork Ranch. Since 1850, the Starr family has owned and operated this ranch, hunting on and around the land that would become Lake Fork Reservoir and the current day Starr Lake Fork Ranch.

Additional Leased Land There is an additional 32 acres of land leased from the Sabine River Authority that can be transferred with the sale. This land can be used for additional fishing and hunting opportunities and insures the privacy of the ranch to east and south.

Lake Fork Reservoir Lake Fork Creek rises in the southeastern corner of Hunt County and flows in an easterly direction for 78 miles to its confluence with the Sabine River eight miles southeast of Mineola. The stream drains an area of approximately 685 square miles in Wood, Rains, and Hopkins Counties in the uppermost northeast portion of the Sabine River Basin.

The reservoir, owned by the Sabine River Authorityof Texas, was constructed to conserve water for municipal and industrial use and funded through deals with Dallas and Longview for the future procurement of water from the reservoir.

Lake Fork Dam The rolled earth fill dam is just over 12,400 feet long. The reservoir's storage capacity at the conservation pool level of 403 feet above mean sea level is 675,819 acre-feet, the conservation surface area is 27,690 acres and the drainage area for the dam is over 490 square miles above the reservoirs' dam.

Terrain Topography on the Starr Lake Fork Ranch is characterized by East Texas rolling upland hills transected by the moderately wide flat floodplain of the Lake Fork Creek. Elevation changes from 403 feet at the Lake Fork bank, to 460 feet along the northern boundary of the property.

Tree Cover A managed Pine plantation canopies the majority of the southern piece of Starr Lake Fork Ranch. The north half of the property has been meticulously thinned, leaving a mature stand of hardwoods scattered throughout the northern half of the ranch.

Soil The soil composition on the ranch consists primarily of deposits of the Wilcox soil groups which generally exhibit sandy surface layers with clay dominate subsoils. Soils are fertile and lend well to wildlife food plots.

Wildlife Abundant tree cover and forbs foster abundant Whitetail Deer. Feral hogs, dove and other smaller game can also be found on the Starr Lake Fork Ranch. Duck hunting can be exceptional from both the bank or a boat blind on Lake Fork Reservoir.

Fishing Trophy bass fishing on the Lake Fork Reservoir is well respected in Texas. Due to fishery management efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who began stocking the reservoir with Florida largemouth bass in 1978, the lake is a world-renowned trophy bass haven. The current state record largemouth bass weighing 18.18 pounds was caught from Lake Fork Reservoir in January, 1992. Through 2016, over 60 percent 33/50 of the fish on the Texas Top 50 List for the largemouth bass species had been caught in Lake Fork. Large numbers of Channel and Blue Catfish are also taken each year. Stocking history for Lake Fork is available through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, who most recently stocked Lake Fork Reservoir with 320,261 fingerling Florida Largemouth Bass in early 2017.

Fencing Perimeter fencing is in fair to good condition.

Access Blacktop CR 1792 bisects the property for about.35 miles -1,855 ft. Airports -26 miles and -30 minutes north of Starr Lake Fork Ranch in Sulphur Springs is the Sulphur Springs Municipal Airport. This publically- owned and operated airport has two runways, both measuring 5,001 feet long by 75 feet wide.

Water The ranch sits on top of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, which can be a prolific water source for residential water wells. Additionally, the Sabine River Authority will lease water pumping rights from Lake Fork Reservoir for a fee providing an additional water resource for irrigation.

Electricity Rural electricity runs into the property and is provided by Wood County Electric Cooperative.

Minerals No minerals are available.

Easements There are two pipeline easements in addition to easements for residential electric lines.

Taxes With a timber exemption, the property taxes paid in 2016 were approximately & Brokers Buyer's brokers must be present for all initial showings. Buyers should notify Listing Broker that they are represented prior to touring the property. We welcome the opportunity to work with other Brokers / Agents, but expect their full participation in any transaction.

Summary The Starr Lake Fork Ranch offers a unique opportunity to build and develop a ranch and lake estate all-in-one. The fishing, hunting, and recreational opportunities found on the property are excellent. Lake Fork frontage, additional leased land, and excellent access make this ranch a rare find. Additional opportunity for marketable timber management and related income exists with both plentiful Pine and hardwood timber.

Contact

- Partner/Broker

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Casey Berley, Alc- Broker

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