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Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

Photo gallery for Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

Property grounds
3 bedrooms, free WiFi, bed sheets
Smart TV, fireplace, ping pong, books
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Dining

Overview of Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

Reviews
10

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • FireplaceFireplaceFireplace
  • KitchenKitchenKitchen
  • Barbecue grillBarbecue grillBarbecue grill
  • Free WiFiFree WiFiFree WiFi
  • WasherWasherWasher
  • DryerDryerDryer

Explore the area

Map
Tarpley, TX
  • Popular LocationHill Country State Natural Area26 min drive
  • Popular LocationLost Maples State Natural Area32 min drive
  • Popular LocationGarner State Park44 min drive
  • AirportSan Antonio, TX (SAT-San Antonio Intl.)89 min drive

Space details

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, sleeps 6
139 sq m
Bedroom 1
    1 queen bed
Bedroom 2
    1 queen bed
Bedroom 3
    1 bunk bed
Bathroom 1
    Shower
Bathroom 2
    Shower

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!

Deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country a whole new world awaits with the promise of adventure. A little more than an hour NW of San Antonio, Shadow Dance Ranch offers a private self-catered escape from the city. The newly remodeled private 3/2 guest house decorated in "Cozy Texas Ranch House" offers all of the amenities of home. Surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes and rugged terrain, Shadow Dance offers wide open spaces to be explored and incredible views from every angle, sunup to sundown. Twenty-five acres of spring-fed lakes and three miles of Hondo Creek afford an opportunity for swimming, paddle boating, canoeing as well as catch and release fishing.

The guest house includes 2 bedrooms with a queen bed in each as well as a third bedroom with bunk beds. Other amenities include a full kitchen (pots, pans, dishes, full size refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher and coffee/tea service), a large living room with a wood burning fireplace, poker table and satellite TV, charcoal BBQ grill and outdoor seating. The guest house is very private and is the only guest house located on a 2000 acre working cattle ranch and former exotic hunting ranch. Because it is a working cattle ranch we have a strict "NO PETS" policy. WiFi is available and spotty cell service depending on your carrier.

Herds of Axis, Fallow, Black Buck and White-tailed Deer, Aoudad and Native Wild Turkey create an excellent atmosphere for wildlife viewing.

Birding opportunities on the ranch and at nearby Hill Country and Lost Maples State Natural Areas and Garner State Park are abundant throughout the year. The Texas Hill Country is home to approximately 430 bird species, the most popular being the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo.

Due to the dark skies at Shadow Dance Ranch star gazing is popular year-round and great for viewing annual meteor showers.

Poker table, ping pong table, cornhole boards, paddle boats and large outdoor charcoal/wood BBQ grill, picnic table and hammock will ensure you don't have to leave the ranch to have a good time.

Property manager

Jeralyn

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • Beach towels

Internet

  • Available in the house: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • On-site parking
  • Car required

Kitchen

  • Fridge
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Paper towels
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Blender

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Smart TV with cable/satellite service
  • Ping pong table
  • Games
  • Books

Outdoor areas

  • Patio
  • Fenced garden
  • Barbecue
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Firepit

Laundry

  • Washing machine and dryer

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Location highlights

  • On the lake
  • On the river
  • In a rural location
  • Near a health or beauty spa

Things to do

  • Boating on site
  • Fishing nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Golf nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Wildlife and game walks nearby
  • Water tubing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
  • Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Deadbolt lock

General

  • Unit size: 1500 sq ft (139 sq m)

Similar properties

Property grounds
Hondo Creek Hideaway
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Mountain view
Living/dining area
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (1)
Hondo Creek Hideaway

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in and check-out are available
Minimum check-in age - 28

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

Cash transactions at this property cannot exceed USD 999.99, due to national regulations; for further details, please contact the property using the information in the booking confirmation
A car is required for transport to and from this property

Property is also known as

Vrbo Property

About the area

Tarpley

Located in Tarpley, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Hill Country State Natural Area and Tarpley Crossing Park reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Bandera Beach Club Tubes, Kayaks & Shuttle and Love Creek Orchards Cider Mill and Country Store. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Visit our Tarpley travel guideOpens in a new window
View more Holiday homes in TarpleyOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Hill Country State Natural Area - 26 min drive
  • Medina River - 31 min drive
  • Lost Maples State Natural Area - 32 min drive
  • Garner State Park - 44 min drive
  • Frio River - 65 min drive

Getting around

  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT) - 90 min drive

Restaurants

  • Mac & Ernie's Roadside Eatery - 7 min drive
  • Steel Horse Cafe - 5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Shadow Dance Ranch-New Year, New Adventure. Your Mom Called & Said Take a Hike! located?

This family-friendly Tarpley holiday home is located on the riverfront, 10.9 mi (17.5 km) from Hill Country State Natural Area, and within 20 mi (32 km) of Bandera Beach Club Tubes, Kayaks & Shuttle and Tarpley Crossing Park. Bandera Sports Complex and Mansfield Park are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 34 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 36 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 36 reviews" "

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jason W.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Hill Country Getaway
What a great getaway to the Hill Country! We really enjoyed our stay, especially the lakes and hiking around the ranch. Wildlife - we saw an armadillo, a few deer, and several bird species. The ranch house was clean and comfortable. The porch and grill/firepit were nice as well as the separate, screened gameroom. It's a long way from home, but hopefully we can visit again!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fantastic Property
This was our second time visiting and we absolutely loved our stay!! The owner stopped by to welcome us when we got there and to make sure everything looked good in the house. They have made some improvements which were very nice and the scenery was just as beautiful as we remembered. We did not leave the ranch for our 4 day stay and enjoyed hiking, bird-watching, fishing, wildlife viewing (saw a beautiful blackbuck) and just being on a working cattle ranch. We definitely plan to return! This is a 5-star property!!
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Brenda M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great Stay at Shadow Dance Ranch!
Relaxing visit on the ranch! Truly enjoyed the scenery and great atmosphere, especially evenings on the patio. Thank you for offering such a special place!
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Fall in the Texas Hill Country - GORGEOUS!
This is my third trip to Shadowdance ranch, but this time I came during the fall and brought my sister and cousin for a 3-day getaway. I usually come with my husband for 4th of July. It's SPECTACULAR in the fall! Gorgeous colors and cooler temperatures, a fire in the huge fireplace inside and another in the fire pit outside at night...HEAVEN! We went to Lost Maples for a day trip, but because of the drought, the maples were not particularly showy this year. We enjoyed the park, but were more than happy to return to the ranch where we spent the entire day by the little lake, enjoying the beauty, peace, and solitude. At night, we took our chairs into the back yard and gazed at the incredible stars. There was a meteor shower, so we saw tons of shooting stars...what a treat!!! But even without them, the sky was just fantastic. Shadowdance Ranch is truly the best place I've ever stayed, and I'll be back...soon and often!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charles S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great time in Tarpley
We enjoyed our stay and the home was very comfortable and the host was very responsive and nice to work with. The ranch is very nice and we enjoyed the wide open space and night sky and saw plenty of meteors. Thanks and we hope to be back at some time in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Ashley H.

Liked: Cleanliness
Unplugged family vacation success!
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at this ranch. We loved seeing the cows, horses, deer, birds and fish. We hiked down the creek, hiked a bit around the property close to the guest house, fished at both lakes and went out on all of the little boats. The kids enjoyed the ping pong table and the hammock. Overall I would recommend this place to a family that’s wanting to spend your days in the peace and quiet of the country. The mornings were beautiful, 75-80. It hit 100+ each evening we were there and the ac struggled a bit but then cooled down by 10 or so. I messaged owner and they offered a window unit but we declined because it was still comfortable in the house. One other thing I noticed was there was small ants in the living room when we got there, not a huge trail or anything but enough to notice. But it is out in the country so it didn’t really bother me. One thing I would suggest to the owner would be to put a small pier or floating dock on the lake closer to the house to walk out to fish from. Thank you for sharing this property with our family, it is so beautiful!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria R.

Liked: Cleanliness
Weekend getaway
This is our second stay, and it did not disappoint! If you are looking to disconnect from your weekday routine, and enjoy some peace and quiet, this is your place to stay! We enjoyed the paddle boats, ping pong, and just coming home to relax after a day of floating on the Frio! Will definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Shadowdance Ranch - home in the Hill Country
I discovered Shadow Dance on VRBO last year, and now this is my 2nd Fourth of July there. This will become a family tradition. I feel so fortunate to be able to share my family's old ranch, built by F.L. Hicks in the 1850s, with my children. My family has sold off all our sections, so what a blessing it was to find out I could still visit the ranch and pass on the family history! This year, our aunt who still lives in Utopia turned 100 years old! She got to come out and see the place, possibly for the last time, and it meant so much to her! Besides the deep family roots, this place is a DREAM! My husband and daughter & her boyfriend caught HUGE bass in the ponds. We fished all day, and everything was so beautiful and tranquil, the time flew by. I feel 100% relaxed and rejuvenated. From our porch at the house, we watched cows, rabbits, hawks, hummingbirds, and all kinds of wildlife. This morning we woke to a visit from four friendly horses who let us pet them forever. At night, we watched the stars...not as brilliant as last year, but we got to enjoy a huge full moon. We went to Utopia for the 4th of July firework display. I can't understand how a small town can put on such an amazing, spectacular display! It's worth going there to celebrate the 4th every year! AND the house is just beautiful! Large windows overlooking the hills. Beautiful furniture and rockwork, and every kind of amenity imaginable. This really is the best equipped place I've ever stayed in!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing
Shadow Dance Ranch was exactly what we needed for a relaxing stay accommodating six people mostly adults. The ranch was beautiful with two lakes including a paddle and Jon boat at each location, large rock formations, cattle and other wildlife, and wide open spaces to explore. The house was clean and fit for fun including indoor and outdoor games. We are looking forward to coming back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Harvey H., Houston, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness
Very Private, with Access to Many Hill Country Attractions
The beauty of this ranch is not only the rugged hill country setting, but how private it is. We could relax, read, talk, and hike, all by ourselves. Children who are accustomed to living in a city would be amazed at how wide open you feel here. We took advantage of dining at an amazing restaurant in little Tarpley (New Zealand lamb chops??!!), and drove to Bandera for live entertainment at night. We drove by the peaceful, quiet Medina River, then headed west to Lost Maples State Natural Area, then down to Utopia for dinner, and back to the ranch that evening. If we're in the area, we will definitely stay here again. My only suggestion . . . ditch the Rival drip coffee maker and buy a new one that works better! But otherwise, no complaints!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023