Republic Ranches, LLC is excited to bring to market the incredible Lakes of Gibbons Creek Ranch. The ranch is a world-class and extraordinary example of natural resource and rangeland restoration undertakings over the course of several decades following an intense use of portions of the surface to secure lignite. The resources that were put to work on this restoration project have resulted in an 11,000-acre ranch with rolling rangelands of both improved and native grasses, heavily wooded bottomlands (and some hilltops), and incredible water features. These include 920 surface acres of water associated with the over 40 lakes and ponds, over 1.9 miles of Navasota River frontage, the namesake Gibbons Creek, numerous other creeks, wetlands, and related riparian habitat all benefitting the wildlife that inhabits the ranch permanently or as part of annual migrations.
The ranch is located ten miles southeast of College Station in Grimes County. Approximately 5,700 acres of the property are rolling, reclaimed grasslands, including areas of native and improved grasses. A minimum of four feet of select soil was distributed over this area, and the forage is strong, as indicated by the current stocking of approximately 2,000 head of cattle grazing the property. Punctuating these grasslands are approximately 920 surface acres of lakes teeming with fish and wildlife within the property’s borders. Two primary areas of hardwood bottoms make up the bulk of the remaining acreage. Over 2,000 acres of contiguous, mature, Navasota River hardwood bottoms provide excellent habitat for the plentiful white-tailed deer and hogs that populate the ranch. A second contiguous woodlands area over 1,700 acres associated with the Gibbons Creek and Dry Creek watersheds accent the rangelands.
There is outstanding deer hunting on large portions of the property, which has been actively managed for deer through Texas Parks and Wildlife. Legumes have been planted and managed specifically for promoting wildlife. White/Yellow Sweet Clover, Crimson Clover, Hairy Vetch, Purple Vetch, Arrowleaf Clover, Elbon Rye, Oats, Little Bluestem, and others have all been planted and managed over the years. Waterfowl hunting on the multitude of lakes, wetlands, and smaller ponds is amazing. One of the unique aspects of the property is the amount of waterfowl habitat that exists on the property. Dove, hogs, alligators as well as predators are very common on the property. The ranch’s diverse ecosystems are home, year-round or during the annual migration, to all types of other animals, birds, and of course, fish. Bald eagles and osprey are very common on the property.
There are excellent all-weather roads, engineered lake dams, low water crossings, and new fencing. There is a small shop area where most of the maintenance is headquartered just off of FM 3090, one very old hunters’ cabin of little value, and a high load-bearing bridge crossing Gibbons Creek that remains above water levels even when FM 244 is flooded.
