See all properties
Entire home

Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!

Lakefront holiday home with kitchen and patio

Photo gallery for Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!

Property grounds
Property grounds
Plenty of seating and comfy too!
Lots of acreage to explore and 2 private lakes.
Fully-equipped kitchen with dining table for 6.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6139.4 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Fireplace
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Tarpley, TX
  • Place, Medina River
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Mansfield Park
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, Bandera City Park
    ‪20 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bunk Room

1 Single Bunk Bed

Guest Room #1

1 Queen Bed

Master

1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Ensuite

Shower only

Main Bathroom

Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Outdoor play area
Dining area

About this property

Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!

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.

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

Crystal-clear creek surrounded by lush greenery-perfect for a peaceful nature stroll or quiet reflection.
Hidden Maples Hideaway
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
9.2 out of 10, (18 reviews)
Hidden Maples Hideaway

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 28
Check out before 11:00 AM
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

No events allowed
default

Pets

No pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
NO PETS.
No guns, fireworks, ATVs or dirt bikes. Street bikes o.k. No hunting, fishing is catch and release only. Do not pass through closed ranch gates.
All outdoor activities will be at the guests' own risk.

Important information

You need to know

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

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

About the area

Tarpley

Located in Tarpley, this holiday home is in a rural area and on a river. Tarpley Crossing Park and Bandera Sports Complex 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. Travelling with kids? Consider Bandera Natural History & Art Museum, or check out an event or a game at Bobcat Stadium. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
View more Holiday homes in TarpleyOpens in a new window
Map
Tarpley, TX

What's nearby

  • Medina River - 16 min drive - 33.0 km
  • Tarpley Crossing Park - 16 min drive - 33.4 km
  • Mansfield Park - 16 min drive - 34.5 km
  • Bandera Sports Complex - 17 min drive - 34.2 km
  • Bandera City Park - 20 min drive - 39.0 km

Getting around

  • San Antonio International Airport (SAT) - 86 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Mac & Ernies Roadside Eatery - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪WCD West - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Steel Horse Cafe - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Shadow Dance Ranch-Private 2000 Acres and 2 Lakes with Plenty of Water to Enjoy! located?

Located on a river, this family-friendly holiday home is within 20 mi (32 km) of Tarpley Crossing Park, Bandera Beach Club Tubes, Kayaks & Shuttle and Bandera Sports Complex. Mansfield Park and Ranger Crossing Park are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 52 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 52 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 52 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 52 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 52 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

Angela S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Enjoyed the quiet and relaxed under the stars. Such a beautiful property. It is a working ranch, so watch for cows around your vehicles.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Spot

I booked this place thinking we could stay the night, but spend our days at Garner State park mostly. We got in at sunset on Friday and instantly fell in love. We were greeted by three sweet horses, and the most beautiful sunset. We decided the next morning not to leave and instead to enjoy all this beautiful ranch had to offer. It was magical! I can’t wait to go back. Oh and on top of the ranch being amazing, the hosts were wonderful and the house was perfectly cozy. We can’t wait to go again.Thank you!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Little Piece of Paradise

We always enjoy our 4th of July celebration at Shadowdance Ranch. Love fishing in the ponds, watching the sunsets, petting the horses, and enjoying the magnification Texas Hill Country views.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Staycation

Our family really enjoyed a short staycation at the ranch. The guest house is spacious, clean, and really beautiful. It's well complemented by the rolling hills surrounding the property. The outdoor area is awesome! We enjoyed chilling on the hammock, playing games, masking smores, and star gazing. Canoeing at the lake was a special highlight of our trip. Teens can be difficult to please, we had three of them and they loved it! Thanks Jeralyn for sharing your home.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Roxanne A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Something For Everyone

Our stay at this beautiful home in Texas Hill Country was wonderful. We relaxed outdoors in the shade watching so many different birds and had fun researching their names. The cows came to water and four horses came by one day for a stroke along their face. We fished with tackle we brought along. Ping pong, horseshoes, hiking, paddle boating, and card games filled our time too. At the end of the day we slept in such comfortable beds with plenty of pillows. We enjoyed the serenity this wonderful location offered.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Hill Country Property

Absolutely FANTASTIC property!!! My family and I loved our stay. We hiked and fished the whole time, enjoyed the horses and cows that roam the property along with the many deer and exotics and only went into town once for a great lunch at Mac and Ernie's. The house is great and comfy with a nice porch and fire pit that we enjoyed in the evening. Everything you need is there including a canoe, paddleboats and a jon boat to explore the gorgeous crystal clear lakes that are loaded with bass and bluegill. Our teenage sons loved going out on the water to fish and explore. It was especially beautiful in the evenings catching bass while watching a perfect Hill Country sunset. We definitely hope to return to this gorgeous property!!
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful ranch in the Texas hill country

I was so thrilled to see Shadow Dance Ranch listed in VRBO. This was my family's original ranch, settled by my great-great-grandfather F.L. Hicks in the early 1800s. It belonged to my family until the last generation, when my grandmother and her brothers sold their parts to the current owner, who I've remained in touch with. I grew up going to the part right next to the main ranch, on the Hondo Creek, and never dreamed I'd ever get to spend more than a day there. So to get to stay on the property for 4th of July this year was like coming home! And my 99-year-old aunt who still lives near there got to come and visit. She was so happy...I know she never thought she'd get to see the place again! The ranch is so incredibly beautiful! We had fun driving around, exploring every road we could drive on. Then we hiked to places we couldn't drive, and loved seeing the cows, deer, rabbits, and all kinds of birds. Best of all was fishing in the two ponds. My daughter and her boyfriend went out on the canoe and paddleboat, while my husband and I fished from the shore. Everyone was catching BIG fish all day. It's catch & release, so no fish fry, but it was still a BLAST! My husband caught an 8 lb. bass! We had no idea there were going to be fish like that there! It was truly the highlight of the trip! At the house, we loved playing dominos, grilling fajitas one day and hamburgers & hot dogs for 4th of July out on the patio. We ate and then pulled chairs into the yard each night to stargaze. The night sky was just incredible! The house was perfectly comfortable and accommodating. It was equipped with everything! I brought tequila and limeade, but forgot my blender. I didn't know what I'd do without margaritas, but there was a very good blender in the cabinet! Great cookware and appliances, plenty of good soaps and shampoos, a person could move right in and not miss a thing! I didn't want to leave and come back to real life, it was such a refreshing and rejuvenating getaway! But we will definitely come back soon!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Harrison F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Phenomenal ranch!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Senisa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Always a good experience
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The place was very comfortable and peaceful. The night sky was unbelievable. We fished on the lakes and took a day trip to the Frio River.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

John F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serenity

The stay exceeded our expectations. The ranch is incredible, the fishing was great . My four year old caught his first largemouth bass , he was ecstatic! Oh yeah , the swimming is awesome too. There’s great hiking if that’s your thing . The place is the type where you actually hate leaving. We stayed 8 days and it was not enough, the views , the water , the animals, the evenings on the porch are all magical. Everything was perfect, hopefully we can return one day very soon. If you like getting away from it all this is a great place for that , the pictures online don’t even come close to the beauty that awaits. Bandera is a short extremely scenic drive away providing all you need. The guest house is extremely comfortable and has everything you need for a super relaxing stay , Couldn’t be more pleased , worth every cent “.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property was lovely - we enjoyed the livestock and peacefulness of the ranch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

kadon l.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quite and Relaxing

This property was a nice escape.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Howard K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful

Very nice property to stay at for people wanting to be in a quiet area and enjoy the Texas Hill Country
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Howard K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Private hiking

Very nice place I re-rented it in October
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Christina W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing break

Built for relaxing, surrounded by natural beauty. We saw wildlife and stars and migrating butterflies, and the only noise came from the many birds. Wonderful getaway from the responsibilities of daily life.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Vacay

Loved this property! Secluded and beautiful. If you like being out in nature this is the ticket. Love the pastures and cows and horses. Also enjoyed swimming in the lake.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jason W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

About the host

Hosted by Jeralyn

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
Tell us how we can improve our siteShare feedback

Hotels

Holiday Rentals