Hill Country Conservancy: In 1937, Texas artist Buck Winn bought 1,164 acres in Hill Country; his descendants have now protected 165 acres permanently beside the Blanco River, preserving rare bird habitat, historic fences and two miles of creek

A historic ranch in Texas, once home to a celebrated regional artist, is continuing its legacy through a conservation effort led by his descendants. Four Winns Ranch, located near Wimberley in Hays County, has 165 acres protected permanently through a conservation easement, safeguarding its wildlife habitats, historic features and important water resources. According to a recent story published by the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on October 29, 2026, the initiative was undertaken by the Winn family in partnership with Hill Country Conservancy. The property has a history stretching back several generations. James Buchanan Buck Winn Jr., a prominent Texas artist, purchased the original 1,164-acre property in 1937. He used the landscape as a family home and a source of inspiration for his creative work. His descendants have since continued their connection with the land by ensuring that a portion of the original ranch remains protected from future development. The conservation effort was also documented by the Land Trust Alliance in a 2020 case study on the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

A ranch with an artistic and cultural legacy

Winn was much more than a painter. He was a sculptor, inventor, architect, professor and pilot whose contributions to Texas’ cultural landscape remain visible today. One of his best-known creations was The History of Ranching, a 280-foot mural originally displayed at San Antonio’s Pearl Brewery. Parts of the work are now exhibited at institutions including the Wimberley Community Center and Texas State University. He also contributed murals to the Hall of State in Dallas for the 1936 Texas Centennial celebrations and created Morning Glories, a prominent feature at Aquarena Springs.The ranch itself carries a history that predates Winn’s ownership. The landscape was once used by Indigenous communities who depended on its natural resources, including water and wildlife. Spanish presence followed during the 17th and 18th centuries, before Anglo settlers began moving into the region after Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836.Among the property’s surviving historical features are extensive stone fences believed to date back to around 1850. Running along the northern bank of Pierce Creek, these structures offer clues about the German settlers who established homesteads in the area.

Rare bird species find refuge on the property

Beyond its cultural significance, Four Winns Ranch provides an increasingly important refuge for wildlife in the Texas Hill Country. The landscape includes open pastures, rolling hills, cedar thickets and scattered oak groves. These natural features support a variety of plant and animal species, while providing nesting grounds, food and water for wildlife.A survey of the property identified nine bird species listed by Texas as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. These include the Summer Tanager, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Red-shouldered Hawk, alongside the federally protected Golden-cheeked Warbler. The presence of these species highlights the ecological importance of protecting relatively undisturbed habitats in a region facing pressures from land fragmentation, excessive grazing and expanding development.

Why protecting the Blanco River matters

One of the most significant aspects of the conservation effort is the property’s location along the Blanco River. The ranch also includes approximately two miles of Pierce Creek, an important tributary of the river.The Blanco River plays a role in replenishing the Edwards and Middle Trinity aquifers, which are important sources of groundwater for Central Texas. Protecting the surrounding landscape helps maintain water quality and supports the natural systems that depend on these waterways.The river also contributes to the water resources feeding popular natural destinations, including San Marcos Springs and Barton Springs. According to the NRCS, the Blanco River accounts for as much as 6% of the average recharge reaching Barton Springs. During drought conditions, it can become the only source of natural surface-water recharge. These water systems also support several endangered aquatic species, including the fountain darter, Texas blind salamander and Barton Springs salamander.

A conservation agreement that allows the ranch to remain active

The permanent conservation easement is held by Hill Country Conservancy in partnership with the NRCS through its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program’s Agricultural Land Easement component (ACEP-ALE). The programme works with landowners and conservation organisations to prevent working agricultural properties from being converted into non-agricultural developments, including housing projects and commercial establishments.Importantly, protecting the property does not mean shutting it off from economic activity. The easement allows agricultural operations and ecotourism activities to continue. The ranch also hosts a zipline attraction that brings thousands of visitors across its hills and creeks each year. By combining conservation with continued use of the land, the Winn family’s decision seeks to preserve the property’s ecological and historical character while allowing future generations to remain connected to it.