See all properties
Entire home

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

Find adventure in nature and luxury at this ranch getaway. Star gaze under dark skies or challenge friends to poker night.

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

Outdoor dining
Full-sized fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
Smart TV, fireplace, ping pong, books
Property grounds
Golf

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6139 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

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

  • Car required
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Blender
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Full-sized refrigerator/freezer
  • Hob
  • Kitchen island
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Paper towels
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 bathrooms
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table
  • Fireplace
  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • Games
  • Smart TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Barbecue grill
  • Fenced yard
  • Firepit
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Location highlights

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

Things to do

  • Boat
  • Table tennis
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks 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

  • Housekeeping (on request)
  • Unit size: 1,500 square feet

Similar properties

Property grounds

Hondo Creek Hideaway

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (6)
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

Map
Tarpley, TX

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) - 86 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 a river, 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 Frontier Times Museum. Tarpley Crossing Park and Bandera Sports Complex are also within 20 miles (32 km).

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

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

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

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 42 out of 44 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 44 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 44 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 44 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Susan L.

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

Virginia B.

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

Brenda M.

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

Jason W.

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

Natalie A.

Weekend getaway
We enjoyed the cabin! My kids loved it! Very nice scenery.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Misty L.

Great getaway!
We loved the property and the house! The house was very clean and spacious. The location is perfect for visiting Utopia, Lost Maples State park, and Bandera, Hill Country state park. We really enjoyed our stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Maria R.

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

Charles S.

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

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

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

Roxanne A.

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

Elizabeth F.

Loved the ranch
The house is super cute. We loved hanging out on the porch watching the sunsets and The kids had a great time exploring the property and watching the animals. We were sad to leave!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kim M.

Beautiful, remote getaway
We really enjoyed all of the beautiful birds and wildlife on this lovely property. Lost Maples SP was only about 35 minutes away. Great for hiking! Clean and comfortable.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey M.

Get Away from City Lights
A comfortable ranch house with cattle, exotics, and wildlife at your front gate. Easily housed five adults, although the bunk beds might challenge some. Perfect for those seeking big, dark sky nights and rugged, beautiful Hill Country views.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Maria R.

Great location
Perfect weekend getaway for our family! The guest house was clean and tidy. The boys had fun on the paddle boats and later enjoyed playing ping pong in the back shed. We were able to bbq and then ended the evening with some star gazing and storytelling. The host was quick to reply to questions— highly recommend if you’re looking to escape, relax and unplug. Will definitely be coming back!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

Frank G.

Ranch House Stay
Great experience, very quite and well taken care of. Enjoyed the nights with my family just sitting outside and enjoying the vey clear view of the stars. Our host was very responsive when I had a question. Great place to stay and view the wildlife, and enjoy bird watching in the mornings while drinking your coffee outdoors. Me and my family will sure return to this spot with plenty to go out and see nearby. We just missed the chance to go on the local ponds on the paddle boats or canoe's but maybe next time.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lanette J.

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

Melanie G.

Really nice home
My family and I stayed here for a couple of days and we really enjoyed our stay. The home was very nice and clean and the rooms are just the right size. If your looking for a place to get away from everyday life and just relax this is the place. The home sits about a mile off the road so you don't hear the traffic going by and has lots and lots of land to roam around and just take in all the beautiful scenery from the mountains to the deer and of course the humming birds. Sitting outside in the nice porch area at night was one of our favorite things to do and watching the moonrise was awesome. The only negative thing I can say about the home is that in the master bedroom the bathroom door didn't close all the way and the bedroom door was hard to close as well other than that this home was fantastic.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Harvey H., Houston, Texas

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

10/10 Excellent

Patricia m.

Very accommodating
Our stay was unfortunately cut short due to a plumbing situation beyond control of the property owner. The host was very involved and provided us another lodging alternative when it was realized that the problem would not be fixed during our stay. For the overnight that we were there we absolutely loved the house and surrounding property. We played games at the card table (as well as pingpong & corn hole), enjoyed looking at the stars while sitting around the fire pit, slept great and the next day we hiked to the edge of the property up the hill. Everything was as beautiful and peaceful as expected based on the listing. The furniture, abundance of windows and decor were comfortable and provided a great setting for our family gathering. We hope to return someday to explore more of the property and enjoy all the place has to offer.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Virginia B.

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

8/10 Good

Lily O.

Country living
This place was very clean and there weren’t a lot of knick knacks everywhere - IDEAL! We were there during a 103° weekend and it was HOT so the AC was definitely struggling. It was a bit hard to stay cool, but it’s country living so that’s part and parcel. Property is gorgeous and there is a fun screened in patio area, separate from the house, that would be perfect for hanging and playing ping pong in slightly cooler temps. We selected the property to be close to Lost Maples and Garner State park. Each are about 30 minutes away so it’s a good medium. Only feedback would be to perhaps wash the quilts- they seemed a bit dusty. Thanks for having us!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2022

8/10 Good

Ashley H.

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

Virginia B.

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