A Legend Comes to Market: The $10 Million Texas Treasure Hunt
A vast Texas ranch, shrouded in a captivating legend of buried Spanish treasure, has been offered for sale with an asking price of $9,990,000. The Bullhead Mountain Ranch, encompassing more than 1,200 acres in Barksdale, Real County, was officially listed in November, sparking renewed fascination with its mysterious past.
Centuries of Mystery and Modern Luxury
The property sits at the centre of a local tale passed down for generations. The story suggests that centuries ago, Spanish soldiers using the land as a campsite buried their gold and coins along the route through the Nueces Canyon region. "Some say that Bullhead Mountain conceals buried coins and gold, untouched for generations, giving this part of the ranch an undeniable sense of history and mystery," stated the listing broker, West and Swope Ranches.
The ranch's primary residence is a substantial single-story lodge measuring approximately 4,868 square feet. This impressive home features five bedrooms and three and a half baths. Its spacious living area is highlighted by a grand stone fireplace and high, wood-paneled vaulted ceilings. A formal dining room flooded with natural light, a sunroom, and a large kitchen with built-in appliances complete the main living space.
The master bedroom is bright and spacious, offering picturesque views of the ranch. The property also includes two detached three-car garages, one of which is equipped with guest quarters and a full bathroom. For outdoor living, covered porches, a rear patio, and a fire pit provide perfect spots to enjoy the scenic landscape.
Expansive Estate with Multiple Residences
Bullhead Mountain Ranch is far more than a single home; it is a complete compound. A second residence, featuring a stone-veneer exterior, spans three levels and 2,756 square feet. It contains five bedrooms, three baths, a wood-burning fireplace, and a den with a wood stove, all surrounded by multiple porches and patios.
Further supporting the operation is a foreman's house, measuring 993 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths. The estate is also equipped with essential ranch infrastructure, including equipment sheds, barns, working pens, feed pins, and storage buildings. A dedicated gun room and a walk-in game cooler are also on-site.
The land itself is a study in Texan beauty, with elevations climbing to 1,960 feet. The terrain varies from rolling pastures near the creek to rugged uplands featuring limestone outcrops and scenic canyons. A clear, spring-fed creek, a tributary of the Nueces River, runs through the property year-round, lined with towering pecan and live oak trees.
This diverse ecosystem of cedar, native brush, and grasses provides a rich habitat for local wildlife, including white-tailed deer, aoudad, blackbuck antelope, and wild turkey. This abundance allows for exceptional hunting and wildlife management opportunities.
With its paved access, creek frontage, and multiple residences, the ranch is presented as an ideal property for family living, livestock, and private recreational use. The listing concludes that the ranch's blend of agricultural utility, recreational opportunity, and residential comfort makes it "one of the most desirable large ranches in the Nueces Canyon region."
