San Antonio Ranch, Helotes, Texas (Canyon, Wells: bankrupt, construction, subdivision)

[AWells1979]

Twenty nine years ago, I worked on the design and construction of streets and infrastructure of the San Antonio Ranch Subdivision in Helotes, Texas and noticed that nothing has changed on the map. Can someone send pictures of the area and let me know how the area has developed over the years?

[dvlpr]

AWells1979:

No pics; sorry; but I do have a little history, as we've worked on a project close to SAR.

San Antonio Ranch was developed as a MUD, prior to guidelines on how the MUD bonds could be sold. The original developer hyped it, sold the bonds, and bailed with the $$$ (not completely uncommon during that time).

The ownership is severely fractured out there - different people own vacant lots & undeveloped land. As you'll probably remember, the topo is killer out there, making homebuilding very expensive (and, as a result, slow).

[Montirob]

If I remember correctly, wasn't the Government Canyon Park originally part of SA Ranch?

Another story I heard (from my geography professor) was that the "recreation lake" that was built never accounted for the fact that it was over the recharge zone. Any rainfall that fell in a rainstorm just soaked through the bottom. Anyone know if there is any truth to this urban legend? A friend who lived directly across from the dam actually took pictures back in the late '90's (?) because it was the first time he actually saw it full.

[AWells1979]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I remember the issues associated with the development of the San Antonio Ranch M.U.D. because I was temporary manager of construction or infrastructure, permitting and other things. I vaguely remember the owner and his efforts of getting the project certified as a M.U.D. I guess I remember more about having lunch and dinner in Helotes, drinking beer, playing pool where Willie Nelson used to play on the weekends. Its too bad that the Ranch turned out to be what it is - it had great potential when it began. Sorry, I don't know much about the lake but I do remember the issues of constructing something over the recharge zone. Thanks again and good luck to all. Its good to hear from "back home". a. wells

[esanch92]

San Antonio Ranch hasn't really changed much. Here are a few pics I took last year around this time.

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by Montirob

If I remember correctly, wasn't the Government Canyon Park originally part of SA Ranch?

Yep.

[Lee W.]

I thought that the Government Canyon State Natural Area came about after S.A. Ranch started. I seem to remember it was partly because of that San Antonio Ranch development that some groups and the city were acquiring enough land to prevent more development over the sensitive aquifer area. Then the state took the land for the purpose of doing a natural area park.

[majormadmax]

Originally Posted by Lee W.

I thought that the Government Canyon State Natural Area came about after S.A. Ranch started. I seem to remember it was partly because of that San Antonio Ranch development that some groups and the city were acquiring enough land to prevent more development over the sensitive aquifer area. Then the state took the land for the purpose of doing a natural area park.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Government Canyon was "created" from land that was once part of San Antonio Ranch...

In the 1980s, the canyon had been slated for development as part of a subdivision called San Antonio Ranch. The developers went bankrupt, however, in the wave of bankruptcies at the time, and in the early 1990s, when the core area of 4,700 acres wound up in the hands of the Resolution Trust Corporation, concerned citizens formed an alliance called the Government Canyon Coalition and joined forces with the Trust for Public Land, TPWD, the Edwards Aquifer Authority, and the San Antonio Water System. Eventually, the total number of groups and agencies involved in acquiring and conserving land and resources for the natural area would number more than three dozen. With the Trust for Public Land working out the details, the original tract of land was purchased for $2 million, which now seems an astonishing bargain. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department took over the role of managing the land, and Government Canyon was designated a state natural area rather than a park.(Source)

Cheers! M2