Working wildlife ranch. Walk to river--fish, boat, swim. Near Colorado Bend.

We’re John and Karen, and we’ve saved the best adventure for last.

We met in college, married at 21, and have just rounded the corner on 50 years together. Along the way we raised two daughters, gained a wonderful son-in-law, and are now lucky grandparents (and great-grandparents!)—a role we embrace joyfully.

Our professional lives have taken many paths in five different states: decades of university teaching, running an extended-stay wellness business in Park City, research leadership for a regional hospital, and six months of off-grid living and teaching in San Juan National Forest.
In 2014, we bought Sloan Carpe Diem Ranch with a simple plan: retire, ride horses, and immerse ourselves in the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. The ranch had other ideas. What began as a personal retreat grew—thoughtfully and organically—into a place we now love sharing with guests who value nature, outdoor adventure, and comfort in equal measure.

Andi’s Cabin holds special meaning for us. It’s a tribute to our daughter, whose life experiences were the catalyst for our move from East Texas to the Hill Country. The cabin reflects some of that journey—simple, grounded, and intentionally designed to be a place of calm, restoration, and connection to the natural world.

Today, we live onsite and host hands-on. We’re here to help if you need us and happy to fade into the background if you don’t. Our goal is simple: to offer a stay that feels personal, unrushed, and quietly special—one you’ll still be thinking about long after you’ve gone home.

We chose this ranch because its western boundary is the Colorado River—a rare and beautiful find in the Texas Hill Country. Once we settled in, we realized just how lucky we were: we’re only a mile from the nearest highway, yet it feels worlds away. At the same time, the charming town of San Saba is just a short drive down the road.

We later discovered something extraordinary—the eastern edge of the ranch sits along a major route of the Central Flyway, one of North America’s key bird migration corridors. Combined with the river, this location brings an ever-changing parade of birdlife to our doorstep—from tiny hummingbirds to majestic bald eagles.

True seclusion is rare, and this ranch has it—nearly a mile from the nearest highway and almost half a mile from the closest neighbor. Surrounded by rolling Hill Country terrain, the land stretches west to the Colorado River, creating a setting that feels expansive, quiet, and deeply connected to nature.

What truly sets the property apart is the closeness of wildlife. This is a working conservation ranch where animals move freely across the land. Native wildlife—white-tailed deer, foxes, raccoons, armadillos, and abundant birdlife—are part of everyday life here. In addition, several exotic species, including axis deer, blackbuck antelope, fallow deer, scimitar oryx, Urial sheep, and Pere David's deer, often graze within yards of the lodging. Guests regularly experience wildlife at distances close enough to take detailed photos.

Across the river, the historic Red Bluffs rise nearly 100 feet above the water, forming a dramatic, timeless backdrop that gives this stretch of river a distinctly wild character.

We live onsite and care for the land ourselves, which allows us to offer discreet hospitality—available whenever you need us and comfortably out of the way when you don’t. Our greatest pleasure is sharing this quiet, natural place with guests who value privacy, nature, and a stay that feels genuinely personal.