quarters is a rare desert scene of oaks
and glistening ponds. As you take
Independence Creek Road, it leads
you straight into the lodging area,
revealing the creek for which the road
was named. The Chandler Ranch
showcases the actual location where
the Pecos River and Independence
Creek collide in beautiful harmony.
Rolling in from the flat landscape of
Fort Stockton, I really enjoyed the ele-
vation of the semi-arid Edwards
Plateau region. The ranch land is
snuggled within a good scattering of
mesas. I had three words to say when I
first stepped out of my car: “Aahh,
fresh air.” The atmosphere of their
acreage is so different from any other
West Texas journey’s end. It’s
untouched by civilization. It has its
own vibe, its own feel; it is a purely pri-
vate location.
Upon arriving we were well-
received and immediately greeted by
everyone out on the ranch. We were
taken to the Game Room where we all
got acquainted. The Game Room is
the oldest structure on the property
and its makeover was exceptional. For
entertainment it has pool, ping-pong,
and foosball. There is also a telescope
available for stargazers to enjoy at
night, enhanced by near-zero light pol-
lution. It has a contemporary kitchen
equipped with brand-new appliances
and excellent seating, so families can
unwind and enjoy some home-cooked
meals prepared by Ranch chef
Richard Jasso, Jr.
We sat down at an outdoor table
with Joe, his sister Anne Vargas-Prada,
and his brother-in-law, Jeff Rowes as
Richard brought out a pot roast lunch,
rounds of sweet tea and rich coconut
custard pie for dessert. Richard (who
doesn’t mind be addressed by his first
name) is such a humble chef; he point-
ed out that life slows down at Chandler
Ranch. My wife and I quickly realized
that we were in the midst of some truly
amazing people. Jeff is an intellectual
from Canada who is also a comedian
by nature. Everything that came out of
his mouth was either extremely pro-
found or extremely funny. One thing
he said that really stuck with me was
the most significant representation of
the ranch’s motive.
“We’re not competing against other
regional attractions or destinations.
Chandler Ranch is competing against
modern technology, smart phones and
video games. We’re trying to get par-
ents and their kids to stop staring at
glowing rectangles and just enjoy being
outside. There’s stunning natural
beauty to behold.”
We took a break to unpack our lug-
gage and get settled into our luxurious
not take this oasis for granted. Joe
Chandler often spotted me sitting in
the middle of Independence Creek,
filling up my outdoor flask. I probably
looked like a nut, but Joe got me. The
Jenny and Charlena Chandler posing with Charlie Chandler, great-grandfather to Joe A. Chandler, and a
ranch employee in front of two bucks
lodge, the Cafe Cabin. Honestly, it felt
like we were house sitting a wealthy
home and we loved everything about
it. It was fully modernized, decked out
abounding waters were just so amaz-
ing for viewing, cooling down, and
even drinking. Yes, I was bold enough
to sip on the same waters that I knew
JoBeth, Charlena, Joe B. Chandler, grandfather of Joe A. Chandler, at the old wagon wheels near the
entrance of the ranch
with all the goods including coffee
maker and mini fridge. My wife
Armanda genuinely adored this cabin.
She would often slip away to go relax
there as I ran around barefoot in my
coonskin hat, a bit like Davy Crockett.
I was drawn to the water and did
deer and other wildlife often drank. If
that’s not the best way to experience a
fresh water spring then I don’t know
what is.
The wildlife outnumbered the
human population on Chandler
Ranch by a long shot. There have
been sightings of mountain lions, foxes,
raccoons, rabbits, beavers, possums,
porcupines, bobcats, whitetail deer,
occasional mule deer, javelina, turkey,
quail, ducks, river birds, armadillo,
and more. There even was a rare sight-
ing of a black bear that might have
wandered up from Mexico. I’m think-
ing it followed the aroma of Richard’s
biscuits, made from scratch and
smothered in country gravy.
“There is a lot to be observed and
studied out here. Universities send stu-
dents and faculty to study the freshwa-
ter springs, oak tree regeneration,
lizards, snakes, birds, mussels, turtles
— everything under the sun seems to
be studied out here,” stated Joe.
The Chandlers, along with
Richard, gave us a special, extensive
tour of their vast property on a
Kawasaki “Mule” 4WD utility vehicle
(comparable to a large golf cart).
Guests can roam the ranch with a
Mule assigned for their stay. It was an
absolute honor for us to explore it with
the actual Chandler siblings. “I love to
watch the large catfish swim out from
underneath the big rocks. Sometimes
you can walk up to the edge and see a
big tail popping out from so many cat-
fish being gathered together. On still
days with no wind, the water looks like
glass, and you can see the fish perfect-
ly as they swim by. It’s fantastic,” Ann
told us at a spot where she had her
brother pull over.
We visited a forested area of oaks
where we found Jeff scaling up a cliff.
We loved Jeff; he was so unpredictable!
We also visited a canopy of oak trees at
a spot know as “Shady Oaks,” where
gangs of turkeys ran wild in the abun-
dant shade. My favorite stop was at the
breathtaking bluffs that towered above
the beach area at the convergence of
Independence Creek and the Pecos
River. The Chandler Ranch holds one
of the oldest Texas water rights and is
the only ranch allowed to pump water
out of the creek. The state monitors
their water and specialists have recog-
nized Independence Creek’s springs as
producing some of the cleanest water
in the Lone Star State.
In the evening we all sat around the
dinner table to have a meal together.
Richard whipped up some country-
style fried chicken and those scrump-
tious homemade biscuits. This is the
stuff of peace and smiles: sitting with
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Cenizo
Third Quarter 2016
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