Two Star Ranch
- News
Pictures
News
The Land
The Water
Ranching
Wildlife
Construction Projects

Carlson's

"Two Star Ranch"

TWO STAR RANCH

Gonzales County, Texas

Why is it called the Two Star Ranch? Ron is from the "North Star State" of Minnesota, and Laurie is from the "Lone Star State" of Texas; therefore, it just had to be the "Two Star Ranch".

This website is just for fun, tracking us as we started our Texas ranch at 65 years old! They say everything is bigger in Texas, except our ranch. We are a tiny ranch, but we sure enjoy it. Today, the ranch is nothing like when we purchased the land. So how did it all come to be...

Everyone has their own retirement goals. After 43 years of marriage, we decided to start a ranch in South Texas. Our goal was to create a lifestyle and a place we wouldn't need a vacation from.

In the spring of 2007, Laurie and I had recently sold our business in northern Minnesota, so we thought it would be a good idea to "get out of Dodge" for a while. We decided to take a road trip to South Central Texas. Along our journey, we picked up Laurie's aging parents, who lived in Tulsa, to visit their childhood homes in Evant, Texas.

The beautiful ranches we observed along the way truly caught my eye. I remember telling Laurie, "Someday, I would love to have a ranch." She laughed and replied, "You don't know anything about cows or ranching." She was spot on!

We continued to live on a beautiful lake in Brainerd, Minnesota, and life was great. With our daughter, Anna, in pharmacy school and our son, Geoff, in medical school, we were enjoying our time as empty nesters. Every winter from 2007 to 2018, we took road trips heading south to explore potential locations for a second home for the winter months. We considered areas from Florida to Arizona and everything in between.

As those years passed, every time we drove by a well-kept ranch with cattle or horses grazing in the lush green pastures, I would point and say, "Someday, Laurie, just maybe someday." She understood exactly what I meant and would smile in response. However, there was never any serious intention to pursue that dream - just playful imagining.

As our friends began to retire, they started heading south for the winter. It became clear that we needed to make some choices. In December 2018, we settled on Texas, particularly the San Antonio area. Laurie had relatives nearby, and we had spent considerable time there visiting our son, who was in the USAF.

In January 2019, we purchased a winter vacation home by Canyon Lake. Within a year, we decided to move there full-time and leave Minnesota behind. Although it was a beautiful community, and we met some wonderful people, after a couple of years, I was restless. Both Laurie and I were in good physical shape, and I felt a calling to do something more.

In 2021, while helping a friend clear land near Hallettsville, Texas, the land called to me once again. The area reminded me so much of rural Minnesota, I realized the need to be back in the woods like what we left behind in Minnesota.

In Minnesota, we still owned 254 acres of recreational property, only five miles from our home. I was on that land almost every day, working to improve it. Over time, we created more than nine miles of trails, established a wonderful hunting camp for friends and family, and built a gun range. We also planted an apple orchard and planted a Christmas tree farm with over 7,500 trees. Additionally, each Spring we tapped 400 maple trees and made maple syrup. To keep friends and family informed on all the various activities, we developed a website: www.hungrybeaversugarcamp.com. (that website is still active) That land became an integral part of my life, and I thought that I would never sell it.

Being 1,400 miles away made it impossible for us to care for or use it enough to justify keeping it. Laurie and I decided to sell it and purchase something in Texas that we could use. We basically chose to close one door and open another. This was our opportunity to create the ranch of my dreams.

Remember the phrase, “Ron, you don’t know anything about cows and ranching!” That was absolutely true, but it wasn’t going to stop us, even though it would require learning something completely new. Helping that friend out in clearing his lot, I met a “real Texas cowboy” named Clint. This young man was leasing my friend's land to run some of his cattle. I asked him, “If we were to buy property, would you consider being a partner in the cattle part of the equation?” Our new partnership and friendship were about to begin.

Finding the right property turned out to be more challenging than we expected. After months of searching, we finally found exactly what we were looking for and purchased 63 acres in April 2023. Located two hours from our home in Canyon Lake, the property was situated on a high ridge in northern Gonzales County, Texas. It met all our requirements. It was complete with the necessary infrastructure for ranching, though it did not come with a house. This provided us with the opportunity to build our vacation home as we desired. There was no intent to move there full-time. Laurie quickly completed the house plans, and we began construction. Within six months, we were able to move in on Christmas 2023.

By February 2024, we acquired our cattle, officially launching our ranching operation. Nine 2-year-old "Tiger Stripe" heifers and a pure-bred Black Angus bull named Buford. We run a “cow-calf” operation.

I quickly learned water is "key" in South Texas. When purchased, the property had 3 water tanks. I have added 4 more, so the livestock can be rotated into each of the 3 separate pastures. After a good rain, our tanks hold over 3,000,000 gallons of water.

Then, just as I was getting the hang of this cattle stuff, one day, while getting some supplies in Gonzales, I noticed a sheet of paper pinned to the wall that said, “Free Horses.” Understand, I have never had an enjoyable experience around horses. I knew almost nothing about cows and even less about horses. After we got the ranch started, multiple people asked if we were going to get horses. My definitive answer was always, “NO"!

That evening, for some reason, I asked Laurie what she thought of getting a couple of horses for “eye candy” in the pasture. She thought it was a wonderful idea. The next day, we called to get more information. It was decided that we should see the horses before making any rash decision. So off we went to Cuero, TX, to see them. On the way, Laurie and I spoke about possibly taking two older quarter horses, but I wasn't convinced.

Upon arrival, we met two horses named “Doc” and “Jethro.” Well, that plan went South in a hurry because, as we were looking at those two, a beautiful young thoroughbred mare decided to "crash the party". She nuzzled up to Laurie and wouldn’t leave us alone. She was like, “TAKE ME HOME WITH YOU, PLEASE! Somehow, that horse knew what was in store for the other two and did not want to be left behind. The owner said, “Oh, that’s Luna, short for Lunatic. Those three are good buddies, but I know you’re only thinking of two.”

After asking many questions, we said that we would discuss it. Once we got into our truck to leave, Laurie looked at me and said, “You want Luna too!” She had read me perfectly. Luna was gorgeous, and I definitely wanted her. With no idea of what I was getting into, four days later, on Halloween day 2024, we became owners of three horses. We have loved every moment since! Just as I had once vowed never to sell the Hungry Beaver Camp, I quickly learned to "never say never."

As the months went by with the horses, I found myself spending more and more time at the ranch, almost there full-time. Finally, Laurie asked, “Why do we have two homes so close together?” She, too, was falling in love with being at the ranch.

Again, it was not our intent to move to the ranch, despite what family and friends expected. However, we sold our home in Canyon Lake in the spring of 2025 and never looked back! Our experience here has been profoundly rewarding.

We were also frequently asked, "Are you going to get dogs too?" My answer was always NO! Then, on Thanksgiving 2025, God decided we needed dogs. Two 12-week-old German Shepherd puppies were abandoned at our ranch gate. Suddenly, we had two dogs.

Our latest addition, in 2026, is another horse named Triggy. A beautiful buckskin that needed a new home. Again, something unforeseen that has just fallen into place.

The spiritual, emotional, and therapeutic impact of having the animals has been incredible. Waking up to the sounds of cows mooing, horses waiting at the fence for breakfast, and the neighbor’s roosters crowing, all of it brings us pure serenity. We have undeniably found our happy place.

We see ourselves as stewards of the land and believe that you get out of it what you put into it. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, exploring the trails, or caring for the livestock, we sure enjoy sharing the property with others. When people leave with a desire to return, we have succeeded. We love to share the many blessings our Lord Jesus Christ has given us.

We invite you to explore our website and join us on this remarkable adventure. The welcome sign is always out for friends and family.

Imprint Privacy Policy Cookie Settings