1526 Elm Ridge Rd., Fredericksburg, TX 78624 - Gillespie County

Imagine stepping out on your front porch every morning and having a 270 degree panoramic view taking in distances of 10 to 20 miles. That is exactly what you can have when you call this 2003 custom built residence on 35 acres (an additional 38 acres is available) at an elevation of 1800' in NE Gillespie County your new home. This is a timber frame home, using massive red oak beams for support and the walls and ceilings consist of SIP (structural insulated panels). These panels are custom built for each home, walls use OSB on the exterior, 4" of foam insulation and then the interior wall is 1/2" sheetrock, textured and painted. Roof panels are also OSB on the top, then 6 inches of insulation, another layer of OSB and then the bottom side of the panel (the exposed ceiling) is eastern knotty pine with a natural finish. The roof of the home is a standing seam metal galvalume.

The home is 2800 SF of living area, 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths, master suite is downstairs and the two guest bedrooms are up as is a spacious loft area at the top of the thick treads of the red cedar stairs and railing. On the west wall of the great room is a soaring 29' fireplace with two mantels, one a pecan and the other a walnut, and the fireplace is built of the same red Texas sandstone as is the exterior of the home. Windows used are aluminum clad exterior, with Douglas fir interior with a natural finish, low E and argon gas filled to provide maximum insulation value. Floors on the ground floor consist of stained and scored concrete.

The kitchen area offers generous amounts of not only cabinet space in the custom hickory cabinets but also lots of counter and work space. Counter tops are Corian and a bar area which can seat four consists of a 3" thick red cedar plank. Stainless steel appliances include dishwasher, a side-by-side refrigerator with ice dispenser, electric convection oven with a four burner gas range. A walk-in pantry is in easy reach from the work space.

The cozy master bedroom has a ceiling which is comprised of red cedar as is the master bath and the walk-in closet. Cabinetry in the master bath is cherry wood and the shower is glass block. The master closet also provides for easy access to the spacious utility room complete with a large stainless steel mud sink.

A variety of other woods compliment the home, such as in the guest bedrooms where you discover one of the accent walls is redwood and in the other bedroom there is a wall of cypress. All of the custom made interior doors are solid cedar and window trim is natural cedar. The front door is built using mesquite wood with beveled glass inserts. A total of 14 different wood types are used throughout the home.

Some other interesting facts about the home include features such as an alarm system, the entire home is wired with Ryssound system and there is also a Lutron lighting system. A covered patio just off the dining room is perfect for entertaining. And just around the corner from that is a deck with a hot tub!

Every Hill Country ranch property needs a shop and this one comes equipped with the deluxe version that also serves as a party barn. The enclosed, insulated portion is 40'x 60' and located within that are 600 SF of guest quarters which is decked above for storage. On the front of the building is a 20'x 40' covered area complete with a stainless steel counter with water, propane and a cooking area along with two grills of to the side. Around one side is a 30' x 60' lean to on a concrete slab and on the backside is another 20' x 40' cover with dirt floor to keep the ranch equipment dry and out of the weather. Main part of the shop has 3 overhead doors with electric operators and at the center of the shop is a wood burning stove.

The ranch is perimeter fenced and divided into several pastures. There are two earthen ponds in place and there is a set of pipe working pens and also a shed for livestock shelter. The ranch is under agricultural exemption for tax purposes. Whitetail deer are plentiful in the area and hunting is permitted.