• A Brief History
  
  

• Where we are and what you might see here
  
  

• BSRC Staff and phone numbers
  
  

• Visitor's Guide
  
  
  

For your protection and for the protection of all of the ranch residents we ask that you review and adhere to the following guidelines:

·   All guests must have an orientation by a Ranch staff supervisor prior to touring or attending an activity on the ranch.  Guests must “check in” with BSRC staff upon arrival.  Ranch gates are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Currently, the point of contact is either Lora and Matt Webb, program coordinators, at 830-232-7121 or Dean and Susi Mitchell at 830-232-7129.

·   Guests may be asked to sign a liability release in order to participate in certain ranch activities.

·   If you wish to tour the Big Springs Natural Area, you must have prior approval from either Michael Priour (830-232-6489) or Dean Mitchell (830-232-7129), and BSRC staff must accompany you to give you further instructions.  This is an environmentally sensitive area! There is no swimming or fishing here and we require that you stay off waterfalls and out of caves!

·   Dogs (pets) must be kept on leashes and are not to cause a disturbance to or chase the wildlife.  There are no unapproved pets allowed in the buildings.

No trash left behind anywhere.  Construction crews should be careful to leave all light wrappings removed from materials weighted down, or preferrably removed to designated burn area.

The Big Springs Children's Village  is a non-alcoholic campus.  No alcoholic beverages of any kind are allowed.

·   Hunting and Trapping:  The ranch is currently under lease for hunting throughout the year.  No other hunting or trapping allowed without special permission from the Executive Director, Gary Priour.

·   No person shall possess, display, use, fire or discharge any explosives or firearms on the property without prior express permission from the Executive Director.  There shall be no firearms at all in the area designated as the “children’s village”.

·   Fishing is allowed, but if you catch a fish, you must release it back into the river.  Guests from 17 to 64 years of age must have a fishing license. Unattended lines are not permitted, including trot lines and throw lines. Spear-fishing and seining are not permitted.  Bait should be brought with you.  Again, please release your catch!  Our fish have names, and “Big Daddy Bass” is in front of the Davenport Homestead . . . watching . . . and waiting . . .

·   Swimming: be sure you are aware of appropriate waterfront safety guidelines before swimming.  There may be situations where a certified lifeguard is necessary.  There are certain locations designated for swimming.  Primarily the area south of the falls near the Sunday House and down stream from there.  “Mushroom rock” is the starting point for swimming, and swimming is allow down river to the Bee Creek fork at the highway.  There is no swimming up river from Mushroom rock.  The part of the river above the Sunday House falls, and back to the Big Springs, is spring water and is used for drinking.  No swimming, of course.

 ·   Do not dive off anything, anywhere, into the river or dam area.  The Frio River has many depth levels that are often hard to determine with accuracy.

 ·    Do not throw rocks into the river.

 ·    Tubes are allowed but note:  you probably will not do much traveling.

 ·    Jet skis or motor craft are not allowed.   (If you disobey this rule, call us so we can watch.)

 ·    Camping is allowed in designated spots only, and only by reservation and pre-approval.

 ·    Campfires are only allowed under pre-approved conditions and only in designated areas.  No firewood is to be brought from outside the ranch.  Please ask for instructions on appropriate deadwood sources.

 ·    You must bring your garbage bags with you, and take all your garbage with you when you depart.  Do not burn, dump, leave, bury, or discharge any liquid or solid waste, sewage, rubbish, garbage, oil, noxious, or poisonous substance nor leave any ashes, coals, or embers whatsoever on the ranch.  “No Trace” camping means exactly that.  There should be no trace of your having been there.

 ·    No digging for artifacts — if you come across any kind of artifact please turn it to ranch staff.  We are collecting these treasures for posterity, and they are currently being displayed in our library.

 ·    Please do not feed wildlife!  If you want to feed the rattlesnakes, we understand they like fingers and ankles.

 ·    Cell phones don’t work here.

 ·    Gates:  you are on a working ranch!  As a general rule, leave gates the way you find them — exactly the way you find them!  All highway gates should remain closed and latched.  The gates are unlocked from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., but are locked in the evening.  Should your plans bring you here after hours, you will need to make prior arrangements with one of the BSRC staff for someone to meet you at the gate.

 ·    In case of emergency, go to the Sterling-Turner Grandparents' Cottage, Davenport, Cailloux , or Brune Homesteads or the Sunday House for help.  Please plan ahead and prepare for the possibility of emergencies.  EMS responds within 22 minutes and the nearest hospital is 60 miles away.  Leakey emergency dispatcher can be reached by dialing 911.

 ·    As you depart, remember that nothing is to be removed from the property!  This includes rocks, wood, plants, cacti, cuttings, animal remains, relics, or similar objects.

There are a lot fun and interesting things to do and see here and we love to share these with our guests. Please remember that we are a private facility and not a public camp.  For more information about the ranch or if you have any questions about ranch policies, please contact the appropriate Big Springs Ranch staff member, or email us at feedback@youth-ranch.org.  A list of ranch staff and their phone numbers is shown on another page of this guide.