Kendall County approves $11.25 million purchase of 310‑acre Guadalupe River Ranch for parks and river access

Kendall County’s commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with the county’s purchase of the 310‑acre Guadalupe River Ranch, a property the county says will expand public parkland and provide a first ‘blue‑trail’ river access on the Guadalupe River. The court approved the acquisition using Proposition A funds and set the purchase formula at $35,000 per acre plus $400,000 to cover two structures on the property; the figure yields an approximate purchase total of $11,250,000 subject to final acreage from a forthcoming survey.

The vote followed two public hearings in which the county’s Prop A committee and staff presented the proposal and an appraisal. County land manager Michael Busby told the court the property had been appraised at $1,250,000 and that the committee recommended the negotiated purchase—conditional on final survey results and an escrow holdback of $60,000 to ensure the seller completes agreed demolition and improvements. Wanda McCarthy, a Prop A committee member, told the court the parcel aligns with voter priorities to protect watershed resources and preserve rural character.

Commissioners said the parcel will offer recreational river access and conservation benefits. Commissioner comments cited the parcel’s proximity to Kitsburg Canyon and the potential for public river use; the county’s parks director will finalize programming and access plans after the sale closes. The court’s motion included contingencies requiring an amended sales contract that satisfies general counsel and the court, and it authorized staff to complete due diligence, including a survey and environmental review during the option period.

The county judge and staff emphasized the purchase remains contingent on the final survey and standard due‑diligence steps. The exact per‑acre total and overall purchase price will be adjusted if the final acreage differs from the preliminary estimate. After questions from commissioners about environmental review and cost controls, the court voted 5–0 to approve the purchase motion with the stated contingencies. The court also approved smaller conservation easement purchases on nearby tracts recommended by the Prop A committee during the same meeting.

Procedural next steps: the county will finalize the amended sale contract, complete the survey and escrow arrangements specified by staff, and return any finalized documents for signature as required. The property will be folded into the county’s parks planning and Prop A implementation work once the transaction closes.