The Owl Ranch in Kimble County carries a remarkable lineage shaped by exploration, service, and more than a century of Texas ranching. One of its earliest notable owners was Commander G. Keith Gordon (1850–1936), a retired British naval officer whose career spanned global maritime exploration and the suppression of the East African slave trade. Entering His Majesty’s service in 1865, Gordon spent nearly 17 years at sea, surveying more than 10,000 miles of coastline across the Red Sea, the East Coast of Africa, the Sea of Marmora, and the approaches to Constantinople—often under extreme conditions and, at times, in defiance of the Ottoman Sultan. After retiring from the Royal Navy in 1880, Gordon settled in Texas with his wife, Josephine Hodson Gordon, whose craftsmanship and cultural influence would later leave a lasting mark on the community. Together, they acquired land near Junction in Kimble County, where Gordon transitioned from naval command to ranch stewardship, laying the foundation for a family legacy that would endure for generations.
In 1896, Gordon’s only child, Ethel Mary Gordon, married Arthur Lyon Mudge (1863–1947) at Gordon Ranch, known as Owl Ranch. Arthur, a native of Devonshire, England, had immigrated to the United States in 1884 and arrived in Junction in 1887. The marriage united two enduring legacies—one rooted in global exploration and naval service, the other in early Texas ranching and land stewardship.
Arthur Mudge became one of the county’s respected early ranchers, purchasing Red Hollow Ranch in 1900, where he raised registered and commercial Hereford cattle for more than four decades, along with sheep, goats, horses, and farm crops. He was active in local business and civic life, including service as a director of the Junction State Bank.
Ethel Mudge played a significant role in shaping the cultural and spiritual life of early Junction. She was a charter member of Trinity Episcopal Church, a charter member of the Order of the Eastern Star (1909), and a charter member of the La Junta Study Club (1930). The family’s connection to Trinity Episcopal Church remains visible today: the church hangings were handcrafted by Ethel’s mother, Josephine Hodson Gordon, and the altar cross was later donated in Josephine’s memory.
Arthur and Ethel would go on to raise three children: Dorothy, Arthur Frederick Gordon (“Fred”), and Mary, anchoring the Gordon-Mudge lineage firmly in Kimble County. They were deeply engaged in community life during a time when early settlers created their own entertainment and social traditions. Known for their warm hospitality, the Mudges frequently hosted gatherings at Red Hollow Ranch, where games, conversation, and afternoon tea became cherished traditions. For four generations, families in the region enjoyed visits and social occasions at the ranch, reinforcing its role as a social and cultural cornerstone of early Kimble County.
Their son, Arthur Frederick “Fred” Mudge (1900–1971), was born at Red Hollow Ranch and carried the family’s ranching tradition forward throughout his life. Fred managed the ranch while also serving the community in numerous leadership roles, including school, hospital, agricultural, and church boards. His lifelong stewardship reinforced Red Hollow Ranch as a working, productive landscape and a cornerstone of Kimble County ranching.
Following Fred’s passing, the legacy of land stewardship continued through subsequent generations. Arthur (“Art”) and William (“Bill”) Mudge, Fred’s sons, inherited and operated Red Hollow Ranch in partnership. In 1984, they further expanded the family holdings by acquiring the adjoining ranch to the west—the historic Owl Ranch, formerly the Gordon Ranch—reuniting land originally held by their great-grandfather, Commander G. Keith Gordon. This acquisition brought the Gordon and Mudge histories full circle, restoring a physical and historical connection between the two families’ legacies.
Though portions of the original ranch have been divided over time, the land remains in the family, reflecting a rare continuity of ownership and stewardship that connects the present day to the pioneering spirit of the Gordon and Mudge families.
Hortenstine Ranch Company is proud to bring to the market a portion of this legacy property that is now available for purchase. The Owl Ranch is a 2,025± acre Hill Country property perched above the North Llano River featuring dramatic topography and sweeping views across three distinct ecosystems, with numerous premier building sites, mature hardwoods, strong native grasses, and miles of spring-fed creeks. Key highlights include nearly two miles of the spring-fed, near year-round North Creek, over a mile of seasonal Cedar Hollow Creek, and approximately 350± feet of elevation change, creating exceptional habitat diversity and striking scenery throughout. Located 9± miles west of Junction in western Kimble County, the ranch sits 65± miles northeast of Kerrville and Fredericksburg, 120± miles from San Antonio, and 150± miles from Austin. The main entrance is accessed from the Interstate 10 Frontage Road. Click to read more about this historic texas ranch for sale: Owl Ranch.
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