Phase I Development Plan

Phase I of the Development Plan for Land Heritage Institute is to develop existing resources on site to be able to begin providing programs and opportunities for the public consistent with our stated mission. Initially, three of the seven programmatic areas will be developed. The Presnall Watson Living History Museum - Restoration of the Presnall Watson Ranch Complex into a Living History Museum that illustrates farm and ranch life in South Texas at the turn of the 19th century. This complex includes a home and outbuildings that date back to the 1840's. The building will house an interpretive center and place to educate studuents and the public about how life was during this time period. The LHI Equestrian Center - The equestrian activities will utilize an existing dairy barn structure on a 240 acre portion of the site that is suitable for equestrian activities. And finally, the South Texas Nature Reserve. This activity will be centered around an existing quonset hut barn structure located in the center of the property that will serve as a classroom, interpretive center and trail head for birdwatching, hiking, camping and other nature oriented activities.

Presnall Watson Living History Farm Museum

The Ranch Complex includes several barn structures that date back to an era when all the farm and ranch work was done with the assistance of horses and mules. The Living History Museum would maintain farm and ranch domestic animals such as chickens, cows, goats, horses and mules, to interpret what life on a farm in Texas at the turn of the century was like. The public will be invited to participate and learn how farms and ranches of this era were operated and maintained. The story of the Presnall and Watson Family History will be told through the restoration of the large two story house. This building will also serve as the temporary headquarters of the Land Heritage Institute

LHI Equestrian Center

Horses and mules have been an integral part of our nation's and state's history as well as the history of the Native American people that originally inhabited this area. Part of the mission of LHI will be to make available opportunities for both the horse owning and non horse owning public to have a place to ride and train horses or mules on the property. Bridle trails will be established and maintained for public use. Fees for use will be pro rated on a membership and non membership basis.

South Texas Nature Reserve/Caminos Naturales

An existing barn located at the geographic center of the property will be renovated to provide a new classroom space, meeting room, office and interpretive center for the South Texas Nature Reserve and the Caminos Naturales Trail System. This location will serve as the starting point for a series of hiking trails that would extend through the prototypical south Texas brush country property and along the three miles of river bottom. Permanent wildlife and bird watching stations will be developed and maintained along the trail system to allow the public easy access to the great variety of both flora and fauna that is currently thriving on the site. Overnight primitive camping will be provided and managed from this area as well.

Other Activiities

The American Indians of Texas and Tap Pilam/Coahuiletecan tribe will continue to use the facilities for tribal activities and programs. Texas A&M University and other universities will be offered the opportunity to continue pursuing anthropological and archeological studies within the section of property that has been designated as a Texas Archeological Site due to the many and varied discoveries that were uncovered during the ill fated "Applewhite Reservoir" construction. The public will be allowed to participate in programs that are geared to provide an education in how the "land and water" has been used and influence our culture and habits over the last 8,000 years and into the future.