Tucked away on our family’s ranch are two cabins with a history that traces back to the golden era of American road trips. Originally part of the El Rancho Motel in Uvalde, Texas, these cabins once stood along old Highway 90, offering travelers a cozy rest stop as they journeyed across the state. In the early 1900s, as automobiles became more accessible, motels like El Rancho started popping up along major highways, catering to families and solo adventurers alike. These “motor hotels” featured individual cabins, each with a small living space and a carport on the side—designed for those making brief overnight stops.
In 1999, my grandparents were driving out to visit the ranch when they passed by El Rancho and spotted a “for sale” sign. As fate would have it, the motel was selling its cabins, and my grandmother famously told my grandfather, “Turn this car around; I need to buy one of those!” Which, if you know Nana, is something she still says to this day! Naturally, they purchased two cabins and had them moved to the ranch to be used as guest accommodations. Along with the cabins, they also bought the original El Rancho Motel sign. Unfortunately, a tree fell and destroyed the sign shortly after it was put up—a small tragedy for our slice of Texas history.
For years, these cabins served as a place for friends and family to stay when visiting our ranch. Quaint and rustic, each cabin housed just enough space for a queen bed, a small kitchen with a stove and fridge, and a tiny bathroom. They became a familiar part of our ranch’s landscape, offering not only a place to rest but a nostalgic charm.
When the cabins weren’t occupied by guests, my cousins and I often used them as a playground for our imagination. We’d play “house,” pretending we lived there, sometimes sneaking flour and sugar from our grandparent’s pantry to “bake” our own creations in the tiny kitchens—much to our Nana’s dismay!
In 2020, after decades of use, a tree fell on one of the cabins where the carport once was. The cabins were due for a much-needed renovation anyways, so my grandparents took this as a sign to do some updates (and remove those pesky trees that kept falling). Plus, with our family expanding, the small one-room spaces just weren’t enough anymore. We decided we would preserve as much of the cabins as we could, while making them more functional for modern guests.
The first cabin was kept as close to its original size as possible, with a slight expansion to the bathroom, updated kitchen counters and appliances, and adding a porch swing to where the carport once was. The second cabin underwent a larger renovation. We enclosed the destroyed carport to build a bedroom, added a spacious kitchenette and a living room. Despite these updates, we were able to maintain the original floors in both cabins, only adding new flooring to the expanded areas.
Today, we still use these cabins to accommodate friends and family. But now we are proud to offer these cabins to visitors seeking a true piece of Texas history. Whether you’re hiking, stargazing, or just looking for a quiet retreat, our cabins invite you to experience the charm of a bygone era. Explore our cabin listings for availability and more information, and come stay where history and hospitality meet.
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