El Alto de La Mota

La Mota, meaning 'motte or grove", is named for the large mesquite trees growing on the low hill or alto where Mr. Hellen established his ranch headquarters on state land in 1895. This breezy elevated hill is thought to have been used as a resting place or descanso for the ox teams hauling salt between El Sal del Rey, to the south in present day Hidalgo County and the 18th century haciendas to the west, such as Los Ojuelos, Las Albercas and Las Animas. The oxen were typically fed mesquite beans and these trees probably originated from seeds passing through their digestive systems.

One of Mr. Hellen's wooden "Eclipse" windmills still turns in the breeze and his original chuck wagon stands fully equipped ready to feed the corrida. Both are true museum pieces.

Tools and equipment including artifacts from the Coahuiltecan Indian culture, the Spanish/Mexican colonial period, turn of the century to modern day cattle ranching are on display at the scenic head- quarters.

Las Lagunas

Lagunas (water holes) fed by arroyos and derramaderos (creeks and brushy drainage) were important landmarks on the prairies before the days of windmills and were indicated on several of the early maps of the ranch area. The early Tejano settlers located their first shallow norias de buque (hand dug water wells) in or near lagunas. Lagunas were the site of wild horse and cattle hunts from the earliest ranching days. As indicated by stone tools and artifacts, the Native Americans also used them as water sources for centuries before. Three lagunas of interest on La Mota Ranch are La Laguna de Los Mesteños, El Javali and Laguna de Los Muertos. Although usually dry, lagunas have a unique ecosystem and are excellent places to observe birds and other wildlife.

Gulf Coast Mesquite Savanna

The northern part of La Mota around the headquarters is an excellent example of the remnants of the vast grassland prairies that once existed in much of South Texas. At the end of the Civil War, the Llanos Mesteños teemed with huge herds of wild mustangs and longhorn cattle and is the recognized birthplace of the Old Chisolm Trail. As water wells were drilled and pastures fenced, livestock over grazed the most desirable grasses and brush invaded. The Hellen family continues to manage this problem by mechanical brush control and re-seeding areas to grasses.

Bird and Wildlife Watering and Observation Areas

In the interest of conservation and good management, while continuing our heritage of cattle ranching, La Mota Ranch has been cross fenced and divided into smaller pastures in order to graze the various units rotationally by season and pasture condition. In this way, the preferred grasses have time to recover after being grazed off by our cattle herds. Concrete water troughs connected to wells by pipelines crisscross the entire ranch, providing water to the cattle. At each one, separate wildlife watering have been provided exclusively for the use of birds and other wildlife. These "artificial springs" draw a great variety of species depending on the season and time of day. Camouflaged elevated tripods have been placed near these areas and are great locations for photography and observation in the early morning or late afternoon.

Border "Hill Country" of the Tamaulipan Thorn Desert

The southern and western pastures of La Mota Ranch are situated along the divisadero or escarpment dividing the sandy mesquite motte dotted savannas stretching to the Gulf of Mexico and the rolling, rocky hills of the "lower brush country" drained by the Rio Grande river. This region is dominated by unique and interesting plants such as chaparro prieto, huajillo, colima, ebano, guayacan, ocote and coma, mostly well armed, hardwood legumes. Unique cacti occur such as the visnaga (horse crippler) and the hallucinogenic peyote sought after for thousands of years up to the present by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes. These pastures are prime areas for the study of native plants used in traditional healing by herbalists and curanderos. At sunset, the Sierra Madres near Monterrey, Mexico can often be seen clearly in the distance.

El Randado Ranch and San Rafael Chapel

Adjoining La Mota Ranch on the southwest corner, is El Randado Ranch, formerly a large ranch and community dating from the late 18th century years of Spanish colonization. The 1830's San Rafael Chapel, the campo santo (ranch cemetery), La Presa and Norias de Buque (water sources), La Bodega (site of the ranch commissary and post office), and several other stone buildings are maintained by owners, Bernardo and Alma de la Garza. Bernardo, a great-great grandson of the founder, Hipolito Garcia, and Alma continue, to operate a purebred Beefmaster cow/calf herd on El Randado. The ranch is recognized as one of the longest continually operated family ranches in the nation.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee wrote of his stay at El Randado while touring the border before the Civil War and many well-known writers such as Tom Lea and J. Frank Dobie have written stories and poems about the old rancho. Texas author and poet, John Houghton Allen, wrote and published several short stories, novels and poems about El Randado.

Bernardo and Alma de la Garza have graciously conducted short tours with interpretive talks on the heritage of this beautiful historical treasure to coincide with La Mota Ranch tours in the past.

Nuevo Guerrero and Guerrero Viejo, Tamaulipas, Mexico

The small Mexican village of Nuevo Guerrero across from Falcon Dam, about 45 minutes from La Mota Ranch offers limited but typical Mexican dining and shopping. It is very quiet and friendly with an uncomplicated border crossing.

Guerrero Viejo located a few miles up river from Nuevo Guerrero, was one of the earliest Spanish settlements having been established in 1750 by colonizer José de Escandon as the settlement of Revilla. The beautiful colonial buildings were flooded when Falcon Dam was constructed in the early 1950s, but now are above the water level and are being restored with both private and Mexican government funding.

Contact the Capri Restaurant Hotel and Bar, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Rogelio Olivares, for information on local tours and shopping in Nuevo Guerrero. The Capri is located a block from the main street downtown. Directly dialed from the U. S., their phone number is 011-52-897-60043.

Note: Always determine what you are allowed to bring back from a Mexican shopping trip. There are limits on beer and liquor and no fruits or vegetables (avocados with the seed or pit removed at the grocery store are okay). Take no firearms or ammo into Mexico.