On an adventurous guided tour!
Search
Roberts Ranch Biographies
Location
Team Leaders and Qualifications
MaryAshley McGibbon, Roberts Ranch Operations Director | maryashleym@ymcasatx.org
MaryAshley grew up in the Texas Hill Country and is passionate about connecting people to the natural world. She started her full time career with the Y as the Equestrian Director at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow over a decade ago and has enjoyed many connections and experiences at Roberts Ranch throughout that time. Seeing the ranch reach its full potential to welcome children, families, volunteers, hunters, hikers, researchers, and the local community is her dream. MaryAshley has a Master's of Animal Science from Sul Ross State University and enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and camping with her family.
Julia Cassill, Roberts Ranch Outdoor Education Director | juliac@ymcasatx.org
Julia is excited to join the YMCA Roberts Ranch team and take this next step in her Y career. She graduated from the McCombs Schools of Business at the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Finance and a minor in Management Information Systems and then worked at YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow as the Summer Camp Program Director for 6 years. She found her passion for the outdoors as a camper and counselor at Camp Flaming Arrow and can't wait to share that passion with new families and members at the Ranch. She is excited to hike the many trails that Robert Ranch has to offer, continue to grow the outdoor education program and help introduce the community to the Texas Hill Country!
Roberts Ranch History
Location
Historical Background
Roberts Ranch was most likely a railroad land patent in 1881. Fred Allerkamp was the original owner of part of the ranch acreage and his son, Richard Allerkamp, became
their to the ranch in 1890. He continued to operate the
ranch until he sold 1, 017 acres to Louis Lich in 1911 a $2.65 an acre. In 1961 Linch sold to the next owners, Herman Swan and Zlowell Renfrom of Abilene, Texas. It became the Roberts’ ranch in 1964.
Civil War Connection
Legend has it that the men involved in the history of the Battle of the Nueces gathered in the hills, at the Big Rock - also known as the Free Thinkers Rock - along the North Fork of Cypress Creek, to plan a strategy. This rock is located just a mile from the gate entrance on Roberts Ranch Road. Legend indicates that is was once also the “hiding place” for a man wanted for treason.
Contact Us
Location
YMCA Roberts Ranch
Address: 550 Roberts Ranch Rd
Comfort TX, 78013
Email: robertsranch@ymcasatx.org
Office Hours: Appointment Only
From Comfort/Boerne/San Antonio:
Take HWY 10 West past Comfort to Exit 520, turn right at the stop sign onto Farm Road 1341.
At 1.5 miles, turn right on Hassenwinkle Road. Go 5.1 miles (uphill).
Gate is on the left - small sign off the road reads: YMCA.
From Kerrville:
Take HWY 10 East to Exit 520; turn left at the stop sign onto Farm Road 1341/ Cypress Creek Rd. At 1.5 miles, turn right on
Hassenwinkle Road. Go 5.1 miles (uphill).
Gate is on the left - small sign off the road reads: YMCA.
(Use Google or other Maps Apps with caution as these use the address 1111 Center Point Road or Roberts Ranch Road even
though the gate is on Hassenwinkle. Be sure and check with these directions before you embark. Do not take hwy 87!)
Roberts Ranch Tours
Location
Come Explore
The Roberts Ranch Tour is open to the public for guided tours only. Each tour is led by a volunteer certified Guide with assistance from trained Docents and YMCA Staff.
Public and group tours are available to ages 7 and up only.
Chaperones are required for ages 7-17
• Ages 7-10, one adult for every child,
• Ages 11-15, one adult for every three children
• Ages 16-17, one adult for every five teens.
No pets are allowed. No rock or fossil collecting is allowed on Ranch tours.
Walking the ranch trails can be physically demanding, and is not recommended for people with heart conditions, bad knees, ankles or in poor physical health.
Restrooms are located at the ranch gate parking lot and, halfway on the tour and at the ranch pavilion.
Good walking shoes and bottled water are required. Everyone is encouraged to bring a backpack so that their hands will be free.
Types of Tours Available
Public Tours:
On this 3 hour tour (9 am to 12 pm) of you will journey into the hill country’s rich history as you travel to Freethinkers Rock, walk along Turkey Bottom Creek, and explore the rich Cultural Resources of Roberts Ranch. You may also see White Tail and Axis deer.
Aoudads, birds, and armadillos!
We meet at the Roberts Ranch gate at 9 am and drive down a scenic ranch road, stopping along the way at points of interest. We will finish the tour at the Education Pavilion, where you are welcome to bring your picnic lunch. Private tours by arrangement
-
Cost:
-
$10 per person Friends of Roberts Ranch, YMCA Members. Children and youth under 18 are free.
-
$12 per person non-members. Children and youth under 18 are free.
-
-
Dates: TBD. Please check back!
Hiking:
On these 4 hour Hikes at Roberts Ranch, you will meet with local experts spend time hiking up ridges, down creeks, through riparian regions, and hill country ecosystems.
We will meet at the Roberts Ranch gate, drive personal vehicles (or catch a ride in our ATV), to the Education Pavilion. Hikes will start and end at the Pavillion. There are two levels of hikes. One is an easy-moderate hike, the second level hike is moderate to strenuous with a few rocky ups and downs.
Closed-toe shoes, hats, snacks, and water are needed. No children under 7 on the second level hike.
-
Cost:
-
$20 per person, Friends of Roberts Ranch, YMCA members. Children and youth under 18 are free.
-
$25 per person, non-members. Children and youth are free.
-
-
Dates: TBD. Please check back!
Youth Field Days
Designed for school groups, afterschool and summer programs, clubs, and youth groups. On these 4 - 6 hour field days your group will meet the Roberts Ranch gate and begin your journey through Hill Country History and focus on the environment curriculum of your choice. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, hats, and your lunch are needed.
-
Cost: $3 per person, a group size of 20 preferred, (scholarships are available)
-
Dates: By mutual agreement.
General Tour Information
- Your tour guide and docent(s) will be there 30 minutes before the start time of the tour. You may call them the day of the tour if you are running late or need additional information. Please let your Guide know if you are unable to attend so no follow-up call is needed. We will not be able to refund or reschedule you if you arrive later than the agreed time.
- Your 3-hour educational, tour through Roberts Ranch will highlight the "Texas Hill Country History, Geology, and Archeology”. We will meet you at ranch road gate parking lot where you will be shuttled to the tour start location. Please follow the directions to Roberts given below to reach the front gate parking lot.
Roberts Ranch address: 550 Roberts Ranch Road, Comfort, Texas 78013
From San Antonio: Take HWY 10 West to Exit 520, turn right at the stop sign onto Farm Road 1341. At 1.5 miles,
turn right on Hassenwinkle Road. Go 5.1 miles (uphill). Gate is on the left - large sign off the road reads YMCA Roberts Ranch.
- All tour participants will need to have a Liability Release. Please bring it with you. If unable to print the form, your guide will provide one prior to the start of the tour. Parent or guardian who is authorized to sign the waiver must sign for those under the age of 18 years old.
- Tour participants must wear appropriate footwear - sneakers, hiking boots, etc. - no slick-soled shoes or sandals. Your shoes will likely get muddy. If you are comfortable using a walking stick, you are certainly welcome to use it.
- Tour participants must bring at least one bottle of water. Snacks and cameras are a good idea but should be carried in a backpack of some type so that your hands remain free. During the summer months, you may want to wear a hat and sunscreen and the winter months you may want to dress in layers.
- No rock or fossil collecting and no pets allowed on Roberts Ranch Tours - no exceptions. No refunds for no-shows.
- In the event of rain, we may need to cancel the tour. We will make that decision two hours prior to the start of your tour and your guide will call you. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE PROVIDED US A USEFUL PHONE NUMBER WHEN YOU REGISTERED. Let's just hope for a Gorgeous day! We will provide rescheduling options.
- Local accommodations: If you are from out of town, we have some great places to stay right here in Comfort.
- One last reminder - if you have any health concerns such as bad knees, ankles, a heart condition, or get easily winded, you may want to rethink this tour. It is physically demanding. In addition, it gets hot on the Ranch very quickly during sunny warm days, so please make sure you are well hydrated before the tour.
All guides and docents are volunteers!
If you have any questions, you can call or email office personnel at robertsranch@ymcasatx.org Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
You will also be sent a reminder email seven days prior to your tour.
Herff Elementary
HOW TO REGISTER
Please register online or in person at your local Y.
YMCA members and non-members are welcome to enroll. Enrollment is open to any child, ages 5-13 years old who is a student of the school/district in which the site is located.
Esperanza Blvd
Boerne, TX 78006
United States
Tennis Lessons
The Y has been “serving up” the best tennis in San Antonio. Our goal is to make your experience fun and rewarding by welcoming both new and long-time players into our program. Our experienced, friendly staff will assist you in finding the right program or activity that is best for you. Once involved, you’ll meet many new players and make new friends.