Property Description:
This is a unique investment/development opportunity with a recreational ranch/retreat component located just outside the idyllic community of Montalba in Anderson County. It is only a 1½ hours east of Dallas and 45 minutes from Tyler.
Pine Mountain Ranch was originally developed as a gated shared ranch community, currently 17 lots having been sold (and over half have been developed with nice new homes). The Seller of the ranch bought the remaining 180 acres of undeveloped land and common area, which includes all of the lakes which total approximately 20 acres with excellent fishing, and the original lodge/clubhouse and swimming pool with majestic views for more than 20 miles from atop the “mountain.”
Improvements:
The lodge is a wonderful custom designed four bedroom / two bath / two-story log house with metal roof totals approximately 5,000 sf with a large porch and high ceilings, overlooking the pool and majestic view for more than 20 miles from atop the “mountain.” The lodge has a great open floor plan for entertaining large and small groups with multiple adult games (pool, shuffleboard, foosball, and card tables). There is an open kitchen as well as multiple siting areas and a large stone fireplace to encourage conversations and deepening friendships.
The kitchen has a center island, plenty of storage and a bar overlooking the sitting area and fireplace. The floors in the common areas and downstairs bedrooms are stained concrete with the upstairs flooring is wood. Two bedrooms and bathrooms are up and two are down.
Utilities are buried throughout the ranch, enhancing the views and enjoyment of the ranch. Coop water and well water (there is a well house at the lodge and several wells in the pastures) and Trinity Valley provides the electric. Telephone lines are also buried. The owner of each lot is responsible for securing individual aerobic septic systems and propane gas.
The property is perimeter fenced and cross fenced for livestock.
Nine homes have been built on the 17 lots which have been sold, with each owner paying an HOA fee for the maintenance of the roads, fences, and trash. These rules and regulations are available upon request.
Location:
The physical address is 891 PR 8453, Montalba, Anderson County, Texas, just east of FM 19. Montalba is a small community with several stores, shops, and a post office. The towns of Palestine and Athens are only 10 miles to the south and 20 miles to the north, respectively. Those towns offer all the necessary services with numerous revitalized shops, stores, restaurants, and grocery stores.
Road/Frontage Access:
The ranch totals 180 +/- acres is located on the east side of CR 453, with approximately 3,000 feet of frontage and south side of CR 450 with approximately 2,500 feet of frontage. The overall shape of the entire ranch is somewhat rectangular, but 17 lots averaging +/- 2 acres have already been sold to individuals and are not included, leaving the remainder property somewhat non-contiguous. The attractive entrance to the ranch is landscaped with a metal signage over the road and accessed via a code entry gate off the paved county road. Primary access to the numerous houses and property is via a gravel interior road (maintained by an HOA) with supplemented trails and paths throughout the property.
Though the property is outside any city and has an existing site plan with 17 lots having been sold, we were told that the property has never been platted and that the remainder of the ranch can be redesigned (add or subtract the number of lots to be sold.)
Land:
This ranch is located in the Northeast Texas known for as the Piney Woods and primarily in a pine forest with rolling sandy soil hills with open areas that have been cleared, there are native and Bermuda grasses. This particular ranch has some of the highest elevations in the area with magnificent long views. The variety of terrain, vegetation and water provides abundant habitat for native wildlife. There are a couple grazing pastures producing fine grass for horses and/or livestock. The majority of the property has an agricultural exemption.
Water:
The property has two large private lakes; Emerald Lake totals approximately10 acres and the 2nd largest lake totals just under 3 acres. Both of these lakes have excellent fishing and boat docks. Both are overlooked by several houses and lots. The Seller believes the lakes are primarily filled by runoff water, but also spring fed. There are several lakes just inside the entry and just off the entry drive within the pasture area as well. it is notable that all of the lakes and their shoreline are part of the 180 acres and entirely owned by the Seller.
Community water provides service to all of the existing homes and lots on the property. And there are several water wells providing water for the livestock in the pastures
Terrain/Topography:
The terrain of this property is typical of Northeast Texas with generally flat pasture along either side of the entry drive in the western portion of the property and becoming rolling and then up to a mountain ridge to the east in the midst of a variety of pine trees and some hardwoods (various oak, elm, pecan) and brush, making wonderful habitat for livestock and wildlife. The long views of the area from the ridges are spectacular.
Recreation/Hunting:
Typical Texas wildlife lives on the ranch: deer, turkey, pig, dove, and more. The terrain and vegetation provide for an abundance of suitable habitat for wildlife of all types. The fishing in the lake is excellent for bass, crappie, perch, and catfish.