Texas ranch to be auctioned - Crawford Farms to be auctioned by J.P King Auction Co

Real Estate Weekly, May 27, 1992

Crawford Farms, the showplace Texas Ranch, with a mansion the size of a football field and a world class horse facility will be auctioned "Absolute"--regardless of price, with no minimum bid, no reserve--from the premises here on Thursday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m.

The auction is being conducted by The J.P. King Auction Company. In March, J.P. King sold the internationally famous thoroughbred legend, Calumet Farms in Lexington, Kentucky.

Crawford Farms was built by Don Crawford over a dozen years ago. In addition to the mansion, there is a 65,000 square foot indoor horse arena with a skybox saloon that seats 100 and an exotic wildlife preserve.

Crawford has used the Texas Ranch to host the heads of corporations, royalty, and visiting dignitaries. He said that Crawford Farms functions in several roles--as a corporate retreat, resort or home.

The auction is scheduled to be held in Cutter's Cantina, which is part of the elaborate cutting horse arena. It has been home to the Master's World Cutting Horse Champions. A certified check for $250,000 is required to bid. Crawford will also provide excellent financing to any qualified bidder. An admission fee of $25 to attend the auction will be donated to charity.

Immediately following the auction of Crawford Farms, J.P. King will hold a separate auction of Don Crawford's collection of 18 rare Belgian-made Browning superposed over and under guns.

The ranch has thousands of features, including: 3,000 acres of land including seven miles of paved road

* Spanish-style hacienda main house with 40-foot ceilings, lagoon swimming pool and four-story observation tower with gaming table. he 65,000-square-foot facility includes the Cutter's Cantina 100-seat lounge with 42-foot bar and bleacher seating for 3,600(*) A total of 129 stalls with running water, individual heaters and ceiling fans, including 41 horse stalls in the arena and 60 in the mare barn

* The versatility to raise thoroughbred or Arabian horses, cattle and other livestock.

* A first class, fully-lighted skeet range and club including 18 skeet guns

* 1,200-acre game preserve stocked with exotic game such as is, fallow and sika deer, elk and European red stag. Also includes turkeys, javelina and the most trophy deer per acre in North America

* Two trophy bass lakes and two catfish lakes. The total seven miles of water frontage includes the Nueces River on three sides and Espantosa Creek

* A 1,000 acre state-of-the-art underground irrigation system

* Six 3-bedroom guest houses and numerous suites and staff quarters.

Bidders interested in Crawford Farms, mineral rights to the land and Mr. Crawford's gun collection need to call William Bone at (212) 230-2121. For a brochure on the property to be auctioned, call The J.P. King Auction Company, 1-800-358-KING.