Herff Farm
Before
After
In Central Texas, large farmsteads are threatened by encroaching development and a lack of family members able to carry on the tradition. Located near Boerne, the Herff Farm is an excellent example of the original farmsteads that were founded in the Texas Hill Country by German immigrants.
In 1852, Dr. Ferdinand Herff (1820-1912) acquired large tracts of land on at the confluence of Menger and Cibolo Creeks. Eventually, the farmstead grew to be 10,000-acres. Dr. Herff, a physician based in San Antonio, maintained the farm as a summer home until 1894, when his son, Charles, moved from San Antonio to manage the property until the early 1920s. In 1935, George and Erma Rozelle purchased 68 acres from Charles Herff’s son. The property was last occupied in the mid-1980s. The family home, a two-story, limestone structure built in 1883, remains intact along with agricultural and domestic structures.
UPDATE: In 2007, the Cibolo Center for Conservation purchased the farm, which today serves as a vibrant hub that expands access to nature and nature education. A thriving model for conversation, land stewardship and outdoor learning, the Herff Farm is home to the Nest Nature School and offers space for special events and exhibits, nature trails, sustainable living education programs, community gardens, and the weekly Farmer’s Market.
ADDRESS: 33 Herff Rd, Boerne (Kendall County)
DESIGNATION: NRHP District
OWNER: Cibolo Center for Conservation
CONDITION: Saved!
RESOURCE TYPE: Cultural Landscape
YEAR LISTED: 2010
HONOR AWARD: 2016
