I Mapped my ENTIRE Resort for You!!! 

This series really shows the importance of a good-quality roof

Matt, speaking for every pilot out there, if you would carve a 2,500x75ft swatch of land in this property like what you did for your shooting range and turn it into Desperado Airstrip, you would have pilots coming from ALL OVER the state and beyond to come stay at this place. There is a surprising lack of setups like that in central Texas.

That building you want to use as office's and employees that is what it was exactly what is was. The burnt out building the terrace that has the 5 steps and is 2 levels I built that terrace. The little rock walls around the perimeter of that terrace and separate the 2 levels and also around the a/c unites. That rock used I harvested that rock from a spot on the ranch. You should also know that the entire ranch is on a commercial septic system that is down the hill from river view. There are sprinkler heads down in the bottom by the river that will come on when the pump tank gets full. You should take caution when driving down there as you do not want to damage those sprinkler heads because you will need that commercial septic system once you get the ranch uup and running. FYI I am the person that installed that septic system and almost all building's on the ranch are on that septic system.

You need to call Ed the Pond Professor from Aquascape. He can come turn your pond into an amazing clear swimming pond with fish. They have some amazingly creative water feature contractors that could transform your property.

Hey matt, on some of the woody sections. You should do some RV related stay rentals. You can do daily, weekly, and monthly stay. That can offset your monthly costs of the property. You can set up water, electric, internet, and laundry rooms. Just a thought

This property looks like a lifetime project. I respect the commitment and looking forward to see it improve over the years.

Hey Matt! You should reach out to your local fire department to see if they want to use any of the buildings you’re going to bulldoze as acquired structures. It’s a great training opportunity! I know up North this is pretty common but I’m sure those brothers would love it!

I love the idea of little cabins in the woods so couples or groups of friends can have privacy.

Matt has already done so much work out there. 20 years ago I got to eat and ride horses there and it was a cool place. Glad to see it come back to life with a good owner.

The project looks more organized with each video and this is promising to be another epic series. Thank you for having the courage to undertake what would surely overwhelm many other creators, and for providing this form of entertainment. By the way, dragonflies are an indicator of a healthy environment, and the pond is an important contributor to this.

Matt is really living a dream. From renovating a mansion to a resort! What’s next, your own town??! I see the vision bro keep doing what u doing it’s incredible!

The pond definitely needs a bubbler or fountain ran through a filter system to keep the pond from stagnating or breeding mosquitoes.

There are DJI compatible apps that will allow you to create orthomosaic/topographic maps of large areas of land. Drone Deploy is a good option that allows you to choose resolution, shows flight paths, and battery swap estimates. The Boondock Saints homage was great. 👍🏼

This project seems so overwhelming. You can tell how beautiful it once was. I’m buckled in for the ride.

For your rifle range 2 suggestions. 1) slug plates with flashers. maybe they are not called slug plates but for our 3 gun comps we put these really large rectangle steel plates out to 200 and 500 yards. With the flasher, every time you hit it, the flasher flashes. Very helpful to spot hits. #2) have rifle targets at least to 1000 yards. More if you can. why not? and with super far targets have a camera with a feed available to the shooter. 1st class!

Group rentals sound like a wonderful idea, the only way our family really goes on vacation is with other people, and having all the rooms connect sounds super fun!

Hey Matt, hot take here Disc Golf is a growing sport and there is an established professional scene. This would be a great area to possibly make a world class course or courses. An elite tournament can consist of multiple rounds of 18 holes. with this much land you could make for a killer weekend tournament. With places to stay on the resort they wouldn't have to travel to hotels or air bnb places to stay.

Just a thought. If the stonework doesn’t work out on the main building; turn the rock into a wicked floor. It’s still the foundation and a pretty cool momento too

OMG the Boondock Saints bit was just genius. I yelled "AND THERE WAS A FIREFIGHT!" right along with you. Love seeing your updates on the resort, sorry about your chickens.

I fell over laughing at the Boondocks Saints reference! That was awesome. You really got your hands full, but I can totally see what it is to become. And for all the demo and building you have to do, I think you got a good start. I'd say a good deal but I don't know the $ your into. I'm super excited to see it transform and my boys and I have always watched both your channels. But my parents, specially mom, love renovation shows and I got them all in on watching. So bring on the bling and window dressing, you've got 3 generations geared up to go through it along with you. Thanks for all your energy and everything you put out into the world. So rare these days and the world needs more.

The gun range will be a unique facility to have at a resort. You might want to consider installing a combination trap/skeet layout. I think you would find it well used and enjoyed by guests.

Hi Matt, I love watching the videos about your resort. I am from Germany and I work in the building industry as a building physicist. I am shocked about the quality of the buildings😂. Good luck and keep up the good work. Best wishes from Germany

What an amazing place! Can't wait to see what you guys do design-wise with these buildings. Smart about keeping the two existing pools. I think people will appreciate that you've kept some of the vintage relics of the place.

I think the best part about this is yet to be mentioned in video or comment section. Yes this resort is massive, yes it’s going to be a lifelong project. But guys… you’re forgetting about the children that are going to take over. Matt, I speak from the very depths of my heart when I say you are the best father I’ve ever seen. My dad wasn’t Great to anyone, and having you’re fatherly instincts. Fatherly knowledge sharing lol, just everything you do I really want to take a moment and say thank you for all that you do.

Demo, Cleetus, Atwood, and Sparks has already proven to be the best combo of youtubers/families to date. Would 10/10 enjoy seeing them together again soon.

Het Matt, I think the idea of making one big house for multiple couples/families to rent together is a great idea. I know many people do this with AirBnB already.

What a beautiful place. You do such an amazing job telling your viewers the details of what's in your mind. Keeping everyone interested into what's coming next. CANT WAIT TO SEE THE FINAL OUTCOME!!!!!! My husband and I enjoy watching your shows togther. I'm not much of a TV person but your ideas are inspiring and we look forward to sharing tv being inspired by your dreams. Oh did I mention...... can't wait to see the final results.

This is going to be amazing! I think that it's great that Mere stands behind you in all of your endeavors, no matter how crazy they seem or how much work is involved to make your dreams come true. FWIW, I own a landscaping and irrigation company in Houston and would love to come help out with the beautification outside of the event center or one of the other buildings. Just let me know.

Every time I see a drone shot of the tall stone ruins - (the burned down building) I envision it as a fantastic setting for an outdoor restaurant. Tables set in the center of all those stone walls, in my imagination, it looks like it would be fantastic to be sitting inside at sunset! With lots of candle lit type lighting, of coarse. And obviously, call the restaurant: "The Ruins".

The pond looks great Matt. Was excited to see the progress. This place looks more and more amazing every single time.

Joey seems like a cool dude. hopefully we get to meet him in the future.

Matt always giving us the perfect mix of practicality and comedy

Two ideas. With the size of the property it would be awesome to have a golf cart rental or have it included with the room rental. If you do a group building it would be good for weddings. You can use the group house for bridesmaids or whatever. Might want that in close proximity to the hall

Idea for the multifamily rental (River View); it can be a wedding block package for the in-laws/extended family who come in for the wedding, built out that seating area at the back with a fire pit and patio to gather, maybe even adding a hot tub (the bride and groom can be over by the 3-storey buildings with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

Having a gift shop seems like a no-brainer. You could sell desperado shirts, cool cowboy hats, laser engraved pocket knives, laser cut steel horns with the desperado logo, 50 cal BMGs, the standard gift shop items.

Dude, you should make bandanna maps of the Desperado Resort and sell them on Bunker Branding. Then at different stages, release an updated versions of the bandanna map. That way the people who have followed along from the beginning can have something that shows the progression.

Im a long haul trucker and when i go through Bourne i get a smile on my face when i see Bunker Branding. Matt's videos are a fixture in my home. When i get home, My daughter and I chill out and binge watch all of the offtheranch.

I've see this idea done before on an old stone building. Build a new steel building on the inside of the stone walls, using the stone as aesthetics only. So new steel structure with stone aesthetic. Tuckpoint and repair the stone as needed for stability. Check out the Lora hotel in Stillwater, MN as an example, old brewery turned into a luxury hotel.

I could see lots of corporate training and team building events happening there, as well as family reunions, weddings etc. It's an amazing property!

Your “burnt down building” idea is definitely a winner 🤓❤️👍 and the group house is a great idea!

I've been a casual viewer of this channel for years but this series has me watching every video. A great opportunity to watch the development of a very interesting project.

A new RV park with hookups would be ideal in one of the closer wooded areas with 50 To 100 rv spaces spread out and you could put the new pool there with a clubhouse for longer term visitors that could stay up to 90 days at a time. Think about the no upkeep on cabins for 50-100 rentals. Coin laundry facility. Clubhouse and pool. $50 a nite $300 week or $1000 a month it would more than cover your mortgage and expenses on its own. Also it a fast development with minimal contractors and design.

In regards to the multi family rental idea, look at Reunion Resort outside of Orlando, Florida. It's pretty much a neighborhood with a Waterpark and golf course that you rent out whole houses. We rent one every summer with 4 more families... game room is clutch.

Itd really be a full circle moment if Joey was watching right now and dying of laughter 😂

Thank you, Matt. Definitely helps us get the lay of the land. You've got yourself quite a project. But, one thing at a time! We'll be watching y'all for years! Yippie! Also, love the Boondock Saints reference!

Thanks for taking us along on this project, Matt. That stones still standing burned out building IS epic, and is going to be even more epic. It'll be like a unique trademark for the whole resort. Your joie de vivre is contagious.

Every winter, my wife's family rents houses that have to hold up to 40 people. It's my MIL and her 2 sister's whole families, I think 8 families all in one house...something like this would be perfect for other families that do similar things. I hope I can convince them to come stay one year once you guys are up and running!

Y’all should do ATV trails. And I would totally rent out the building with my family if there is a center living quarters for everyone to come together in.

I’m sure someone has suggested this already but you could do some circular clearings in the trees for group tent camping sites around a fire pit or something. Super pumped to see all the progress !

Epic! Now, PLEASE get someone to draw a cool map with fun illustrations of what was and what will be. The Airstream by the river. The old ballroom. The new Range. The zip lines. Go for it! I would buy one, even if I never get there.

I think you should name the truck something like Tony. Like go get Tony to take the trailer up to the job site. You know Tony always makes it to work but then he just sits there all day!!! 😂 Enjoying the process of getting this cool property back into shape.

The pond looks great Matt. Was excited to see the progress

You and your family ROCK BUD!

Its such a magical place despite the neglect. Love the burnt stone mansion it reminds me of the many abandoned castles in Scotland. Lots of them have had simple wooden stairways, bridges and platforms built through them so you get a feel for the original layout, open plan. Wicked job on the pond so good to see the wildlife enjoying it. Well done guys and thanks for sharing this epic adventure!

ALL the buildings are interesting. Show us the rest of them!!

This entire video is awesome and incredible. Thank you for showing and explaining it all!!

This video was definetely needed. Now that I've seen the birds eye view and the plan from Matt, I am really excited to see the work over the next few years. If you ever need any help with piping or valves let me know. Kinda my thing.

You’re getting a lot of work done behind the scenes. These abandoned projects are why I subbed to this channel. I sub to other D Ranch channels for their intended purposes as well. Stay strong and diligent and pray a lot. It’ll be fine.

Thanks Matt! This really clarifies the layout. Lots of potential, I agree with the grass landing strip and multifamily lodge. You have so many RU-vidr big shot friends that would really like that. Also, find a spot to have so rv hookups and even primitave camping with showers and all near the river.

Thanks Matt for doing this for us. The pond is looking great! You did good work on this.

Matt “it was operating as a resort, a successful one!” Also Matt “Finds paper saying they lost millions a year”

Having both individual and group cabins is going to make your Resort even more awesome. I am very sorry you lost your chickens, but at least some of the feeders get to be recycled. The pond is looking cool as hell, maybe a paddle boat or 2 for the children - I always wanted to put one of those two stroke bicycle engine kit things on one so you could be lazy and ride around easily. Either way, your Resort is looking like it is progressing very nicely and faster than I had imagined it would. Congratulations on that!. Yeah I'm a nobody, but it is still fun to watch your videos.

Always knew it would all make sense eventually, but this was a great way of making it all make sense before it’s done. Video’s well done! 👍

Camp sites for RV’s and my husband and I will totally be there. Also be dog friendly 😊

Really enjoying the progress on the ranch. RV hookups would be a sweet addition, water and power. Would be a great option for travelers.

My days get better every time you post a video. 34 minutes of smiling. Thank you Matt

It’s so inspiring to see how far you’ve come. Used to watch every one of your videos but life and health get in the way and you forget. Last I heard a resort was only a plan on a whiteboard. Congrats

I absolutely cannot wait to visit this place with my family and future kids! Matt you’ve done so much work already and I’m so excited to see how it turns out!!!

Very cool to see the whole layout. Now you just need to make an actual detailed map with contour lines! As I am originally from San Antonio, I decided to try to find it on google maps. I just started at 281 and followed the Guadalupe west till I found it. And low and behold, google maps already has it listed under its new names! That was quick! Hope I get to visit there someday!

My family has a family reunion every 3 years with 50-80 people and we always go to these resort style areas and rent a bunch of cabins for each family. I am for sure making sure that we have it at Desperado once Matt gets this place up and going and has all of the cabins cleaned up.

Looking forward to all the videos to come wish you & the family & friends the best in the new journey.

Can’t wait to go stay out there when it’s open! Will be a good boys trip!

Keep the 4 unit building as a 4 unit building. Reno costs will be cheaper to keep the same layouts but update what needs fixing. Also, you will limit the time it is fully booked if it has just one purpose. You could offer discounts on duplex and have shared gardens for each side. Private balcony per room. Imo its better/cheaper to build a purpose built building for groups than make that fit.

I would totally have my wedding here once you are done. I really hope you can keep the old stone in the new building. Doing great and looking alot cleaner. 👌

WOW!!!! Very cool. Thanks for sharing. Your place will be awesome!!!!! Very happy for you.

Looks great! Thanks for mapping out and explaining everything. It will be incredible when finished. 👌😊

An outdoor dining on the burned building sounds ideal. I imagine beautiful creepers covering part of the stone work and I think it will make beautiful photos for events and visitors. Keeps to the history of the property but makes it a functional space.

Once upon a time, it was rather nice. I went to a wedding and the wedding reception back in 1988. I'm sure the hilltop veiws are still epic. I need to ask my parents if they remember who's wedding it was because I was 13 and stole some wine coolers and I don't remember 😂

Best episode yet! Great to see you actually read the comments and listen to us viewers. This place will be great.

Map really helped ! Thanks for sharing. God bless you all!

Be wary of the still standing stonework. I’m sure that you will have to have a lot of inspections done before you really start having guests and whatnot in, but just be aware that the fire may have done unforeseen damage to the stone walls or more precisely to the mortar holding them up. Standard mortar is not all that resistant to heat and while it all may still be standing the mortar may have lost a lot of its strength and it may not take much to bring it down. Just a precautionary thing, I would have it thoroughly checked before working in the area too much.

Wow 330acres!!😮 Daunting but exciting at same time😊 Think keep last building for large groups to stay together, 2 dip pools n private BBQ outdoor kitchen seating area😊 Its a huge project but I'm sure you have so many plans to make it insanely spectacular! Hope you sort zipline, paint ball, animal sanctuary etc etc, so much land so much potential 😊

Thanks for this video. It really helps to put things into perspective!

All of the little skits in this were amazing. One of my favorite videos in the series so far!

Love the open air restaurant idea in the burnt building. I also think you should get a quote for some container style tiny homes. Great to be dotted around and can be moved to different areas if needed.

Here’s an idea , when you get the resort up and running ask if Mary’s taco’s would like to open up a second store on your property 😁

Love the message about everyday. Life is a marathon not a race. I can't wait to take the family to y'all's Resort. Great work keep it up.

WoW Great place what a project. Thanks for great content Watching to support your projects

What an undertaking, I will be following your progress for the next 10 years I am sure.

Might seem a little silly, but with so much land available, I think an activity area for family/kids would be great. A small Miniature Golf course, a piece of lawn large enough for soccer or even Croquet. Basketball court, maybe a small area for skateboarding. Have some Picnic tables set up nearby. I see so much possibility. One thing Matt hasn't spoken about (or I have not heard) is how many jobs he's going to be providing by opening The Desperado. Hospitality Services, Restaurant Services, Maintenance and Landscaping. I like how Matt "Dreams". Dream big or stay home! I am so looking forward to the day The Desperado is officially open for business.

Group building would be sweet. We travel a lot with my wife’s family and we always look for places that we can all stay together but also have our own area. Great idea!

Group of people!! Love this series. Thanks Matt.😊

Thanks, Matt that was exactly what I needed. Hopefully I won't get so disoriented now!

I think you know by now how amazing this will be...but you and your family are the amazing part ...thanks for sharing your life with us 😊

The river view building is my favorite. It just seems comfortable with a great view.

Matt helps me see all of the potential of this beautiful place! I think every resort should have a multi-family place to book. I know lots of families that vacation together and rent entire houses bc it is more cost effective than hotels or separate lodging.

Oh that brick patio will be perfect for my 70th birthday party fall of 2024!!! I’m absolutely loving this series. Thanks Matt. Blessings, debby

Matt, your resort is one of my future vacation bucket list spots.

So much work so many decisions go with your gut great drone views great video thanks Matt

It's always cool imagining and planning for a space like this, especially when it has as much potential as this. A challenge well worth undertaking though is aiming for self-sufficiency from a power and heat/cooling standpoint. I really hope you consider aiming for net neutral or perhaps even energy excess with a solar setup on roofs to prevent ground clutter and geothermal heat/cooling pumps to moderate temps in the buildings. Seeing Tesla solar roofs on the buildings would be great if you're already redoing a bunch of roofs. 100% worth it if the energy costs of such a big facility could be literally zero. Rainwater catchment for the gardens would also keep the costs of garden maintenance down as well. So many ideas.