Visual Traveler: The LBJ Ranch, Stonewall, Texas

                  Above photo is by Lisa Waterman Gray © : In LBJ's office at the ranch. 
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What's in This Post
1) Presidential Details 
2) LBJ Ranch History
3) Rehabilitating LBJ Ranch Infrastructure
4) Touring LBJ Ranch Slideshow
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​Our tour group arrived at the LBJ Ranch during the holiday season, with blue skies and a brisk breeze. Quiet and comfortable, the Johnsons' ranch home displayed plenty of Christmas wreaths, fireplace-mounted stockings, and tabletop holiday figures.

Presidential Details

In the expansive living room full of cozy upholstered chairs and a massive fireplace, the home also housed a 'bank' of televisions. A telephone was unobtrusively mounted beneath the head of the dining room and a decorative bedroom pillow said, "LBJ for the USA."

Inside one closet many LBJ tie bars and LBJ initial tie clasps awaited gifting. LBJ's office space blended landscape and wildlife art with warm wood tones, and a wall-mounted Presidential seal plus Presidential and U.S. flags flanking a nearby bookcase. Elsewhere on the property I stood, awestruck, near Johnson's Air Force One plane, and marveled at the tiny schoolhouse where LBJ began his formal education.

LBJ Ranch History

LBJ was born, lived, died, and was buried on this sprawling 2,800-acre ranch property amid 'Texas Hill Country.' Shortly after acquiring the home, in 1951, LBJ and Claudia Alta "Lady Bird" Johnson authorized complete rehabilitation of the ranch house. And LBJ spent a quarter of his time as U.S. President - or 490 days - at the 'Texas Whitehouse.'

Fifty-seven years later, on August 27, 2008, President Johnson's office at the ranch opened to the public in celebration of his 100th birthday. The next year saw the living room and dining room opened to visitors and the entire first floor opened by the end of 2011.

Rehabilitating LBJ Ranch Infrastructure

Unfortunately health and safety concerns related to structural issues resulted in closure of the Texas White House and adjacent Pool House seven years later. A massive rehabilitation project continues, with reopening of 'the Texas White House and Hangar' anticipated next year (2027). Partial funding for this  $14 million project comes from the Great American Outdoors Act, which will help to stabilize and restore the historic ranch structures.

Touring LBJ Ranch provides a closer inside look at the man who was also U.S. President for five years. Watch for notification of tours returning to the property and put this on your list of activities worth the trip, in Texas Hill Country. 

                                         All above photos by Lisa Waterman Gray. ©
​Disclaimer: As a travel writer I may receive complementary stays, admissions, meals, transportation, and, occasionally, products I am asked to review. However, this was a self-financed trip.

Please note these photos are older. While they reflected the character of this destination during my visit, specific details may have changed.