For 135 years — from the Spanish/Mexican colonial era to modern day — the 34,000 acres of the Alta Vista Ranch has been extremely well preserved in order to maintain historic integrity, protect wildlife and resist harmful developments.
In the 1890’s, William Whitby “W.W.” Jones, traveled to deep South Texas then known as ‘las mestenas’ or the “wild horse desert,” with the risky intention of establishing a cattle ranch. In 1895 he purchased 20,000 acres in Starr County at .50 per acre. By 1930 he had acquired 300,000 acres in four counties – Brooks, Starr, Jim Hogg and Hidalgo. The Alta Vista Ranch became the headquarters of the entire Jones Family Ranches. It once had a general store, ice house, post office and a one-room schoolhouse. We still have those original structures that have been preserved and updated for use.
Having worked and lived on the South Texas Brush plains for over a century, our family has seen raids from Pancho Villa and Mexican revolutionaries, disastrous hurricanes, uncontrollable wildfires, years-long droughts, The Great Depression, numerous wars and other challenges. Throughout, we have sought wisdom from our ranching relatives before us to navigate the challenges of land owning, modernizing cattle operations, oil and gas volatility and threats to native species.
“Work overcomes all.”
— W.W. Jones
We aspire to live by W.W. Jones’ lifelong motto — “Labor Omnia Vincit”, or “work overcomes all” — and effect positive environmental, political, and social change in the region as our ancestors have done before us.
Casa Mayor at Alta Vista Ranch circa 1925
Allen Carter Jones (son of W.W. Jones) and Tom East after a raid on the East Ranch in 1918 during the Mexican Revolution. Residents of Alta Vista Ranch hid in the orange orchard during the attack.
Jones children and classmates at the Alta Vista school circa 1926
Children of A.C. Jones II waiting for the mail at the Alta Vista Post Office and General store in the 1920's
Ruins of the original Casa Mayor of the Las Animas Spanish Land Grant located on the Jones Alta Vista Ranch circa 1935. Ruins still remain standing today (2022).
Working Cattle
Kathleen Hocker, daughter of W.W. Jones, served as president of the family oil and gas company, making her among the first women corporate/petroleum company chief executives in state history.
Allen Carter (A.C.) Jones III
A.C. Jones II and Lorine Vogt