Wimberley’s new National Historic Site

It truly is a national treasure, the house with a curved wall of glass overlooking a patch of land that used to be a busy airstrip. There is a kitchen wall with a mural of a western scene. The large studio/living room is where the famous Pearl Brewing murals were created, the same Pearl murals that are now located in the Wimberley Community Center for all to enjoy. It is all from the house of Buck Winn

James Buchanan “Buck” Winn can’t be summed up in a couple of paragraphs. Labels such as genius, artist, innovator and adventurer are somewhat overused in today’s society, but in his case they fit. Winn left his mark on Wimberley and left it for the better. He designed the yellow translucent cross of Chapel of the Hills; he also helped to start the church. The aforementioned murals and a couple of portraits around Wimberley are also his legacy to the town.

But his self-designed house, workshop, the surrounding buildings and airstrip are now nationally recognized as a National Historical District.

Raised in Celina in North Texas, Winn’s parents were well to do cotton farmers. He studied art and bummed around in Europe, was a painter and architect and taught graduate courses at the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Princeton and others. An inventor, he holds numerous patents. He also was a private airplane pilot, using the landing strip on the ranch to fly his airplane “Nellie Belle.”

He was a true Renaissance man. Although he died in 1979, he left a big footprint on the valley and his efforts are still being enjoyed to this day. And now his residence is nationally recognized.

His daughter, Kathryn or “Tinka,” who lives in the historic house started the effort and kept the wheels rolling towards historical distinction through an accidental phone call.

“I answered the phone and it was a real estate agent. I get those all the time, and usually hang up, but this time I started to talk and mentioned something about a historical designation for the ranch,” Tinka said. “The real estate agent said ‘that’s what my brother does.’”

She met the brother, Alex Borger who was instrumental in getting the “National Historical Designation.” As with any government entity, the higher up the ladder, local to state, state to federal, the documentation increases exponentially.

Attorney Ann Landeros was also hired to get the designation. Together with Borger, the two were able to get the designation in two years, very quick for such an important designation.

Other buildings and structures were also included. The small house next door, which was built in 1883, is included as is the workshop behind the home and a few other small structures and the airplane landing strip.

At the dedication of the plaque, people that knew Buck personally passed around a few stories. Back in the 70s, local stonemason Bill Bonham was doing some welding work for Buck and realized he had made a mistake on a circular staircase he was working on. Thinking Buck would be mad, it surprised him when he wasn’t. ”Just throw it in the ravine” were the orders “with the other mistakes.” Bonham was amazed at the number and kind of the mistakes that were abandoned there.

Tinka’s daughter Lisa, Buck and Kitty’s granddaughter, grew up in Houston, but would spend summers with her grandparents at the ranch. Her grandparents were her favorite people and she loved watching her grandpa fly and land the airplane “Nellie Belle” right on the landing strip.

But her favorite memory was sitting in the front, under the big oak tree in the front courtyard with both her grandparents relaxing with her. The placement of the house by the tree was well thought out, as it has a nice cool breeze blowing even in 100-degree heat.

At the unveiling of the plaque, Tinka related the story of receiving the Pennsylvania-made official plaque in the mail and not opening the package for a few days, scared that it had a misprint on it. Luckily it did not, when it was opened a few days later.

The house stands as it did when it was built in circa 1945. Its outside has never been repainted, 79 years of the original paint and it is still holding its original color, just as the rest of the house has retained its charm, too.

The creativity and joy of Buck Winn as represented in his house will be preserved and luckily a history that Wimberley can be proud of.