Our Crowdfunding Groups
The goal for this HornRaiser project is to raise funds for the preservation of a unique bit of Texas history in the form of a rare, two-story log cabin located a few miles southwest of downtown Austin on the Dobie Paisano Ranch. Paisano Ranch is a 254-acre writer’s retreat managed by the Graduate School at The University of Texas at Austin. Most people have never heard of the Paisano Ranch, but may recall the name of J. Frank Dobie - a folklorist, professor, columnist, author, recipient of the Medal of Freedom and champion of Texas Hill Country and Longhorns. Dobie and his wife, Bertha, purchased the ranch as a retreat and christened the place “Paisano,” meaning roadrunner in Spanish but also meaning “compatriot” which was fitting since he often invited guests to the ranch.
After Dobie died in 1964, his friends throughout Texas sought a way to honor their compatriot by purchasing Paisano for use as a writer’s retreat and turning it over to UT. In 1967, the university established a fellowship program designed “to stimulate creative endeavor in the arts by making it possible for a person to work without distractions.” It is a very prestigious honor to be selected as a Paisano Fellow and have the opportunity to live in Dobie’s house on the ranch. Former Fellows include nature writer Stephen Harrigan, Karan Mahajan, Z.Z. Packer, Philipp Meyer, Sandra Cisneros, and Sarah Bird. Many Paisano Fellows have gone on to win numerous writing awards. The Graduate School at UT oversees the Fellows program, and the Texas Institute of Letters provides the Fellowship support with the generous help of a number of foundations (see https://dobiepaisano.utexas.edu/ for more information on the Paisano Fellows program). Currently, there is no funding for repair or preservation of this special place.
Our Project
In addition to the Dobie home where the Fellows live, an essential part of what makes Paisano such a special and serene place is its preservation of a piece of the Texas Hill Country. Barton Creek runs through the property, and paths along the creek and those to the log cabin are favorite spots for relaxation and inspiration of the Paisano Fellows. In addition to native grasses, wild flowers and the usual flora and fauna, Paisano is home to a two-story log cabin that dates back to the 1860s. The front and back porches are in disrepair, making it unsafe to step foot on. The roof of the log cabin has been further damaged by recent storms and needs to be repaired to prevent further deterioration of the cabin and ensure that this unique bit of Texas Hill Country history will still be around for future generations.
How Can You Help?
The Graduate School oversees the ranch but has no direct line of funding support for its maintenance – which is why we need you. Funds are needed to repair/replace the roof and porches and make essential repairs to protect the log cabin from further deterioration. We also plan to bring in preservationists to provide recommendations on how best to move forward to preserve this historic structure and provide guidance on securing historic preservation funds to secure the future of this unique, two-story log cabin in the Texas Hill Country.
Double Your Impact!
Our goal is to raise $30,000. Any funds raised beyond that will go for the future preservation of the log cabin. Thanks to generous supporters, the first $10,000 will be matched. With this match, the impact of your gift will be doubled.
Whether you are an admirer of J. Frank Dobie, a writer, a lover of Texas Hill Country, a historian or part of the Longhorn nation, your gift will help save the Paisano Ranch log cabin for the benefit of future Fellows and all who love central Texas Hill Country!
