The Historic Candy Mountain Ranches

Candy Mountain Ranches (CMR) was established by the Lusher Family in Llano County, Texas. Today, CMR has grown to include three ranches, Candy Mountain, Babyhead and Castell. The ranches have developed into a full-scale Longhorn breeding operation. All three ranches are located within 15 miles of the city of Llano, in the beautiful hill country of central Texas.

Candy Mountain Ranch

Located west of Llano on Hickory Creek. Hickory Creek runs through the Candy Mountain Ranch and was the camp site of John Russell Bartlett. In 1850 Bartlett was appointed by President Zachary Taylor as Commissioner to run the boundary survey between the US and Mexico. Between 1850 and 1853 Bartlett camped along Hickory Creek in the area now known as Candy Mountain Ranch. This was the location of the Candy Mountain Ranches' first longhorn breeding operation. Bartlett followed Hickory Creek North to it's confluence at the Llano river and stated "the Llano is the finest stream we have yet met in Texas, the Guadalupe alone excepted."

Pg. 65 Bartlett narative 1854.

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Babyhead Ranch

Is centered in the historic Babyhead mountain range.
According to local oral tradition, the name "Babyhead" was given to the mountain in this area in the 1850s, when a small child was killed by Indians and its remains left on the mountain. A local creek also carried the name, and a pioneer community founded in the 1870s became known as Baby Head. The oldest documented grave here is that of another child, Jodie May McKneely, who died on New Year's Day 1884. The cemetery is the last physical reminder of the Baby Head community, which once boasted numerous homes, farms, and businesses.

Click here for more information on 
Baby Head, Texas &  the mountain
Babyhead Ranch Photographs

Castell Ranch

Is located on the outskirts of town of Castell at the old Comanche crossing on the Llano river. 
The town of Castell was the first permanent settlement in Llano county established in 1847 by 
German immagrants under the auspices of the Adelsverein. 
The town was named for Count Carl FrederickCastell-Castell. who was business manager of the 
Adelsberein.  Castell Ranch is the primary winter grazing site for Candy Mountain Longhorns.
Castell continues to be frequently visited for canoeing, kayaking and fly fishing.

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