A Luxe Northeast Texas Sporting Resort Up for Sale : The Reserve at Sulphur Bluff

You may remember an enticing members-only hunting and fishing resort featured in sporting magazines a few years back: The Hageman Reserve, an uber-posh private club with lodging in where members could hunt, fish, dine, and relax in baronial splendor in a scenic northeast Texas rural setting. Now known as The Reserve at Sulphur Bluff, the over-the-top property is on the market, offered separately or together with nearby 13,500ish-acre Sulphur Bluff Ranch.

The venue looks ideal for a single owner retreat and entertainment destination or a joint ownership venture interested in marketing the 30-plus room lodge as a fractional ownership property. Bernard Uechtritz of Icon Global Properties, the listing broker (who negotiated the record-breaking $725M 2016 Waggoner Ranch sale) estimates that together, The Reserve and Sulphur Bluff Ranch properties could fetch $80M-100M.

What kind of property could draw such a sum?

Set on approximately 1,000 acres, The Reserve is built on the highest point of Hopkins County, with a panoramic view of the 14,500 acres surrounding it. The 65,000-square-foot main lodge has the look of a manor house in the English countryside, an East Texas version of Downton Abbey if you will. But, this property has modern infrastructure and amenities: state-of-the-art technology with over 15 miles of fiber optic network and full security systems, energy-efficient lighting, geothermal heating and cooling; capability to go 100 percent off grid with independent power; a private heliport (and close proximity to a 5,000-foot jet strip); a fitness center and spa, and more.

Constructed with Texas limestone and roofed in slate, the main building is impressive. Within there are 28 guest suites plus a five-bedroom, five-bath owner’s suite; a three-bedroom, three-bath presidential suite; and a two-bedroom, two-bath founder’s suite; each with living and dining areas, kitchens and an extra half bath.

History

Business titan Steve Hageman, the founder of the Indiana-based Hageman Group, bought the property in 2005, charmed with its rich farmland, rolling hills, lush terrain, and convenience to Dallas. With abundant surface water and oak trees, the site is endowed with large-mouth bass, deer, bobwhite quail, and pheasant.

Bringing in a professional wildlife biologist, Hageman also established smaller ponds for fly-fishing and expanded wetland vegetation to draw an abundant duck population. Hageman’s vision was to establish a members-only true “country club” — a luxurious private hunting and fishing resort with incredible lodging, dining facilities and grounds, a fitness center, pool and spa, and a wildlife habitat. In 2014, The Hageman Reserve opened as a membership club. By 2016, there were approximately 60 members on board, enjoying the good life in northeast Texas. But, the Hageman family have been called back to their Indiana roots — Hageman says the next generation of the family is not interested in managing Hageman Reserve, and the subject property is now up for sale.

“The Reserve is an incredible and unique property, truly a one of one,” Uechtritz said. “With five-star amenities, chef, staff, a vineyard, dining, spa, shooting courses, hunting, and other development opportunities as well as all round resort-style entertainment and lodging, it’s an ideal event destination center, suitable for large groups and cozy for couples. It’s an intimate exclusive ranch with a regal European-type finish and room accommodations with detail equaling a Waldorf Astoria, a London Savoy, a Ritz-Carlton, including floor stone from a French castle in the entry and fabulous grained oak, which is hand cut and hewn from the seller’s farm, incorporated into the walls, floors, and paneling throughout. It’s a renowned architect Robbie Fusch-designed masterpiece, and I think it’s his best work.”

Here’s a look at the entrance:

And, the spacious main dining area:

An oak-paneled living area:

A gathering space for deep conversations and socializing:

The bar:

And more intimate seating space, cozy with a fireplace:

Extensive oak paneling adds to the baronial feel:

And, here’s space that looks like a “morning room” straight out of Manderley:

More intimate dining adjacent the professional kitchen:

Stairsteps lead down to another dining area:

A wine vault and cellar with storage for up to 2,800 bottles and dining space for up to 40:

A suite living area:

At the back of the lodge steps lead down:

To the 50,000-gallon geothermal-heated pool:

Which has a cabana and pool house which includes two guest apartments, a total of 4,400 square feet:

The Reserve has outlying housing as well, a 6,400-square-foot range house with two bedrooms and four baths, and a 6,000-square-foot lake house with four bedrooms and four baths.

And a 17-acre vineyard and a 74-tree fruit orchard:

Which is a perfect setting for entertaining al fresco:

But, fishing and hunting is the ultimate draw. Hageman’s vision embraced the best Texas has to offer:

 

The contiguous Sulphur Bluff Ranch, approximately 13,250 acres of water rich agricultural land and natural habitat, is also up for sale, detailed on Icon Global Properties website, with a listing price of $43,940,500. The Reserve’s asking price is unpublished, available only by pre-qualified request through broker Uechtritz. “If the reserve were sold together with the contiguous Sulphur Bluff Ranch, the combined value could be between 80 and 100 million dollars,” said Uechtritz. “The value of the Reserve will ultimately far exceed its sale price. It’s truly a one-time opportunity. We are looking for the next stewards who will build on the legacy and vision in place.”