 "...the stars at nightare big and bright....
Deep in the Heart of Texas..."
Texas is known for its big, wide open spaces. And like the song says, the skies are not cloudy all day. If they are, you're going to saddle up and ride anyway. Because at this cowboy guest ranch, you're the ranch hand; the cowboy, vaquero, bronc rider, fence-mender, cattle herder, waterboy. If it straddles a horse or ropes a calf - it's YOU!
Welcome to the Lazy F of Smiley, Texas. No really. Smiley. It's a real place. And the Lazy F is a real cattle ranch. And you - well, you're going to be a real cowboy or cowgirl; a bonafide ranch hand.
The 2,500-acre Lazy F Ranch, located in historic Gonzales County not far from where the first shot of the Texas revolution was fired from the famous "Come and Take It" cannon, has been in Lieutenant Colonel Clay Allen's family for six generations since 1854.
Notorious outlaw John Wesley Hardin once lived on the ranch, as did infamous outlaw Lonnie Burnett, who lived in an underground home. He loved to have company and would hang a sign that read, "Welcome Stranger" on the door to invite guests. The 10 gauge shotgun tied to the door was to insure a long stay.
 The wagon tracks of the legendary Camino Real (Kings Highway), between San Antonio de Bexar and Galveston, can still be seen running through this ranch. Supposedly, Generalissimo Santa Anna's wagon train, loaded with gold to pay his troops, was buried on this ranch when the Mexican Paymaster learned of the General's defeat at San Jacinto.
But it's not the legend of the gold or the rich history of the land that is attracting visitors from the big city. It's the chance to step back in time to the days when the life of the cowboy was the only life on the Texas frontier; when working and playing hard were common, when singing the cattle to sleep under a full moon and cooking up a trail meal at the chuck wagon were everyday events.
The Lazy F is one place in Texas that hasn't changed much through the years, and that might be the reason that lawyers, doctors, plumbers and college students are flocking to it in numbers - the search for the simple life.
Clay Allen is the head honcho at the Lazy F, and always glad to treat "city slickers" to a taste of the Old West. An interactive adventure, visitors to the Lazy F can work along side of the regular ranch hands, driving cattle, feeding the animals, mending the fences and the like. Or they can opt to sit on the fence and watch the others do all the work.
Or they can ride or hike for miles and miles of trails that snake across the ranch, taking a little time to fish on the ranch's lake or to hunt for minerals and gems. The ranch is featured in the Southwestern Gem Hunters Guide, as it has an ancient rock fault running through the Southern part, rich in petrified wood and palm tree, agate, jasper, quartz, and other minerals ideal for jewelry or collecting.
Two creeks run through the ranch, lined with oaks, elm, and pecans, begging for exploration by foot or horse. They are full of large catfish, just waiting to be caught. Wild hogs, whitetail deer, and wild turkey gather at feeding stations less than 100 meters from the main guest house. Other wildlife, such as armadillos, squirrels, and even a gray fox roam the ranch.
The ranch, open 365 days a year, stages a number of special events throughout the year that have proven to be favorites for a growing number of visitors who return each year. The Spring and Fall Roundups are two of the biggest events, but those wanting to spend maximum time in the saddle can sign up for the ranch's Confederate Calvary Scout program.
But both active and passive activities are available to guests, depending on what level you wish to participate. You can learn to be a real cowboy, or you could just keep a seat warm on the guesthouse veranda.
In addition to general public programs, the Lazy F also plays host to private and corporate parties, will host your wedding or special event, and even encourages new ideas for unusual or uncommon events. Allen says he like to hear what guests want in their ranch retreat, and guarantees he will try to accommodate.
The Pilgrim Community Center is the site for several "Pilgrim Country Opry" programs staged throughout the year featuring live music and great ranch food and the fixins - just in case you get bored with ranch work.
Step back in time and experience Texas on th range. For more information, visit the Lazy F Web site and make your reservation through e-mail or phone.
Happy trails!
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