I once met a German with extreme lust for the old American West and I told you all about it. It took moving to El Paso, but I have since encountered the possesions of a German that far excede that of my friend Gerhard.
His name is Dieter Gerzymisch, and he is the founder (and owner) of the Indian Cliffs Ranch and Cattleman’s Steakhouse. We visited the ranch and restaurant this weekend past. It was the first time I had ever taken a walk through the Old West as the way it was. (but I’ve got a feeling it won’t be the last)
Gerzymisch acquired the land of the ranch in the late sixties, but it has a rich history as Indian country. Throughout the 19th century the land was tamed by the white man. The San Antonio stagecoach route used to cross through what is now the ranch grounds. The San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, also known as the Jackass Mail, was the earliest overland stagecoach and mail operation from the East to California. Likewise, the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches, dating back to 1853, also used the route.
In the sixties Gerzymisch opened the ranch with horse rental and boarding, but eventually his customers got hungry so he opened the restaurant in 1973. Cattleman’s is a legendary Texas Steakhouse. Men’s Health Magazine voted it the manliest steakhouse in the country in 2012. The highlight of the menu, the Cowboy Steak, is a 2 lb T-Bone. I’ve never seen a steak that looked so exquisite, yet so menacing at the same time.
Before dinner we took some time to walk around the ranch grounds. There is a lake, a zoo, an aviary, exotic animals to include peacocks roaming free, a maze, a playground, and tons of old west memorabilia. There was far too much for us to see in the hour we had alotted ourselves. In fact, we didn’t get past the zoo and snake pit. I saw an ostrich for the first time in a long time. An ostrich can run up to 43 mph and can be anywhere from 6-9 feet tall. I also saw my very first Texas Longhorn. What a pretty cow. I learned that the longhorns are bred for their lean beef and dairy, that they are known for their elite genetics, and that the average going rate for a longhorn is $40,000.00.
We did steal a second to take our picture in front of a the general store from the Resurrection Movie Set. Ten movies have been filmed on the property, only two of which I’ve ever heard of. But this trip has inspired me to add two new movies to my must-see list.
