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The B Bar Ranch Retreat ranch house was built in the early 1900's. Lumber to build it was brought in by wagon from Louisana. It was once called Sante Fe Hotel and was a stage coach stop between San Antonio and San Angelo.
J.P. and Leta Sorrell purchased the ranch in 1924. The property included the 4 counties of Concho, Menard, Tom Green and Schleicher with the ranch house being in Menard Country. The Sorrell's had 10 children. They had live-in tutors and school was held for the children and some grandchildren in the upstairs rooms.
J.P. died in 1935. Leta continued to live at the ranch with some of her married children. She later moved to Eden to live with a daughter till her death at the age of 93 in 1971. She left 163 living descendents. The property was then divided among the 9 children left, 2 sons and 7 daughters.
As the years passed the land was either sold or traded among the family. J.C. Sorrell and wife Mary Ellis, who at one time had been a tutor to some of the younger Sorrell children, owned the property where the ranch house is located. After J.C. and Mary Sorrell passed away the ranch property was divided among their 4 children. Bobby Dan Sorrell inherited the ranch house property. His wife, Carolyn is now operating the B Bar Ranch Retreat LLC.
FOR YOU HISTORY BUFFS
The book "Old Texas Trails" by J.W. Williams tells of the Texas Trails 1716-1886. The routes of Cabeza De Vaca are shown to have traveled through the ranch area. Their route led them to the head of the San Saba River near Ft. McKavett and northeast to San Angelo county, now Tom Green county.
Francisco Vasquez de Cornado also seemed to have followed Cabeza De Vaca through the same area.
Military Roads of Central West Texas 1849-1860 feature trails through the ranch area.
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