Wade and Melinda Kilpatrick knew when they bought the Wild River Ranch that they did not want just a beautiful home nestled along the high banks of the Guadalupe River. They were looking to build a sanctuary made from reclaimed wood and stone that would include contemporary touches while creating a vintage, rustic tone that connects their love of the past to their vision for the future.

Editor’s Note: The Texas Historic Commission outlines 12 Texas regions of interest in its Texas Heritage Trails program. The following is a look at the Texas Hill Country Trail, the first part of a series on these trails.

Serenity on tap. A historical treasure chest brimming with natural gems. A place where you can have your high art and your barbecue, too, washed down with a bottleneck of Ziegenbach. More than 19 counties and a crock pot of German, Mexican and cowboy culture comprise the Texas Hill Country, one of Lone Star’s best-kept secrets. The Texas Historic Commission wants Texans—and the rest of the world—to know about this mystique.