Our History

Historical-Marker

Texas Historical Marker

In 2016, the Pilot’s Lounge was awarded a Texas Historical Commission Landmark. The significant historical events at the Flying L Ranch Resort are offered for your enjoyment below.

Founded in 1947

In 1947, the 542-acre dude ranch came into existence when Colonel John H. Lapham purchased it from the original Polish settlers. John’s last name is accredited for ‘L’ in ‘Flying L’.

Aviation History

Lapham, a retired Air Corps Colonel, had a vision to create a place where modern people could go and find themselves lost in time. The Colonel introduced an airstrip and instructed his own  flight school at the ranch.

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Frank Lloyd Wright

Locally, the original Villas are believed to be influenced by the famous American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. On March 30th, 1963 a San Antonio Express Newspaper article titled “Flying L To Reopen”, John H. Lapham’s wife, Lucy Lapham, suggests “…guest accommodations designed by the late Frank Lloyd Wright.”

The Villas were intently designed to resemble grounded aircraft. The Villas, when viewed aerially, truly exemplify that of aeronautical design. According to an article from the San Antonio Light newspaper on May 9th, 1948,  “The coral brick was made for them in Corpus Christi from sea shells, cement and coral dye which gives a rough in-and-exterior”.

LIFE Magazine

The grand opening of the Flying L Ranch Resort was a spectacular event. Using his powerful connections, Colonel Lapham hosted a ‘Ranch & Aviation’ themed fashion show. Industry-leading fashion designer Stanley Marcus, the son of the founder of Neiman Marcus, along with other fashionistas, designed stylish aeronautic and cowboy-oriented apparel exclusively for the event.

Journalists and photographers from LIFE magazine attended and later published an article pertaining to the success of the show. Experience a first-hand glimpse of the event in the photos to the right.

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Remembering Colonel John H. Lapham

John Lapham was a retired Air Corps Colonel, Polo player, and Texas Co. Oil Executive. Flying for 28 years and logging over 20,000 flight hours the Colonel was an incredibly experienced pilot. The Colonel along with his Granddaughter, her fiance, and a childhood friend tragically lost their lives in a plane crash at the Flying L on August 2nd, 1956. It’s believed that the Colonel suffered a heart attack while attempting to land his four-seater Tri-Pacer.

Famous Guests

The Ranch’s guests have included Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus, John Wayne, Slim Pickens, Willie Nelson, Tex Ritter, Jim Reeves, Ray Price, Buck Owens, Chill Wills, Jack Kramer, and Robert Fuller. The television show The Cisco Kid even filmed an episode at the Ranch.

Family Owned and Operated

Doug and Cindy Stevens purchased the Flying L in February of 2018, took over operations in March 2018, and hired their daughter, Kristen, as General Manager.

The family has worked hard every day by filling the ranch with passionate, dependable staff, updating and adding on, coming up with new, fresh ideas, and making the ranch resort experience unique and fun for all!

A guest once said, “Whoever says you can’t have it all has never been to the Flying L!”

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