What happened to Willow Ranch School? Revisited.

Ever wonder what happened to Willow Ranch School? Read this interesting news article to find out what exactly happened to Willow Ranch School and where it was relocated to. Not many people wonder whatever happened to Willow Ranch School though.


The creation of Willow Ranch School was established in 1890 along with Willow Ranch Negro School in Manor, Texas. However the school would not open for a number of years due to a lack of local funding. Prior to 1894 students attended the Manda School. Landowner Peter Carr Wells donated a plot of land on his ranch to the Willow Ranch School District and Manor ISD in 1894.

Willow Ranch School was established on Wells School Road in Manor, Texas during 1898 after a meeting. Willow Ranch School was built and established as two-room building during construction. Walls were for this building were painted an ivory color. (Ref: The Defender, 1936)

Willow Ranch School was a 1-6 school that educated students in grades 1 through 6. School stopped after 6th grade. 7th grade students were bussed to Manor High School for classes.

Students learned basic skills at this school. Willow Ranch School offered classes for Texas history, geography, art, and physical education. The Willow Ranch School participated in interscholastic league competitions with other rural schools across the State of Texas.

Most of the students who attended were children of Swedish farmers who were immigrants. In fact, some of the Swedish farmers sharecropped the P. C. Wells land. (Ref: Willow Ranch School historical marker)

The Willow Ranch School was established as a “white school” called “Willow Ranch White School”. Willow Ranch School was a school only white students could attend. Black students attended Willow Ranch Negro School. Willow Ranch School never integrated. Willow Ranch School was also referred to names such as Willow Ranch White School and Wells School.

Willow Ranch School had its own school district called Willow Ranch School District. Manor ISD, Travis County Public Schools, and Kimbro School District oversaw this school district when it came to funding for education and student transfers. Willow Ranch School District operated both Willow Ranch School (Willow Ranch White School) and Willow Ranch Negro School from 1890 to 1938.


By the early 20th century is when Willow Ranch School became a place for community clubs and social gatherings. The school was more or less used as a community center for the settlement of Kimbro, Manda, and New Sweden.

Mrs. Slems was the teacher elected to teach at Willow Ranch School in 1931. Mrs. Slems had a large number of patrons and friends. Mrs. Otto Stern was also a teacher for this school. Their teaching style was satisfactory with parents. Another room was added in 1936, providing space for other classes.
(Ref: Shiner Gazette, Page 4, May 7, 1931)
(Ref: Austin American-Statesman, Page 6, September 25, 1931)

Willow Ranch School closed in 1938 and its students were transferred to the Kimbro School District and eventually Manor ISD. Mrs. Otto Stern, Mr. Slems, and Mrs. Slems were its last teachers. The land reverted back to Tom Wells as agreement stated on a deed.


Willow Ranch School would sit vacant for over 40 years before being destroyed by a tornado. The school was used as a community center for a period of time. The Willow Ranch School building severed a community center for social gatherings among other functions.

In April 1980, Willow Ranch School was damaged by a tornado that destroyed farm properties and ranch properties in Northeast Travis County. The school building was purchased after the tornado by Lester C. Nelson and Lois M. Nelson in 1981. The couple moved the building onto their house as an addition. The roof from this school building was added to the front of their house.This addition to their house was visible from public right of way facing FM 1100. Its 19th century country styled wooden pillars were added to the front and back of their house.
Willow Ranch School was relocated to the address of 13707 FM 1100, Manor, Texas, US 78653.

Now the house Lester C. Nelson and Lois Nelson owned was built in 1900. Prior to 1981, no renovations, modifications, alterations, fixes, or additions were done or made to the house.

The Willow Ranch School stopped showing up on maps by 1982. Every other building structure besides the school remained on the P. C. Wells property by 1985. The school was gone in 1985. No traces of the school were found on the Wells Ranch anymore. All that was left was a field of green grass and nothing else.
(Ref: 1982 topographical map of Manor, Texas on NETR Historic Aerials)
(Ref: 1985 aerial map of Manor, Texas on NETR Historic Aerials)

Texas Historic Commission issued a landmark to Travis County for the property of the former Willow Ranch School in April 1998. The historic marker was donated by Estate of John E. Rolf and Travis County Historical Commission. (Ref: Willow Ranch School historical marker)


Sometime during the 2000s, the couple removed the walls of the former school building and its 19th century country styled wooden pillars were removed and salvaged from their house. Exactly when is unknown.

The school was abandoned once again by 2011. All of its windows were missing. The roof was sinking into the structurally unsafe floors. Over time the buildings (of the house and school) were vandalized and scrapped. Graffiti was strewn all over inside. The house was in an uninhabitable state (terrible state) by 2013.

The site was used as an illegal dump over the years before a sign was posted. It was specifically the 2010s decade when people used the property as an illegal dump since the property was located out in the county. A couple of “no trespassing” signs were posted in 2016.

Today Willow Ranch School belongs to the Lester C. Nelson Life Estate. The house has not been maintained properly and has fallen into rural decay.


Today Willow Ranch School is located at 13707 FM 1100, Manor, Texas, US 78653.