The “Fat Farm” in San Antonio, Texas debunked and exposed.

There have been many rumors about what the “Fat Farm” in San Antonio, Texas actually was and actually served as. There are a bunch of urban legends about that “Fat Farm”. Many based on fiction while only a handful are based on facts. This news article will debunk the mysteries and myths surrounding the “Fat Farm”. Rumors will be debunked and mysteries will be unraveled.


A doctor named Herbert M Shelton opened a “fat farm” that was located up US 281 outside of Loop 1604 on a 57 acre lot in San Antonio, Texas where people would go to lose weight around the year 1963. This was as sort of a weight loss program. (Ref: https://issuu.com/louisdoucette/docs/issuu_rio_october_2015)

Dr. Shelton's Health School was one of the many health clinics established and operated by Dr. Herbert M Shelton. His health clinics and schools were in various locations in San Antonio and the surrounding areas.

Dr. Herbert M Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano operated a “fat farm” under the name of Dr. Shelton’s Health School in 1960. Dr. Herbert M Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano both owned this property for nearly 20 years. However an abrupt medical mishap occurred. Dr. Herbert M Shelton got Parkinson’s disease in 1972 which rendered him to be bedridden for the rest of his life. He was over weight.

However people were unaware of the doctor’s murderous intent. People were unaware of the torture that went on behind the confines of the walls of this “fat farm”.  The doctor literally starved people to death through methods of starvation. (Ref: https://issuu.com/louisdoucette/docs/issuu_rio_october_2015)

One example is the death of William Carlton. William Carlton died in October 1978 at now-defunct Dr. Shelton's Health School. William Carlton lost 50 pounds in 30 days because he was starved to death. He actually died of bronchial pneumonia brought on by his weakened condition. He enrolled at the health school to try to avoid surgery for colitis. The school touted its drugless healing methods and decried 'drugging monopolists and medical orthodoxy'. He dies of a heart attack when rushed to the hospital, and the wife sues for $890,000 on a charge of "negligence". A federal court jury found Dr. Herbert Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vertrano guilty of negligence in William Carlton's death.(Ref: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/09/17/A-health-clinic-was-ordered-Friday-to-pay-873000/8663401083200/)

Another example was the death of Joy Bristo. She was starved to death through the schools drugless healing methods and medical orthodoxy. Joy died 2 days later at Dr. Shelton's Health School in 1978. Such medical procedures were unhealthy and inhumane.

Dr. Shelton's Health School went under investigation in late 1978. Several law enforcement agencies have looked into the school and its practices with an eye to either closing it down or having it brought under some form of regulation, but to no avail. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/379022189/)

“Seven persons, all guests of an unorthodox "health school" near San Antonio, have died in the past five years after subsisting on a diet of little more than distilled water designed to rid their bodies of life-sapping poisons. Dr. Shelton's Health School, in existence for 50 years at various locations in San Antonio, is under investigation by the Bexar County District Attorney's office, and its financial and medical records have been subpoenaed by the grand Jury. The so-called school is apparently beyond the reach of medical and health regulations since state officials say It is not a hospital, rest home or accredited school. Two lawsuits have been filed against the school and its manager, Dr. Virginia V. Vetrano, a chiropractor. In a suit settled out of federal court earlier this year, a former client settled for $70,000 after alleging that the extreme treatment he received there prompted an attack.”

Dr. Shelton's Health School would continue to operate until the pending litigation was over and when they filed for bankruptcy in 1980. Despite the ongoing investigation, several patients were starved to the point of death. Dr. Shelton continued his involvement in advocating alternative medicine through his own academy: Dr. Shelton's Health School.

After a federal court jury found Dr. Herbert Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vertrano guilty of negligence in William Carlton's death, the State of Texas and US Court forced Dr. Herbert Shelton to shut down Dr. Shelton's Health School. Both Dr. Herbert M Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano are ordered by the court to pay the full $890,000 to the wife of William Conrad. The bankruptcy left Dr. Herbert M Shelton and Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano completely broke to the point where resources were depleted. (Ref: https://www.getwellstaywellamerica.com/Shelton/SheltonTimelinePg8.htm)

Dr. Shelton’s Health School was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1980. Claiborne B. Gregory Jr. was the trustee of the Estate of Dr. Herbert M. Shelton at that time. Him and Dr. Vivian V. Vetrano. were being sued by William R. Carlton, Lynne Carlton, Joy Bristo, Don L Morgan, and a bunch of other people in a class action lawsuit. (Ref: Bexar County Deed Records, Volume 3623, Page 1581)

The bankruptcy process lasted for 6 years from 1980 to 1986. Claiborne B. Gregory Jr. conveyed a deed to Joan F. Carlton on a deed of trust and reformation deed in 1986. Joan F. Carlton owned this land for a number of years before convey a deed to Richard E Dixson in 1991. (Ref: Bexar County Deed Records, Doc #1189369)

The “Fat Farm” was already abandoned by the 1980s. Now the main building serving as the “Fat Farm” was gutted and scrapped apart for valuable metal. Satanic graffiti could be found inside. (That is where the Satanic writing came from.) A thick layer of broken glass surrounded the main building. All furnishing had been removed. Magazines and newspapers were all over the floors. The other buildings were pretty much gutted by then. The buildings were said to have had a creepy feeling to them due to being abandoned for an extended period of time. The driveway connecting to the house dipped down, then back up above sea level.

After the “Fat Farm” was shut down, the main building served as a storefront for many different businesses over the years, usually health-related as this building often served businesses operating in the medical field. Many of the businesses that operated here would shut down and dissolve. The “Fat Farm” building served as an asylum, mental health facility, drug rehabilitation facility, school, wedding hall, therapy facility, laboratory, and acupuncture clinic.


Richard E Dixson deeded the land to Denise Goral and Gary P Goral on a special warranty deed in early 1994 for $72,000 dollars. (Ref: Bexar County Deed Records, Volume 5965, Page 291)

The building for Staff housing located south of the main building along with the several surrounding buildings were demolished in 1994. A 1-story wedding hall architectural styled building was built were the 2-story Spanish architecture style once stood.

A Christian faith based school called MISSION SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC. operated at this location from 1997 to 2000. MISSION SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC. was organized and established as a nonprofit corporation organized for educational purposes under Sec.171.061. The school would host a party at the end of each year. MISSION SPRINGS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL, INC moved to a different location in 2000. (Ref: https://opengovus.com/texas-taxpayer/17428700094)

Denise Goral bought the 57 acre lot from the doctor during the early 21st century in 2000. Here she would establish her catering company called Leave It To Us Catering that would open in 2002 In 2003, Denise Goral sold the property to Goral Properties LTD. (Ref: https://bexar.trueautomation.com/clientdb/Property.aspx?cid=110&prop_id=266884)

A restaurant catering business called Leave It To Us Catering would operate at this location from 2003 to 2018. Gary P Goral was the vice president and director. Denise Goral was the owner. Gary P Goral was the vice president and director who manage this restaurant while the owner catered to the customers. Their phone number was 210-408-0585. Their fax numbers were 830-980-4553 and 830-980-4445. (Ref: https://www.partyunion.org/company-leave-it-us-catering-in-san-antonio-tx-37968)

Leave It To Us Catering got a score of 91 after a 2010 inspection city health workers inspected the restaurant. Their last inspection was 6/10/2010. Thick glass windows were on each building. (Ref: www.city-data.com/san-antonio-tx-restaurants/LEAVE-IT-TO-US-CATERING.html)

Goral Properties LTD would sell the 57 acre lot to 281 Overlook Partners LP on a special warranty deed on the date of 12/19/2012. (Ref: Bexar County Deed Records: Instrument #20120248707)

Leave It To Us Catering has a total of 40 total employees and generated $1.00 million in sales on a yearly basis prior to closure. Denise Goral and Gary P Goral were the owners all the way up to closure in 2018. (Ref: https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.leave_it_to_us_inc.9d504bfc225b6abb901fc7907d838326.html)

The “Fat Farm” also operated as the Spring Hill Event Center for many years until closing in 2018. The Spring Hill Event Center had a good reputation with the community. Spring Hill Event Center had a 700 person capacity.


281 Overlook Partners LP put the property up for sale for total amount of $14,000,000 million dollars. The building that once served as the “Fat Farm” has now been demolished. The 57 acre lot is being cleared out to make room for Overlook Town Center. 281 Overlook Partners LP has big plans for interest in development. (Ref: https://www.cityfeet.com/cont/listing/2455-celebration-dr-san-antonio-tx-78261/cs17860262)

  

Overlook Town Center is located on a high-elevation site on US Highway 281 and Bulverde Road in the growth corridor of north San Antonio. It has approximately 1,500 ft. of frontage on US Highway 281; 3,000 ft. on the future extension of Overlook Parkway and Wilderness Oak; and 600 ft. of frontage on Bulverde Road. Conveniently only a 17-minute drive south to San Antonio International Airport. Overlook Town Center is planned to create an atmosphere conducive to productivity and comfort with richly landscaped grounds and parkway. This town center will have solid infrastructure, provide a great business environment and transit hub, easy access to San Antonio International Airport, luxury apartments in close proximity, state-of-the-art fiber-optics, electrical service redundancy for added reliability, child care centers, retail, banking and restaurants. Among these great features will also be multiple routes of ingress/egress with US Highway 281, Overlook Parkway, and Bulverde Road.

The rumors about the "fat farm" being an asylum are not true. Many longtime San Antonio residents refer to this “fat farm” as a “mental ward” and “asylum” due to the nature the building plans were designed and set up. No, the “fat farm” was never an “insane asylum” as some people would believe or have you believe.

The main building was a large white building constructed in a Spanish architecture style and was located on top of a hill east of US 281. Here the main building was the “Fat Farm”. The main building was built like a large square with a courtyard was located in the center. Staff housing was located south of the main building. A courtyard was located in the center in the shape of a large square formation. The courtyard was one of the notable features of the “fat farm”.

The “Fat Farm” of San Antonio, Texas was located at 2455 Celebration Drive, San Antonio, Texas, US 78261. The other address for the “Fat Farm” was 25530 US 281, San Antonio, Texas, US 78258.