Legendary Houston Heart Surgeon’s Beloved Ranch Hits the Market with a $7.9 Million Asking Price: River Retreat From It All Covers 406 Acres

BY Annie Gallay // 04.02.18

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Bluebonnets blossom around the compound at Cooley Ranch.

The Cooley ranch is made up of five different homes.

Cool Acres looks over the Brazos River and the houses are nestled by a lake, but they have never flooded.

You can't beat a country view like this.

This charming blue backsplash adds flair to the kitchen.

Cooley purchased an initial 170 acres before gradually expanding the family getaway.

This dining room lets in lots of natural light.

The other houses also boast inviting dining rooms.

The expansive living room is just one of five throughout the country escape.

The homes feature classic hardwood floors.

Each home looks out on a broad yard perfect for days of playing in the sun.

The living rooms feature tall ceilings, opening up the space.

Meals made in the country kitchen can be enjoyed anywhere, from the dining room to the sun room or even the party pavilion.

Nestled in by the lake, the Cool Acres homes have two different water views.

House three includes a billiards room for friendly games.

The third home features two bedrooms upstairs and two downstairs.

This sunny spot is perfect for basking but without the heat.

In all, Cool Acres sits on over 400 acres.

It doesn't get more Texas than the Brazos River.

The living spaces are both roomy and cozy.

The porch swing is the perfect addition to a family getaway.

The sleeping porch fits plenty of partygoers.

The homes have a rustic, old-school vibe with accents like this.

Cool Acres has two tennis courts for double the fun.

This periwinkle kitchen is equal parts quaint and cute.

The vintage caboose is just one of many attractions for the little ones.

Bluebonnets blossom around the compound at Cooley Ranch.

The iconic Cool Acres ranch is officially up for grabs, so long as you have a cool $7.9 million to spare. Legendary Houston heart surgeon Denton Cooley poured his heart into the country escape in the hamlet of Orchard in Fort Bend County, expanding upon his initial purchase to make room for his growing family.

Now, the Texas Heart Institute founder’s sprawling family getaway at 2548 Ayler is on the market. Cooley died in 2016 at age 95, leaving behind the legacy of the one of the most remarkable careers ever seen in medicine.

The massive, five-house ranch is just a 30-minute drive from Houston. Since the 1960s, it’s been the site of many parties, hospital picnics and more. It is an ideal retreat for fishing, paddle boating, canoeing, riding, dove hunting and more.

Cool Acres sits on 406 acres and is located 115 feet above the Brazos River, giving it a dazzling Texas water view. Built on a bluff, it has nearly a mile of river frontage and the homes are tucked in by a little lake. The homes have reportedly never flooded.

The ranch’s stunning views look to the West and the East, covering cypress trees, pecan trees and sweet-smelling magnolia trees.

The leisure spot was built to be enjoyed by many. Between the sprawling compound’s five houses, there are 18 bedrooms, 11 full baths and five half baths. The compound boasts entertainment amenities like two tennis courts and a pool room. The festive party pavilion seems built for a night in the open air, with space for 50 picnic tables.

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Yes, this is no small ranch.

Children can delight in make-believe at the playground with a vintage train caboose or the original Orchard Post Office, which was relocated to the compound. It was moved brick by brick. Set up with miniature desks, kids can play pretend in the mock schoolhouse space.

They can also spin around the roller rink pavilion, which includes a full kitchen and two full bathrooms.

Denton Cooley bought the original 170 acres near Simonton in 1958. He was truly a pioneer of modern medicine. Throughout his illustrious career, Cooley repaired more than 100,000 hearts. He was the very first person to ever perform a heart transplant in the United States and the first person to implant a totally artificial heart in a human.