Famed Texas Criminal Defense Attorney Puts His Showcase Ranch Up for Sale

40 Acres and a Converted Santa Fe Train Depot Available for $1.2 Million

By Shelby Hodge // Jul 10, 2019

Photography John Deans, Deans Imaging

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The train depot doors welcome visitors to the DeGuerin ranch house, which is on the market for $1.2 million. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The ranch house, a converted Santa Fe rail station, is the center of the 40-acre ranch. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

Spreading oaks shade the front lawn of the ranch house, located just outside of Burton, Texas. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The entry to the ranch, located at the end of the road. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

One of two lakes that grace the 40-acre parcel.(Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The entry hall of the main house. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

A cowboy boot collection greets guests who arrive through the front door. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The rail station living room enjoys a cozy ambience. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The main house living room opens through 'windows' to the kitchen. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

What used to be the station master's office is now the kitchen. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The country kitchen opens to the living room.(Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The master bedroom was fashioned from the freight car. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

High ceilings and open truss work provide character to the master bedroom. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

Mexican tile work decorates the bath. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The house is built with long-leaf pine and cypress. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The second floor bedroom overlooks the lake and pastures. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The sunroom in the main house offers a unique shower opportunity. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The property includes a working barn. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The barn bunk room sleeps six. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

Barn stalls are ready for horses. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The tack room is a romantic reminder of the ranching operation. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

Dick and Janie DeGuerin at their Washington County Ranch. (Courtesy photo) (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

An arial view for the 40 acres which are on the market with John Daugherty, Realtors.(Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

The sitting area with fire pit and water well lie a stone's throw from the main house. (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

default (Photo by John Deans, Deans Imaging)

We’re all familiar with downsizing, that time of life when the kids are gone, the house seems too big and suddenly less is more. But we don’t always associate that with a ranch, at least not until one of the state’s lead criminal defense attorneys decides to slice through his 120 acres in Washington County, putting a sweet section of it on the market.

Houston’s Dick DeGuerin and wife Janie purchased the rich parcel, just outside of Burton, in 1982 and have spent the intervening years spawning glorious family memories. But with all of their children now living out of state, the couple no longer needs so much acreage and so many structures. And that’s good news for anyone interested in a 40-acre ranchette chock full of live oaks and boasting two spring-fed lakes stocked with fish. Asking price, $1.2 million.

For some potential buyers, the glories of this property, listed with Jeanine Kaminski-Ditzel of John Daugherty, Realtors, would lie within the dwellings. The main house is a converted Santa Fe train depot that exudes Western charm and comfort. The station master’s office, for example, is today a spacious country kitchen while the master bedroom was carved from the former freight room which affords high ceilings, open truss work and a screened porch. Details include long-leaf pine and cypress construction, pine floors and a custom stone fireplace. There’s a guest room on the second floor. And that is just the beginning.

The property includes a quaint, one-bedroom guest house and a working barn with a bunk room that sleeps six, putting the total bed count at 12. The barn includes stables, a tack room and a work room.

“This land is part of me and my family, but with most of our children living out of state, it doesn’t make sense for us now,” DeGuerin said in a statement. “We are keeping a nice piece of the land where I’ll still be raising chickens, horses and longhorn cattle. I can leave my office in downtown Houston and be at the ranch in just over an hour.”

And with that, you could have a famed defense attorney as your neighbor out there, at 11022 Wildlife Circle.