The name “Comanche Trace” has its roots in the Texas of the Old West, commemorating the trails the Comanche Tribe used to travel from one hunting/camping area to another. The nomadic Penateka Comanche once roamed the hills and valleys of the Edwards Plateau, or Hill Country, following the herds of buffalo as they migrated and hunted the animals for food and clothing.
The Penateka “lookout” would one day become the site of the clubhouse at Comanche Trace—known as the Pinnacle Building because the peak sits at one of the highest points in Kerr County and overlooks the entire development.
The property’s location on the banks of the Guadalupe River made it a natural for farming and ranching, and following its use by the Comanche it served as a ranch for nearly a century and a half. In 1978, the ranch was purchased by Bobby Shelton, a descendant of Captain Richard King of the legendary King Ranch. Inspired by his love for horses and his respect for the Comanche as great horsemen, Shelton renamed the property “Comanche Trace” and made it his horse ranch and corporate headquarters.
Shelton passed away in 1994, but Comanche Trace was soon on its way to becoming a residential real estate development like no other in the state of Texas. With its austere beauty, its prime location, and its remarkable history intact, the storied ranch was ready to transition to the venue for a new generation to pursue the joys of ranch-style living.
World-class golf came to Comanche Trace in the late 1990s, when Tom Kite, Roy Bechtol, and Randy Russell were engaged to craft a championship golf course meandering through the new houses, live oaks, and limestone hills. The 18-hole circuit (now The Valley and The Hills nines) opened in 2000, and a third nine (The Creeks) was added in 2008.
As parcels of the property were sold as homesites, Comanche Trace emerged as both a mecca for residential development and a thriving new community, with its own streets, neighborhood events, and unique Texas style.
