King Ranch Visitor Center

This was a really awesome experience. I highly recommend booking a tour in advance. We had a wonderful tour by a former ranch hand. There’s so much to learn in so much to see. I wish the tour was a little bit longer, but in one and a half hours, we were able to take the loop and see lots of beautifulanimals here on the ranch.

Wonderful visitor center with an informative historical film, captioned hanging photos throughout, books, and King Ranch memorabilia. Convenient restrooms in a nearby building. Take the 90-minute King Ranch historical/informative bus tour that drives through the local grounds. See the Santa Gertrudis Cattle and the Quarter Horses as well as Longhorns and Caracara falcons. Learn about the rich history of the family that began, still resides on, and is still involved with the ranch. We were very pleased with Gabe as our guide; he was well informed and was a pleasure to meet.

The King Ranch Visitor centers offers a quaint selection of King Ranch memorabilia. Numerous books regarding various King Ranch related history, cookbooks, hats, shirts, t-shirts, etc. There is also a 30+ minute video that relates some of the history of the King Ranch, its early beginnings, the expansion, and ongoing operations. Very interesting video. We also took the history tour that last for 90 minutes. It was absolutely great.

I would not recommend this tour if you are wanting really see ranch. You are on a small bus for almost the entirety of the 1.5 hour tour. We got lucky and saw a few animals, but we were told that is not always the case. Many of the things you want to see in person, we were not allowed to, only allowed to drive by. I personally would not waste money on this tour.

It was OK - it's pricey for what you get. FYI, You can drive the area and read about the history and current operation for FREE It asked if I recommend buying tickets in advance, I recommend you don't buy tickets. But if you are down for paying for sitting on a bus when you can see the ranch for free, then yes, buy tickets in advance

I mean, it's a small store with a desk clerk ready to process your purchase of t shirts that don't fit because they don't restock common sizes like Large and medium. The coolest stuff there you cannot buy like a king ranch branded sowboy boot and a studfed rattler. Idk. I guess I expected more. I get that it's a working ranch and tourist stuff is probably the last thing on their mind. But I wish they'd put more creative throught into their gift shop buying. Awesome t shirts rather than lame ones. The mugs are ok I guess. But no beer glasses. They have books on the 300+ species of bird on the ranch... Not that that isn't intereseting... But that's the stuff we're talking about. They need leather goods, sweet artisan style shirts, hats, boots with the brand in the sole, belt buckles, branded cast iron, history books, watch bands, cigars... All things manly. Unless you're going to go on the tour, might as well skip that detour.

Great tour guide but worst tour ever. Difficult to take pictures from inside a crowded bus. We were not allowed outside the bus because of the possibility of being bitten by a rattlesnake. The view of the main house was anti-climactic. The bus drove by what looked like the back of the house, which meant that people on the opposite side of the bus couldn’t even take a quick picture of it. No stops to see inside a barn or bunkhouse. Primarily just stops to look at cattle of different breeds and a few horses in fields. Definitely not worth the money. And don’t get me started about the visitor center. No photography allowed. The one person at the front stopped my wife and told her no photos. It’s the only interaction we had with the staff there. Interesting museum but to charge an entrance fee and not allow personal photos is ridiculous.

This interesting tour covers the gambit from Texas history, ranching practices, wildlife management and so much more. You'll see all kinds of flora and fauna, you'll see historic structures and implements, you'll see beautiful cattle and horses, and an array of creatures in their natural habitat. This tour packs it into 90 minutes which goes by in a flash.