FACTS & AMENITIES
Location
The Groves is located approximately one hour northwest of Houston in the rolling countryside of Colorado County near the small historic town of Bernardo. It is located off Cat Spring Road 5 miles north of I-10 between Sealy and Columbus. The drive to I-10 is easy and paved all the way. Ranches and game preserves surround the Groves.
The Name
"The Groves" was chosen to reflect the natural phenomenon of numerous groves of different tree species that cover the land. As you enter Schmitt Creek Road from Cat Spring Road you will notice that there are groves of large live oaks. After going a little deeper into the property you'll discover a grove of post oaks, a grove of pines, a grove of cedars, etc. Of course, most of the groves have a mix of trees including Spanish oak, water oak, post oak, live oak, pecan, pine, cedar, elm, dogwood and others.
The name was also chosen to reflect the past use and enjoyment of a grove of live oaks, known locally as The Grove, located on the north side of Columbus. For many years the grove of live oaks was an area for families and friends to picnic, socialize, celebrate and enjoy life.
Roads
Schmitt Creek Road that winds through The Groves is paved and is owned and maintained by Colorado County. The name of the road was chosen because Schmitt Creek crosses the property and to recognize a pioneer family, the Schmitts, who owned the property for over a hundred years. The road was designed and engineered by Clay & Leyendecker, Inc. located in Katy, Texas and was constructed by Schrader Dozer Services in Bellville, Texas. The speed limit on Schmitt Creek Road is 25 miles per hour to preserve the quiet and safety of the area. The County will be responsible for maintaining the road. Roads traveled to reach I-10 are paved.
Schools
The public school district is Columbus Independent School District, and the schools are located in Columbus, 12 minutes southwest of the property.
Private schools in the area include: St. Anthony's in Columbus and Faith Academy in Bellville, 25 minutes away.
Blinn Community College is located in Brenham, 35 minutes away and Sealy, 20 minutes away.
Electric Company
San Bernard Electric Company supplies electricity for the area. San Bernard Electric installed the underground electric cable that forms a loop along the east side of Schmitt Creek Road. The loop protects homeowners from loss of electricity given that if there is a failure along the line the electricity can be supplied from the other end of the loop.
Telephone
Numerous companies provide telephone service. The lines are owned and maintained by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Septic & Water
Installation of septic systems and water wells are the responsibility of the new owners. Several County-approved contractors are in the area.
Driveways
Several local contractors are available to construct driveways.
Fire Department and Emergency Services
The Bernardo Volunteer Fire Department is located 5 minutes away.
Hospitals
The nearest hospital is Columbus Community Hospital located in Columbus, 12 minutes away. There are 16 active physicians on staff and 16 consulting physicians. Visit the hospital's web site at www.columbusch.org. Hospitals are located in Bellville and Katy also.
Recreation & Entertainment
Golf is available within a 15- to 30- minute drive at the Columbus Golf Club, the Bellville Golf & Recreation Club, and the Weimar Golf Course. Within a 45-minute drive are the Stephen F. Austin Golf Association, www.sfagolf.com, the Brenham Country Club, and the Fox Creek Golf Course in Brenham.
Fishing is available at nearby Lake Fayette, or just build your own pond!
Live Theatre provided at the Stafford Opera House in Columbus once monthly during the 8-month season. The Stafford's lineup for the season may be viewed at www.columbustexas.org. The Unity Theatre in Brenham also offers plays from September through April--visit www.unitybrenham.org for more detail.
Art
The Live Oak Art Center in Columbus is a non-profit art gallery that hosts national and international exhibits and provides art instruction. In Bellville you'll find Buck Fergeson's Originals exhibiting and selling the sculptor's work.
Community Involvement
Several wonderful small communities are nearby. Many opportunities exist for "getting involved" with numerous organizations.
For information about Columbus visit www.columbustexas.org.
For information about Bellville, visit www.bellville.com.
For information about Sealy, visit www.sealy-tx.com.
Historical preservation groups and gardening societies exist in all of the nearby communities. And there are many, many civic groups welcoming new members.
Shopping & Dining
Shopping--Nearby communities of Columbus, Bellville, Sealy and Brenham have numerous antique shops and other interesting locally owned retail businesses. Grocery stores and restaurants are less than 15 minutes away. Market Day is held on the Courthouse Square in Bellville on the first Saturday of every month, when approximately 50 local vendors offer unique handcrafted items and homegrown produce as they have for 37 years.
Hunting
Hunting is a popular sport in Colorado County. People come from all around the world for the famous duck and goose hunting. For more information on duck hunting visit www.texasgoosehunt.com. Guided hunts for deer, wild hogs, quail and pheasant are also available on several local ranches. For information on quail and pheasant hunting visit www.raisinlranch.com and for deer hunting visit www.exoticdeer.org.
Land of Oaks Development LLC
832-492-4244
