History Gallery

Long before the arrival of the Spanish and early pioneers, the Frio Canyon river valley that encompasses Frio Cañon was home to Tonkawas, Apaches and Comanches. In 1762, a Spanish mission – San Lorenzo de la Cruz – was built in what would later become Camp Wood.

Frio Cañon was part of the John Mear ranch, which included a stretch of the Chisolm Trail. The bridge crossing the Frio River is named the “Granny Mear Bridge” in honor of the first settlers at Frio Cañon, who lived in the old ranch’s homestead. Today the same homestead – an original Sears kit house – is the Red House, Frio Cañon’s community center. The Sears kit used to construct the Red House arrived by rail in the early 1900s.Today, architects and master builders including CHAS Architects of Austin, Texas; Shiflet Group Architects of Austin, Texas; and Tony Martin of Fredericksburg, Texas are building homes along the Frio River. The Frio Cañon waterfront community and wildlife preserve is accessible by car, plane or helicopter.