The Great OUTdoors

Fifty miles from the city, the new Rockin’ R Ranch gives GLBT campers room to roam

by Sheri Cohen Darbonne

Pat Priebe (pictured, left) and Deb Bezdek (right), both long-time campers, had in mind their love of wide-open spaces and fresh country air when they bought 12 rolling, heavily wooded acres in the Navasota/Magnolia area. At this time last year, the women, both approaching retirement age, viewed the property as a purely personal investment. Before long, however, these two adventurous spirits recognized the potential for their space to be developed into an outdoor paradise for a diverse and growing segment of the region’s GLBT community. So begins the story of the Rockin’ R Ranch, a promising new “family owned and operated” campground right in Houston’s backyard.

Priebe and Bezdek will host grand-opening celebrations at Rockin’ R Ranch over Memorial Day weekend, May 24–26.

“Actually, when we bought the property, we didn’t have any specific plans to use it for that purpose,” Priebe notes. “We just thought that since we have the space, and it sounds like so much fun—why not do it?”

Priebe and Bezdek had long been avid campers, and both had visited other gay and lesbian camps and resorts, including the well-known Rainbow Ranch near Groesbeck, in central Texas. “We didn’t know if there were any [GLBT camping facilities] in the Houston area, but we thought it would be nice to have one,” Priebe says. “We started seriously working on [the plan] last fall.”

The site is still in development and is currently open only for primitive camping. But a slew of amenities for those greener to the green experience are already in the works, including a shower facility.

“Our shower house will take a little longer to complete than we initially expected, but we’re working on the problems now,” Priebe says. “Within the next month, we plan to have an electrician out here to do the wiring [to provide electrical hookups].”

Even at this early, rustic stage, the camp is inciting quite a bit of interest in the community. Priebe says that a Rockin’ R’s small ad in this publication has generated calls not only from excited campers but also from potential supporters and investors. “We get about two or three calls and a couple of e-mails every week from the ad. In fact, we just got a call from some people who want to come out here this weekend.” Overall, she says, news of the fledgling camp has received a tremendous positive response. “We’re really excited about it.”

Located just minutes away from the site of the Texas Renaissance Festival and about 50 miles outside the city, the Rockin’ R offers both seasoned and novice campers a secluded retreat from the bustling metropolis, but without the dubious fringe benefit of an all-day road trip. The Rockin’ R’s proximity to GLBT nightlife in Houston makes the ranch an interesting lodging alternative for tourists as well.

This campground welcomes both women and men, and the owners go out of their way to make their guests at home. Bezdek and Priebe have given the place a unique flavor by adding their own special touches to enhance the camping experience. Just one example: pygmy goats as well as horses on the property, “just for fun.”

Three beautiful horses now live on the property, and the Rockin’ R may soon offer horseback riding. RV and tent rentals are offered for the roomy campsites, firewood is available, and the spunky hosts furnish coffee and donuts on Sunday mornings.

Sheri Cohen Darbonne, who previously served as Houston Voice editor, recently returned here to live and work.

ROCKIN’ INTO THE FUTURE

Pat Priebe and Deb Bezdek’s vision for their Rockin’ R Ranch (936/894-3779, rr@rockinrranch.net) includes building some type of enclosure for use as a space for music festivals and other events.

“We will have several pull-thrus in addition to the regular tent sites and a dump station,” Priebe says. “[We also] will have special weekly rates for camping, special monthly site fees, and storage space available for a small fee.”

Priebe and Bezdek will also offer special rates for the grand-opening festivities at Rockin’ R, set for Memorial Day weekend. More info: www.rockinrranch.net.

If you have any comments about this article, please email them to letters@outsmartmagazine.com.