El Fortin del Cibolo Historic District
Also known as: Cibolo Ranch Headquarter
Why it's listed
Set in the Cibolo Creek valley about four miles northwest of Shafter, Texas, this district centers on El Fortin del Cibolo, a fortified adobe ranch house built in the 1860s. The L-shaped compound encloses a courtyard and is guarded by two round towers, with walls of adobe block on a limestone foundation. Milton Faver used it as his home and ranch headquarters until his death there in 1889. He developed an acequia irrigation system, dry-stacked stone walls, and a peach orchard that supplied his well-known peach brandy. After passing through several family and ranch owners, the compound fell into disuse. A restoration and reconstruction between 1990 and 1993 relied on historic photographs and 1936 documentation, rebuilding towers, roofs, walls, orchards, and irrigation ditches. A hacienda, a storage building, and a mausoleum over Faver's grave were added in 1993. The district is recognized for its link to Faver's agricultural enterprise and frontier settlement.
Significance in brief: The district is significant under Criterion A for its association with Milton Faver's ranching and farming operations, in the areas of Agriculture and Exploration and Settlement. Its defensive layout reflects frontier conditions, and its use of water resources and traditional adobe building shows the persistence of local traditions. Faver lived and died there in 1889.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000366, listed April 6, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Approximately 4 mi. NW of Shafter, W of US 67, Shafter |
|---|---|
| County | Presidio County |
| Listed | April 6, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000366 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1865-1889 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and reconstructed between 1990 and 1993; the current function is listed as a hotel, with agricultural fields and graves also in use. |
| Acreage | 606.6 |
| Coordinates | 29.86225, -104.33429 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000366.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999544
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.