La Morita Historic District
Also known as: Morita Ranch Compouns
Why it's listed
La Morita is a ranch district in a box canyon about five miles southwest of Shafter, Texas, built around the year-round Morita Springs. It includes a small two-room adobe cottage, the interpretive outline of El Fortin de la Morita, restacked stone livestock walls, a stock reservoir, former irrigation channels, and an Indian mound with a rock shelter, caves and rock markings. The fort was rebuilt in 1992 on its exposed original foundation, since no historic photographs exist. The cottage was restored by 1994. The property is tied to Milton Faver, who bought the land in 1880 and used it as the center of his sheep and goat ranching. Its walls, corrals and water system reflect frontier conditions, when fortified houses were needed, and local adobe building methods. Faver gave the ranch to a relative in 1889, shortly before his death, and it stayed in that family until 1966. The district is significant for agriculture and for settlement of the area between 1865 and 1889.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents La Morita as Milton Faver's third ranch compound in Presidio County and the headquarters of his sheep and goat operations after 1880. It shows frontier defensive building, use of spring water, and adoption of local building traditions. It is listed under agriculture and exploration and settlement, with Faver as the significant person.
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 95000367, listed April 6, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Approximately 5 mi. SW of Shafter, E of US 67, Shafter |
|---|---|
| County | Presidio County |
| Listed | April 6, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000367 |
| 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) | Cottage restored by 1994; the reconstructed El Fortin is open and unroofed; buildings described as in good to excellent condition. The cottage has been occupied almost continuously, and current function is listed as hotel. |
| Acreage | 116.2 |
| Coordinates | 29.78106, -104.25489 (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 95000367.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999546
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.