Land for Sale in Alba, Texas

Chapel Lake Ranch is a 975 +/- acre East Texas legacy property located approximately one hour and fifteen minutes from downtown Dallas in Rains County. From the moment you pass through the stately electric-gated entrance, a private paved road winds for more than a mile through manicured hay pastures, meticulously managed water features, and a high-fenced game sanctuary before arriving at the impressive colonial-style estate. Every mile of this ranch has been thoughtfully developed, and the result is one of the most complete and versatile rural offerings in the region.

Situated within the game-rich Sabine River corridor, Chapel Lake Ranch delivers a rare combination of world-class deer and waterfowl hunting, exceptional fishing, riverfront recreation, working agricultural land, and a recently added wedding chapel all under one fence. Whether the goal is a premier hunting operation, a family retreat, a working ranch, or a destination event property, Chapel Lake Ranch is ready to perform on every front.

LOCATION

Chapel Lake Ranch is situated in southeast Rains County, less than 75 miles east of Dallas. Access is provided via Rains County Road 2440, which delivers end-of-road privacy to the ranch's secure gated entrance. The southern boundary stretches nearly three and a half miles along the Sabine River, and the ranch entrance sits less than 20 miles from Wood County Airport, making fly-in access practical for buyers and guests alike.

HABITAT & TOPOGRAPHY

Chapel Lake Ranch encompasses a diverse mosaic of habitat types within the South Central Plains Ecoregion. Native hardwood canopy including oaks, walnut, elm, and pecan frames the upland pastures and transitions into richly timbered bottomlands along the Sabine River corridor. Bottomland soils are predominantly Gladewater Clay, dark, productive, and well-suited for food plots. Upland pasture soils shift to well-drained Woodtell Loam, which supports the ranch's 200 +/- acre Bermuda and Bahia grass hay operation.

An elevation change of approximately 50 feet from 390 feet near the main gate down to 340 feet along the river creates natural drainage patterns that have been enhanced through professionally designed road and drainage infrastructure. Roads are regularly maintained and are passable by truck throughout the property; a side-by-side or buggy is recommended for the most efficient access across the full acreage. The Sabine River bottom adds significant habitat complexity, forming multiple sloughs and low-lying corridors that serve both wildlife and waterfowl exceptionally well.

WILDLIFE & HUNTING

The game-fenced sanctuary currently supports a managed whitetail herd with strong genetics, an active MLD program, and a full wildlife exemption a testament to the years of intentional management invested in this operation. Superior genetics have been carefully maintained, and bucks exceeding 200" B&C are routinely harvested and continue contributing to the herd's future. In addition to whitetail, the ranch carries approximately 50 +/- fallow deer and remnant populations of blackbuck antelope and axis deer, providing a diverse and unique hunting experience.

Six well-positioned tower blinds are strategically distributed across the ranch. Each blind station is equipped with both a corn feeder and a protein feeder, as well as a tree stand for bow hunters offering multiple approach options throughout the season. All feeders are remotely operated and can be activated from anywhere via cell phone, adding a modern layer of management flexibility. Predator wire was installed along the entirety of the game fence approximately three years ago, significantly reducing predator pressure on the herd.

An additional 125 +/- acres along the Sabine have been intentionally left low-fenced and wild, preserving the character of the river bottom in its most natural form. This unfenced stretch consists of classic Sabine bottom timber, native sloughs, and oxbow water, and supports strong free-range populations of whitetail, feral hogs, and waterfowl. Leaving this section outside the high fence was a deliberate and practical decision. It eliminates concerns about flood damage to perimeter fencing along the bank and removes the ongoing maintenance burden of miles of river-edge fence line. For the next owner, this creates a natural hunting ground where guests can pursue native game freely, while the high-fenced sanctuary remains a focused, undisturbed management unit. The two complement each other perfectly.

The waterfowl opportunity tied to this river frontage is one of the most compelling and underutilized assets on the ranch. The Sabine bottom floods regularly, the green timber is already in place, and the natural slough and oxbow structure that defines this stretch creates the kind of habitat that serious waterfowlers spend years trying to find or build. Red's Slough, a naturally formed oxbow nearly a mile in length with 5 +/- acres of surface water, sits within this corridor and functions as a reliable waterfowl magnet through the fall and winter months. Properties with this combination of river miles, bottomland character, and proximity to Dallas are extraordinarily rare in Texas. With the right execution, water control structures, strategic timber management, and minimal infrastructure investment, the next owner has a genuine opportunity to build something reminiscent of Arkansas flooded timber, just miles from the Metroplex. The potential is already there. It simply needs someone willing to realize it.

WATER & FISHING

The ranch's centerpiece fishery is a 13 +/- acre private lake managed in partnership with Lochow Ranch Ponds, one of Texas's most respected fisheries management firms. The lake was completely drained and restocked with premium bass genetics and quality baitfish as part of a thorough renovation. The dam was recently rebuilt and engineered to prevent unwanted fish from entering during Sabine River flood events, a critical detail that protects the considerable investment made in the fishery. The deepest portion of the lake reaches 8 to 9 feet, water quality is excellent, and the lake receives very little fishing pressure. This is not a stocked pond. It is a professionally managed trophy bass fishery, and it fishes as good as it looks.

A scenic potential homesite sits on the west bank of the lake, just inside the main entrance and perfectly positioned overlooking the water and the wedding chapel beyond. This site offers one of the most compelling building settings on the ranch, close to the gate, private, and framed by the lake on one side and the chapel on the other. Whether envisioned as a guest house, executive cabin, or a second family compound, it is the kind of setting where a daughter gets married on a Saturday afternoon with the water at her back and the East Texas hardwoods all around her. Few properties can offer that.

For the serious bass angler, the western bank of legendary Lake Fork is less than 10 miles from the ranch gate.

The Sabine River forms the entire southern boundary of Chapel Lake Ranch, delivering approximately 3.5 miles of continuous river frontage that few properties anywhere in East Texas can match. Frontage of this length and character along the Sabine is becoming increasingly difficult to find as tracts with meaningful river access continue to change hands and consolidate, making this one of the most strategically significant attributes the ranch carries. The river offers exceptional fishing throughout the year, with black bass, sand bass, stripers, catfish, alligator gar, and a full cast of East Texas game fish inhabiting this stretch. During wet seasons, the bottomlands open up an entirely different dimension of recreation. Airboating across the flooded timber and backwater sloughs is as good as it gets in this part of the state, and when the water pulls back, the same ground transitions into some of the most productive native hunting on the property.

Frank's Creek traverses the northern and eastern boundaries, flowing southeast before entering the Sabine and contributing to the formation of Red's Slough. Additional stock tanks distributed across the ranch maintain water year-round, even during dry months.

THE CHAPEL - EVENTS & CELEBRATIONS

Among the most distinctive additions to Chapel Lake Ranch is a beautifully constructed wedding chapel that elevates this property well beyond a traditional hunting or recreational ranch. The chapel seats 12 pews and features stunning European stained glass windows that cast warm, colored light throughout the interior creating a reverent and memorable atmosphere for any occasion.

Whether used for intimate weddings, family worship services, milestone celebrations, or private gatherings, the chapel adds a layer of sentimental and commercial versatility that is nearly impossible to find on a working ranch of this caliber. Set against the backdrop of the lake and East Texas hardwoods, the chapel's setting is as compelling as its craftsmanship. For a buyer looking to generate revenue through events, host family traditions on their own land, or simply have a sacred and beautiful space to call their own, this chapel is a defining feature of Chapel Lake Ranch.

MAIN RESIDENCE

The ranch's signature 12,000 +/- square foot colonial-style red brick home is positioned on a hilltop commanding panoramic views of the private lake, hay pastures, and wildlife sanctuary. The custom three-story residence features 6 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms, with expansive balcony porches on multiple sides. The home's centerpiece is a grand trophy room with soaring 32-foot ceilings. A private landing and separate staircase lead to well-appointed guest quarters with 2 bedrooms and a full bath.

Interior craftsmanship is exceptional throughout, with custom red oak cabinetry and millwork, granite countertops, interior pillars, multiple fireplaces, a private office, workout room, and game room among the standout features. The home's structural integrity begins with an engineered post-tension foundation comprising 632 yards of concrete and 110 twenty-foot piers. An attached 3-car garage with an adjoining mud room, plus a detached garage, provide ample covered parking and utility. An apartment above the garage offers additional private lodging for guests, caretakers, or ranch staff.

With its scale, quality, and setting, the main residence would function equally well as a private family home, executive hunting lodge, or event hosting headquarters for gatherings centered around the chapel and lake.

IMPROVEMENTS & INFRASTRUCTURE

Chapel Lake Ranch is comprehensively improved and ready for immediate use. Key infrastructure includes:

Insulated metal shop 600 SF with game cooler and tool storage

Tractor and implement building 2,600 SF

Insulated gear building 540 SF

Covered shooting range adjacent to the basketball court

Basketball court 1,500 SF

1,000-gallon diesel and 100-gallon gasoline storage tanks

Underground utilities (electricity, water, telephone) run 1.1 miles to the main house Prolific

Wilcox water well (100 GPM) with 2,000-gallon storage tank for irrigation

City water service to the main residence

All-weather paved entry road exceeding one mile in length

CONCLUSION

Chapel Lake Ranch is not simply a ranch. It is a fully realized legacy property that has been built, managed, and refined with intention at every turn. Few offerings in East Texas can match its combination of high-fenced trophy deer hunting, world-class bass fishing, miles of Sabine River frontage, a working hay operation, and a one-of-a-kind chapel, all anchored by a 12,000 +/- square foot estate. Whether you are searching for a premier hunting destination, a private family compound, an income-generating event venue, or simply a place to put down roots in the Texas countryside, Chapel Lake Ranch delivers without compromise. Properties of this caliber, this completeness, and this character rarely come to market.

MINERALS

Contact broker for details