Since we've opened our doors to guests about 2 weeks ago, we've had a couple of nice newspaper articles written about the details of our place in Kerrville.
Here is a great article that just came out yesterday...with some good photos.
http://www.wkcurrent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=71&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=1716&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1107&hn=wkcurrent&he=.com
By Irene Van Winkle
West Kerr Current
Strong young hands, combined with a lot of sweat equity, enthusiasm and enterprise have helped transform a rundown old building into a hunter’s paradise. Its worth has multiplied 10-fold to about $200,000.
Texas Hunt Lodge opened just before Christmas, and eight foster children, all students at Ingram Tom Moore High School, now have much to be proud of, according to two generations of the Bulkley family.
Aaron and Joanie Bulkley were looking for something new to do while he was still working as vice-president of ticketcity.com in Austin. Growing up, he attended Ingram schools. After a year in Finland as a Rotary exchange student, and graduating from Tivy High School, Aaron attended the University of Texas.
The couple pitched in the seed investment of $15,000 for the renovation, and it turned into an ambitious task for the foster children who live with Aaron’s parents, Ralph, a retired state trooper, and Virginia, who sold life insurance.
Under Aaron and Joanie’s guidance, the foster children did most of the renovation.
Once the concept was formed, the work quickly followed. After developing the website, www.texashuntlodge.com, he said the boys “jumped right in� and helped building the lodge.
“Actually it was my idea, and the folks’,� Aaron Bulkley said. “My parents have kept foster kids for about 10 years now, and they’ve had over 100 kids come through.�
The youngsters, who range in age from 14 to 18, identified by their first names for privacy reasons, are Aaron D., Anthony S., Antonio S., Avelino M., Ben S., Michael J., Michael S. and Romulo L.
They have lived at the lodge from between four months and four years. It was the nearest alternative after the home next door they lived in burned down accidentally when a three-year-old played with matches.
The teens worked daily from October to December, 2008 on the project after school or football practice.
Joanie, who does the cooking at the lodge, said that on weekends, “they worked from the time the sun came up until it went down.�
She also works as a long-term substitute teacher at ITMHS.
The boys helped Aaron do much of the plumbing, electrical work, and staining, painting, and pouring of concrete countertops. Paying attention to detail, they embedded objects such as coins and arrowheads into the countertops.
As a result of their experience, some of the boys have expressed an interest in learning more skills, Aaron said.
“They’re interested in guiding and skinning,� Aaron said. “It’s kind of a part-time job for them now as well,� Aaron said. “The boys will be employed as skinners, meat processors, cooks and house cleaners.�
Anthony S., who did the electrical work after training with an electrician, has now turned to becoming a hunting guide. With Aaron alongside, he already helped to guide hunters who came in last week. He helped skin and gut several hogs and deer, and process the meat.
Presently, Aaron hunts on about 15 ranches, and hunters come to stay at the lodge, which is not exactly “roughing it.�
“It’s not your typical hunting lodge out in the woods where hunters are sleeping on cots. It’s comparable to a four-star hotel,� Aaron said. “Our slogan is ‘Exotic hunts with exceptional accommodations.’ We cook nice meals, breakfast lunch and dinner. There’s queen size and full size beds, central heat and air conditioning, and a 50-inch plasma screen on the wall.�
For hunters, the all-inclusive packages include accommodations, guided hunts for more than 46 exotic game species, and private access to the Guadalupe River.
"We wanted them to come back from the ranches to a place near town where they could relax, watch TV and be with their families, if they came along," Aaron said.
Of the several hunters who already stayed, one from as far away as Florida, the feedback reviews have been very favorable.
The project has another phase, which will add an additional 1,000 square feet to the lodge, which currently houses two bedrooms and 2-1/2 baths in its 1,500 square feet.
The Bulkleys plan on contracting for hunting leases with some of the ranches where they currently guide hunts.
An added bonus for the foster kids, who mostly came from the greater San Antonio area, is being able to look out their lodge window and see a large herd of Axis deer come by at dusk to feed just yards away.
"we'd only see one or two sometimes in a park, but never anything like this,� said Avelino M., smiling. “I never thought my life would turn out like this, but I really like it.�
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