Patrick is a 6th generation Texan who grew up hunting, fishing, and adventuring in the Texas Hill Country. A graduate of Texas A&M University, he’s lived all over the globe from Hungary to Mexico and his passion for travel and wild places has led him to work as a photographer, filmmaker and guide in Montana, Utah, and Texas.
About Us
Explore Ranches was born out of a desire to share some of the most wild and scenic places in the world with others. We offer authentic outdoor experiences and access to charming ranch homes on some of the world’s least explored private lands. In the process of enabling access to these natural treasures, we are making new connections between our guests and land owning partners. We believe that by building this community, we are all contributing to a network of open space that not only benefits wildlife but the very food we eat, water we drink and air we breathe.
As part of our commitment to ensure that wild spaces remain that way, we donate a percentage of every booking to local land, water and wildlife conservation efforts. Whether you are one of our guests, a ranch partner or one of our guides, at Explore Ranches we are all on an endless journey to find our place in the wild.
As part of our commitment to ensure that wild spaces remain that way, we donate a percentage of every booking to local land, water and wildlife conservation efforts. Whether you are one of our guests, a ranch partner or one of our guides, at Explore Ranches we are all on an endless journey to find our place in the wild.
Outdoor & Adventure Specialists
Each of our properties has its own character and way of experiencing the land. When you want an expert to provide an unforgettable day, whether it’s fly fishing, a ranch-to-table meal or songs by the campfire, you can depend on our group of highly-trained outdoor and adventure specialists. If you can imagine it, the Explore Ranches team can make it happen.
Patrick Trash
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Patrick Trash
Austin Alvarado
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Austin Alvarado
Austin was born in Austin, TX. He is a 1st generation Guatemalan American and spent his childhood going back and forth between Austin, TX and Guatemala. He chose to go to Texas A&M and while earning his B.S. in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Science, he spent summers working on cruise ships in the Mediterranean and river guiding on the Rio Grande in the Big Bend. Austin has paddled a number of rivers around the world but he continues to call the Rio Grande his home. He previously served as the Activities and River manager for the leading outfitter in Big Bend, Far Flung Outdoor Center. Austin has spent the past 5 years leading commercial trips down the Rio Grande, with the last 3 years as a permanent resident of the Big Bend area. Collectively, he has paddled over 200 miles of the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area.
Tara Shackelford
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Tara Shackelford
Growing up with a family owned ranch in the Big Bend region of Texas, Tara’s love for the outdoors and adventure all began in the Chihuahuan Desert. Her professional career started in the Texas Hill Country at The Outdoor School as an outdoor educator and led her from the east to west coast, leading trips that included caving, climbing, sailing, and kayaking. In 2017, Tara began working as an instructor for Outward Bound California facilitating multi-day backpacking trips in the Bay area and High Sierras. Tara currently works for Far Flung Adventure in Terlingua, Texas leading river trips down the Rio Grande and has started her own guide business, Hidden Dagger Adventures, leading expeditions on her family’s ranch as well as guided trips within Big Bend National Park.
Logan Lewis
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Logan Lewis
A native of Alpine, Texas, Logan Lewis has spent his life exploring the outdoors. His passion for wild places has influenced all aspects of his life. In pursuit of experience, Logan has worked for ranching operations as far as New Zealand and big cat projects in Florida and South America. His love of far west Texas brought him home where he works as an outfitter, guide, cameraman, and open fire cook.
Dan Dyer
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Dan Dyer
Dan Dyer writes songs with heart. His signature sound melds together soul, folk, and country to reveal music full of a storyteller’s lyricism, a rambler’s travails, and enough self-awareness to keep it honest. A native of Tool, Texas, a tiny, rural town on Cedar Creek Lake flanked by oak, pecan, and ash trees, Dan has spent his life in the wide-open spaces of the Texas landscape. Today, Dan calls the outskirts of Austin home, where he feeds his handyman tendencies and soulful nature with a plot of land framed by sky at the end of a dirt road. And nearly every day, he makes the time to write. Stories are the hallmark of his music.
Nicole & Kimberly
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Nicole & Kimberly
To Be True is led by Nicole Thomson of Map + Compass Photography and Kimberley Bentley of Silver Thistle Events, two seasoned, award-winning wedding professionals. They share three decades of experience creating meaningful elopement experiences + weddings all over the world.
Management, Hospitality and Creative Team
Simply put, we are landowners, outdoor enthusiasts and creatives working to provide private access to amazing landscapes, accommodations and experiences in the U.S. and abroad.
Allison Ryan
Co-Founder & Director of Customer Experience
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Allison Ryan
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Allison Ryan grew up with a passion for the outdoors. Frequent trips to her family retreat in the Davis Mountains served to deepen her love of wild places and the unique experiences they provide. Her father’s extensive conservation work in West Texas has instilled in Allison a responsibility to preserve the land and share its beauty with others. That, combined with her enthusiasm for fitness and her personal training practice in Austin, led Allison to create a successful wellness retreat in Madera Canyon. She is excited by the opportunity to expose more people to life behind the fences.
Jay Kleberg
Co-Founder & Managing Director
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Jay Kleberg
Jay Kleberg is a sixth generation Texan, born and raised on a working ranch in South Texas. He is co-founder of a Brazilian-based Amazonian adventure travel company and conservation organization and previously served as Associate Director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, where he oversaw a state-wide young outdoor enthusiast organization and a land conservation program that managed 20,000 acres of working ranch land and wildlife habitat. Jay earned his B.A. from Williams College and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his family live in Austin, Texas.
Jesse Womack
Co-Founder & Director of Landowner Outreach
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Jesse Womack
Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jesse Womack is a fifth generation rancher and founder of the RanchNetwork, which seeks to connect livestock producers, managers, employees, vendors, and service providers to create an open community with the goal of increasing profitability and efficiency. Mr. Womack currently helps to manage his family ranch in Victoria County, Texas with his brother William. He graduated from Texas Christian University Ranch Management program in 2002.
Grant Pittman
Marketing & Creative Lead
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Grant Pittman
Born and raised in Dallas, Grant moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas. During his time in Austin, Grant developed a deep connection to the natural beauty of Texas, often exploring the Barton Creek Greenbelt and the Texas Hill Country. This connection fueled his love for outdoor activities like photography, rock climbing, backpacking, and fishing.
After several years in the corporate world, Grant decided to follow his passion, transitioning into a career as a freelance photographer and videographer. His work has taken him across Texas, collaborating with landowners to create compelling marketing materials that showcase their properties. Always in pursuit of the next adventure, Grant has explored countries across South America, Europe, and Asia, including a six-month stint living in South Korea.
After several years in the corporate world, Grant decided to follow his passion, transitioning into a career as a freelance photographer and videographer. His work has taken him across Texas, collaborating with landowners to create compelling marketing materials that showcase their properties. Always in pursuit of the next adventure, Grant has explored countries across South America, Europe, and Asia, including a six-month stint living in South Korea.
Ross Chinni
Digital Platform Lead
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Ross Chinni
Ross Chinni is a native of Schertz, Texas and has been a Product Designer for 11+ years. During that time he has worked across many industries on 32 digital products, ranging from popular consumer apps to enterprise software suites. His designs have won Webbby awards, Lifehacker awards, been featured on the Apple stage, and acquired by GoPro. With this depth of experience he consults with start-ups at all stages, creating well-designed products that have real market value. Ross and his family live in Austin, and he has a desire to see Explore Ranches provide access to more wild places in Texas and beyond.
Emily Conkle
Sales Lead
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Emily Conkle
Emily Conkle is a native Texan passionate about making a positive impact on the land and the communities connected to it. Her career has been marked by hands-on experience across diverse ranches, from managing hospitality and educational programs at Ranchlands Chico Basin Ranch to overseeing guest operations at Zapata Ranch. Her roles have allowed her to cultivate a deep understanding of sustainable ranching practices, land stewardship, and the importance of sharing these values with others. Emily is excited to continue her journey in the field of conservation and hospitality, bringing her expertise and enthusiasm to new opportunities where she can contribute to meaningful projects and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.