The T9C Ranch
To Open as Party Barn & Recreation Facility

Eldorado resident Jim Runge is busily preparing a new facility for church and company picnics, corporate retreats and seminars, game dinners, large family reunions, lock ins, play days, project graduations, wedding receptions, and other such private parties in the NOWHERE area. While Runge's experience in this field will be the guiding force in the scheduling and event programming, he will be heavily assisted in all areas of the operation by Claryce Williams, ranch owner, who will be taking an active role in the project.

Runge has been in this line of work in one form or another since 1969, after graduating from NTSU with a degree in recreation. His career has run the gamut of the entertainment spectrum and he plans to draw on his nearly 40 years of experience to create a one-of-a-kind facility with many distinctive options available.

His first job after graduation was as the manager of the Bar K Ranch Resort in Leander, Texas. In 1970, he became the first park and recreation director for the City of McKinney and in 1971, he added a side business of catering to company picnics with an entertainment booking package built around old style carnival games, which he still maintains. In 1973, he opened his first recreational facility in Navo between Denton and McKinney. Initially, he conducted moto-x races there, but eventually it included a swim club, picnic areas and periodic special events, and was called Runge Recreation Ranch, later shortened to the RRR Country Club.

In 1988, Runge began entertaining on a more personal basis, dressing up as any number of historical or hysterical characters and appearing primarily at large conventions and other gatherings around the state. In one capacity or another, Runge has performed in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fredericksburg, Galveston, Houston, Kerrville, McKinney, San Angelo, San Antonio, Sherman and Tyler. His repertoire of impersonations now exceeds 100 and he has appeared at nearly every major facility and/or event in Texas.

Beginning in 1995, he served as the events coordinator for the Downtown McKinney Association, honing his promotional skills and developing even more distinctive events. Over the past 40 years, he has conducted over 3,000 special events, including festivals, carnivals, chili cook-offs, debutante parties, haunted houses, orienteering runs, private parties, project graduations, road races, etc., throughout the state.

The T9C has been envisioned for many years by Frank Williams, the late owner and builder. He had been building the infrastructure since 1994, and he and Runge, classmates in Eldorado since 1950, had informally discussed the different possibilities for the secluded but handy location. Frank had wanted to create a "Fun Place," but his plans were cut short by his death in 2004. However, in 2006, his widow, Claryce, approached Runge about the possibilities that might exist for the 100+ acre spread. The two came up with the current plan for a distinctive party and recreational facility that was convenient for the entire San Angelo area. With the infrastructure in place, all that was needed was to fine tune the facilities and add proper programming. Plans are now being made for a Grand Opening slated for early spring 2009.

The T9C Ranch activities will be centered around a 4,900-square-foot party barn which has four downstairs rooms plus a 1,400-square-foot party loft available for private group rental. The barn, in and of itself, is a leisurely walk through the past with displays of many antiques and memorabilia. Other amenities include a separate 700-square-foot powder room and cook shack, a gift shop, an illusion room, recreational playing fields, elevated disc jockey area, stage and picnic areas. An additional small "ballroom" will be enlarged as need dictates. Many unique options are available that cannot be found elsewhere, such as appearances by impersonators of over 100 famous or infamous characters, staff costumed to a theme, photo props and pictures of the assembled group in the costume of the day, carnival games, casino games, dunk tank, 4 X 4 skiing, hayrides, karaoke, medicine show, pasture safaris, RV hookups, seasonal events, and many other unique features and events that are sure to surface as time wears on.

As an added bonus, there will be several special events during the year which will be open to the public, primarily the three festivals that Runge has established in Eldorado over the past six years. The Idiotarod (formerly the Elgoatarod) in April, Running of the BULL in July, and "All the King's Clones Festival" in January will now be held in the serenity of a country setting. Other public events planned are athletic tournaments, Easter Egg hunt, Mardi Gras party, Super Bowl party, Texas History Week celebration, St. Patrick's Day party, April Foolishness, Mias Amigas dance, Elvis Wake and a Wild West Dickens event.

Also scheduled for the T9C will be the latest version of Count Dracula's Quality Pre-Owned Casket Company. Runge operated his first haunted house in 1976, albeit a small one, and operated several houses under contract in the DFW area until 1989, when he created his own show in a 14,000-square-foot facility in McKinney, which was widely recognized as one of the top haunted attractions in the DFW area. In that same building, Runge developed and managed a theatre and theatrical group which presented plays throughout the year. He moved the haunted house to Eldorado in 2002, and it will now be rebuilt bigger and better at the T9C to open with a skeleton crew in October of 2009.

Another featured event of the T9C will be periodic dinner theatres and campfire concerts around the massive campfire pit on the property. Different entertainers such as cowboy poets, musicians, and other fun stuff will be scheduled throughout the year. These entertainers may also be booked in for campfire programs at any private gatherings at the ranch, if desired.

The T9C is conveniently located three miles west of the Eldorado airport on paved Rabbit Road. Go south from San Angelo on Highway 277, in Eldorado turn right at the only stoplight in town at Highway 915. Turn left after one mile at the Eldorado city limit sign. Go past the airport three miles to the T9C Ranch entrance on your left. Just follow the legendary hysterical signs and barrels from Eldorado's city limits.

For more information re: details, fees, or to book an event, contact Jim Runge at 325-853-3678 or email. Clients are welcome to contract with their outside food caterers or, of course, they may bring their own food for picnics and reunions.

Jim Runge
P. O. Box 199
Eldorado, TX 76936
(325) 853-3678