Spettel Riverside House
Lakehills, Bandera County, Texas
Marker Inscription
John B. Spettel, Jr. (1853-1909), through partnerships with Jacob Koenig, his brother Joseph Spettel and his brother-in-law Louis Schorp, became a successful area cattleman. By 1881 he and his bride Theresa Leibold (1854-1941) were living in this home a mile south of Mitchell's Crossing on the Medina River, now under the waters of Medina Lake. Featuring elaborate ornamentation, the Spettel Riverside House became a popular stop for travelers on the road between Castroville and Bandera. Following completion of the Medina Dam in 1912, it was moved to this site. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1981
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John B. Spettel, Jr. built a fortune in area cattle through partnerships with his brother, brother-in-law, and neighbors, and by 1881 he and his wife Theresa Leibold had settled into this ornately trimmed house above the Medina River. Standing near Mitchell's Crossing on the road between Castroville and Bandera, it became a favorite stop for travelers. When the Medina Dam was finished in 1912 and the lake rose over its original site, the whole house was moved to higher ground.
Why it matters
The Spettel house tells two Texas stories at once—the rise of Hill Country ranching families and the way early-20th-century water projects reshaped the very land people lived on.
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Related people
- · John B. Spettel, Jr.
- · Theresa Leibold
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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