About

About - Loma Vista of Texas, purveyors of handmade American Buffalo / Bison leather goods.

 

"Authentic American Buffalo" (Bison) using the highest quality, full-grain bison leather in all its bags, luggage and hunting accessories. Our Bison hides all ship from Texas to be custom tanned using a proprietary shrunken grain process at our tannery in Mexico. They then return to Texas as custom made products ready for delivery to the customer.

Designed by Texans and made in North America. American Buffalo (Bison) leather integrated with vegetable tanned American Bridle Leather. Classic Italian styling in the custom made beveled antique brass hardware. YKK antique brass zippers and ballistic nylon interiors. 

A unique, rich look, with a Lifetime Guarantee!

The History of Loma Vista:

Loma Vista is part of a rich Texas heritage dating to before the battle of the Alamo. The Loma Vista Ranch, family owned and operated, was founded in 1941 deep in the brush country of South Texas near the community of Loma Vista in Zavala County.

Cattle ranching and leather goods go hand in hand. Leather cowboy boots, saddles, chaps and other necessary items are all part of the daily life of a working cattle ranch. So, by the 21st century, a lifetime love for high quality leather items of practical value has evolved into the creation of a line of premium quality full-grain, vegetable-tanned American Buffalo (Bison) leather products for both men and women. These products are now being offered to discriminating buyers of handmade leather bags, luggage and hunting accessories. 

Family members and ranch hands - 1922 at Blanco, Texas headquarters.

Loma Vista of Texas coincidentally has a very similar parallel historic time frame similar to that of Leddy's Boots. Once again, cattle and leather are part of that story along with the Texas oil industry and now in 2018 a passion for American Buffalo (Bison) leather products.

The family patriarch, born of humble origins, Feb 12, 1886 in a wagon in Atascosa County, Texas  was the original founder of the Loma Vista ranch. He and 3 of his 5 brothers drilled their first wildcat well shown further down in 1919 South of San Antonio..

100 years ago in 1918, a 32 year old native Texan with a ranch near Blanco, Texas, and a background traveling the dirt roads of Texas, the Southwest and most of America in the entertainment business, decided to try his hand in the Texas oil business. "W.D." as he was known by all aspired to hit it big. By the next year, his  three younger brothers, Mike, Lonnie and Gus had joined him and they owned their own drilling rig and started digging their first wildcat well in Atascosa County not far from where he was born in a wagon back in 1886. 

1919 Atascosa County - 1st Well drilled with their own drilling rig

They didn’t make a lot of money the first few years but learned a lot about the Texas oil game. After traveling from one Texas oil boom town to another from 1918-1922, they got their first big break in 1922 when they struck it rich drilling wells for Edgar B. Davis at the fabulous Luling, Texas oil discovery. They had a drilling rig for each brother by now.

Texas oil field circa 1920

Later in the 1920's the brothers drilled in West Texas. Then in 1930 they went to Longview, Texas to participate in the great East Texas Oil Field that made so many Texans wealthy beyond their childhood dreams.

Then in 1941, the same year Leddy's opened their Fort Worth store, W.D. bought a 9,000 acre ranch and began piecing together what would ultimately become the 15,000 acre Loma Vista ranch in Zavala County Texas deep in the Wild Horse Desert (once home to vast herds of American Buffalo and Wild Mustangs), near the remains of the 19th century town of Loma Vista, Texas and the old Presidio Trail leading from Mexico to San Antonio. W.D. began breeding Santa Gertrudis cattle, a breed originated by the King Ranch. In 1951, he became a charter member of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International. In subsequent years more Santa Gertrudis cattle, horses and whitetail deer, all from the King Ranch made their way to Loma Vista. 

1951 Certificate for Charter Member #200 of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International

 https://www.loma-vista.com/blogs/news/american-icons 

By the early 1960's, W.D. had amassed a herd of 2,000 head of Santa Gertrudis on the Loma Vista ranch.  He owned other ranch properties in Frio, Live Oak and McMullen counties, but Loma Vista was his pride and joy. After his sudden death in July of 1964 at age 78, the ranch remained in family hands.

Despite being a working cattle ranch, wildlife conservation and pioneering game management practices that are standard today led to the development of an outstanding whitetail deer herd. These standards were part of everyday life as far back as the early 1960's.

By the Spring of 1974 cattle buyers from 31 states and Canada made their way to South Texas for Loma Vista's sales record setting first annual production sale. Texas Monthly featured Loma Vista's advertising agency in an August 1974 article highlighting the historic American record setting April, 1974 sale. ("The highest ever paid one ranch - for any breed - in American History. Third highest in World History.") In ensuing years cattle buyers from across the USA, Canada & Mexico continued to buy cattle marketed under the Loma Vista brand name.

Cattle ranching and leather goods go hand in hand. Leather cowboy boots, saddles, chaps and other necessary items are all part of the daily life of a working cattle ranch. So, by the 21st century, a lifetime love for high quality leather items of practical value has evolved into the creation of a line of full-grain, leather products featuring American Buffalo (Bison)  and American bridle leather.  Add custom made antique brass fittings to produce the unique look of our handmade, premium quality full-grain, leather bags, luggage and hunting accessories. 

So, by the end of 2017, Loma Vista of Texas was finally ready to begin the introduction of our American Buffalo (Bison) leather goods line. Now in 2018, the roll-out is underway. We began 2018 at the Dallas Safari Club Convention in January and in February, we are heading to the Houston Rodeo to participate in the showroom offerings presented by Leddy's Boots .

The family was headquartered in Blanco, Texas from 1912-1940.

He was a charter member of Santa Gertrudis Breeders International. Santa Gertrudis cattle were a new breed developed by the King Ranch.In subsequent years more Santa Gertrudis cattle, horses and whitetail deer, all from the King Ranch made their way to Loma Vista. 

Historical note of interest: The Mexican general, Santa Anna, is said to have stopped near the community of Loma Vista on his march to San Antonio for the Battle of the Alamo in early 1836. Loma Vista was located along what was known as the Camino Real or Old Presidio Road that was used as a route to San Antonio from Mexico beginning in the 1600's.

More information will be made available about the history of Loma Vista as time goes on. Stay tuned!

"Loma Vista" - is Spanish that roughly translates into "panoramic view" or "view from the hill".

Loma Vista logo 2016

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