Jul 3 2012
Klutts Family Farm – Abandoned Farm House
Last week I was out driving around Rockwall County mostly scouting out places to shoot. Overall the trip was successful, I found one great place to shoot (just need to gain access to the property) and another place that might be good shoot. The final place I found wasn’t so great, just an old barn that that has seen better days. Wasn’t really worth the stop but, I did take a few shots that turn out well. I will eventually share the results…
As for the successful find, it’s its off an old farm road at the edge of Rockwall, Texas. The old farm is the Klutts Family Farm. I recently came across this place from several local photographers that shared their work through social media. The farm house is a popular place to shoot but its still has a no trespassing sign at the gate. So you find a lot of pictures taken from the road.
Finding the property was a bit of an issue and there wasn’t any good instructions on how to get to the place. But after driving around Rockwall County I found it and its only about 30-40 minutes from Dallas.
What’s Rockwall County Like
I really do not know much about Rockwall County. I do know its is a very nice area to live but, it is mostly rural and sadly its slowly growing up like the rest of DFW and surrounding counties. In place of these old family owned farms, you might find a high end sub division with anywhere from a fraction of an acre to several acre lots. But a lot of times, you might see someone who purchased up the land and build a beautiful mansion on the property and landscape the land. Then in some cases the owners tear down these old houses and build a huge one in its place.
The Klutts Family Farm
When driving down the old farm road you see a mix of new homes set back on large plots of land and working farms. As you near the property, all you see is open fields of grass and weeds and nothing else. If you continue to look at the property eventually up a low hill and fairly long walk to the structure you see an old farm house. So if you aren’t looking for the place you might just miss it. The first time I went looking for the place, I must of drove by it several times and not see it. 
After finding the place, I pulled over and walked the fence line, just taking in the view and trying to get feel for the property and image what it might look like when its in full harvest and not just a field of grass.
By the gate, you see a posted no trespassing sign and sign that says its Klutts Family Farm since 1942. After that, there’s a long gravel drive leading up the house and other structures place around the house. 
Since this was the first visit, it was around noon and close to 100 degrees, I decided not to spend much time looking around. I did look around to see if any neighbors were around, but no one was around.
I wanted to see if they knew much about the farm and if there was someone I could contact about getting access to the property. Since no one was around, I decide to take some test shots with the point-n-shoot and then do some internet research.
Even though my research was a bust, I do have a starting point. So at some point, I am going to head back out there and see who I can find to talk to. What I do know is, even though the farm doesn’t look like a working farm, just a few years ago it was one. If you look at the gravel road leading up to the house, you can see vehicle tracks. So that means someone is still visiting the property. Plus I do not know what’s on the other side of the house. Since the house sits at top of small hill and it’s a long way from the house, I can’t see what’s behind the house. For all I know the owners new place is back there. 
As you can see from this picture, it’s a long walk to the house. So until I can find more information about the place, I am stuck with a tripod and a telephoto lens and only shooting from the street.
All pictures were taken with a point-in-shoot camera and processed with Adobe Lightroom 3. Most shots were taken from the street using a 10X or more zoom without a tripod. At some point, I will go back around sunrise or dusk and shoot the farm again using a DSLR, zoom lens, and tripod. When I find more about the property, I will post an update.
If anyone has more information about the Kutts Family Farm please leave a comment with what you know or send me an email through the contact form.
James
Latest posts by James (see all)
- Random Picture of the Week #84: Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge - May 6, 2016
- Random Picture of the Week #83: Lucky’s Rod & Kustom Chevrolet 210 Kustom Shop Car – Invasion Car Show 2014 - April 5, 2016
- Random Picture of the Week #82: Vintage Big Red Cooler on a VW Bug Spotted at the Helping Out Our Neighbors Car Show - March 18, 2016
Jul 05, 2012 @ 06:15:46
Nice post, James.
I love old farms and the many structures they have on them. Makes for some great photography opportunities.
Jul 05, 2012 @ 10:24:10
Thanks Jimi,
I love these old farms and hate to see them go. I have seen some close up and pictures taken from inside and this house is special. I checked on bing maps see what the property looks like and it huge. The only structures on the property is the house and few old barns. So now I need to do some research, I really want to see the house up close.
Jul 10, 2012 @ 10:29:32
Hello James, came across your post via Stumble Upon. Thanks for your write up. As you speculated, this is still a working farm. The house is abandoned but not the property. Cattle typically graze at this site and there is some machinery stored in the sheds behind the house. I’ve visited this site three times, two day trips and one at night. A simple drive by didn’t suffice my first trip so paid it a visit again and explored the house. I’ve posted a few images (http://on.fb.me/OussBv) from the house which was really just some experimentation in the editor but am still sitting on most until I gather some more information. If you’d like to compare notes, drop me an email.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 00:50:30
Thanks for the info Dwayne, I have seen your work on Flickr and 500px and I follow you on Facebook as well and I have to say its impressive. Anyways, I haven’t got much information, but I do plan on looking more into the property and I have plans on going back in the near future. I will send you an email so we can talk sometime. -James
Jul 13, 2012 @ 10:07:24
I realized we had chatted before after I posted the comment.
I’ve been wanting to visit the Rockwall Historical Society but they have odd hours and its a bit of a drive for me. Regardless, hope to visit soon. I really enjoy these old properties and try to bring out some of the history in my images. There’s another property I’ve been researching in Sherman and plan to revisit this weekend. Will look forward to hearing from you
Jul 13, 2012 @ 12:08:21
Hey Dwayne, I thought about a visit to the Historical Society and as you mentioned, its got some hours and with my work schedule I normally work on those days they are open. But I think I might try and head up there the next time I can get a Wednesday or Wednesday morning off.
I sent you an email.
Lawhorn Cemetery–Rockwall Texas | Evolutionary Designs - Photography
Sep 04, 2012 @ 23:56:04
[…] I came across the Lawhorn Cemetery. I came across this old cemetery scouting out the History of Klutts Family Farm. The old cemetery sits in a lonely corner of FM 549 and FM 1139 right next door to the Klutts […]
Lawhorn Cemetery–Rockwall Texas - James Johnston
Nov 18, 2012 @ 00:13:56
[…] those trips I found Lawhorn Cemetery. I came across this old cemetery scouting out the History of Klutts Family Farm. The old cemetery sits in a lonely corner of FM 549 and FM 1139 right next door to the Klutts […]
May 08, 2013 @ 13:53:37
I really like history and I live in this area. I have a Texas blog too but I rarely have new things to share. Glad to find your blog. Great pictures too!