About Our Facility

Plum Creek Recovery Ranch sits on the original site of The Briarpatch Ranch, which Dollie Cole founded in 1983. Over the course of 25 years, Dollie purchased the surrounding land and constructed a 15,000 plus square foot home, which now serves as the main house for Plum Creek Recovery Ranch. Having grown up during the Great Depression, Dollie would be happy to know the home she designed, built, and lived in, has been repurposed in order to help others.

Dollie Ann Cole was the widow of the late Edward N. Cole, former President of General Motors Corporation and one of the chief architects of the Corvette. Dollie was born in Fort Worth and moved back to Texas after the death of her husband.

Dollie was a respected businesswoman and philanthropist, serving in leadership roles on national and local boards such as PBS, Project HOPE (World Health Organization), The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, The National Corvette Museum, and The 100 Club of Central Texas as well as many other charitable organizations. She served with organizations helping those most in need, especially children and animals. Locally, Dollie helped found the Pegasus School for Boys in Lockhart, donating the land on which it sits today.

The original house, at what is now PCRR, featured handmade Saltillo tiles and hand carved doors from Mexico designed by Dollie. It also featured a 150-year-old staircase salvaged from a local department store, wood beams and antique wood saved from the Lockhart Cotton Gin. These details have been preserved on the main floor with stunning beams in the main lounge area and the repurposing of some of the Mexican carved doors for tables and wall hangings.

The Briarpatch Ranch was featured in multiple magazines and was the location for a number of movies and television series including “From Dusk to Dawn,” “Revolution,” and “Bed of Lies.” Dollie gave lavish parties, often for a benefiting charity that were attended by celebrities such as Jim Nabors, Florence Henderson, Carol Burnett, Ruth Buzzi, Andy Griffith, Debbie Reynolds, Ruta Lee, John Glenn, Johnny Rutherford, and A.J. Foyt.