Buchanan Cabins, Owned by Original Neal Family, 20640 US HIGHWAY 127, Concan, TX (2026)

06/19/2026

Mr. Baker, Pete Van Pelt, Scott Dodds, and Kenny Arthur were among the “cowboys” who led the horse rides each summer. All the girls were crazy about the young cowboys. Put on a cowboy hat and they were smitten. Susan Buchanan and Nell Roosa were the cowgirls who could easily match the boys in riding skill, and they often led the rides as well. The rest of us simply enjoyed the ride, happy to let others handle the hard work of feeding, rounding up, brushing, saddling, and bridling the horses, and sometimes even having to help us get on the horse. It was all great fun.

The rides began at the store and followed the road down to the river where we crossed either in front of Cabin 21 or by the springs near the campground. From there, the trail ran between the river and the cliffs, leading up to open fields where we were sometimes allowed to gallop. After winding along the trail, we made our way back toward the store, completing the ride in about an hour.

MEMORY: Susan remembers riding ba****ck across the river in the off-season. Her favorite memory is her antics when she would stop Gasoline in belly deep water. She would then stand on her, dive off and then swim under her belly. One time, however, the river had previously risen and the bank where she normally got out had changed. Gasoline couldn’t get out where Susan was leading her. Finally, Susan just let go of the reins and jumped off the horse so Gasoline could figure it out herself. The horse and the child made it safely to the other side! Yes, our parents hardly ever knew what we were up to!

06/14/2026

Silver Mine Pass in the area of U.S. Highway that curves through the hills from Concan to Uvalde on U.S. Hwy 83 between the Frio River and the Dry Frio River. See Google Maps below. The Texas Historical Commission erected the following sign at the intersection of Texas Hwy. 127 and U.S. Hwy 83.

I remember one evening in the 1950’s or early 60’s when Mimi (the best Grandmother) and Maudie (the best Neal’s Dining Room cook) walked with us children from the store to the Dry Frio River on Hwy 83. We left before dark and got back after dark and did not see one car on the road as we had the whole highway to ourselves! We also occasionally walked to OD’s towards Leakey for his wonderful hamburgers. I guess we thought the highway was for walking, not driving. Had so much fun!

06/06/2026

FRIO’S DRY FIFTY
Tom Neal owned 50 acres of land without water. Whenever he went out to the property, he would tell Mimi he was headed to “the dry fifty.” Years later, when Jody and Gayle had the vision to sell T-shirts on that same land, they named their store Frio’s Dry Fifty.

Jack Graves once wrote the following on the back of a Polaroid snapshot of each girl:

Jody (age 7) – “…and friend, our latest hound-dog addition. This little ‘missile’ can put more things into orbit than Cape Canaveral will ever dream of. She’s the ‘B’ in busy—a jarring joy!”

Gayle (age 10) – “Half out of lollipops, half into bobby socks—the quiet elf, rarely bothered about anything except leaving TV for bed and what’s for ballet class today!”

Their father’s words captured personalities that would later complement each other perfectly in their business venture, which began with selling Concan T-shirts. Jody became the go-getter and taskmaster, making sure the store looked its best and that customers were well cared for. Gayle, more easygoing by nature, now prefers her children to contribute in this thriving business.

Gayle, Brooke, Danna, Emily and sister Janeal each have different creative ideas that contribute to the eclectic nature of the store.

Memories: Tiffany Dillard from Orange, Texas, was recently shopping at Frio’s Dry Fifty. Following are her comments: Everything is great here – the staff, the ice cream store, and all that they have to offer inside and outside. I was looking for a Frio River blanket, and they just found one for me. After leaving here we are going to Neal’s Dining Room. Our family travels to many different places, but we always come to Concan and Frio’s Dry Fifty each year.

05/29/2026

During the 50’s and 60’s we Neal children enjoyed going down to the “dancing floor”. Cousin Gayle’s mother, Billie Graves and Tommi Spence taught us how to dance. We learned the “bop” along other dances of the day. By the time we were teenagers, we learned the “Whip” which was “the dance” at Garner State Park. That’s me in pink shorts with no shoes on. I see Jody and Susan sitting on the side. Mary Anna may be dancing with Jack VanPelt. I don’t know where Gayle, my dancing partner before we became teenagers, was that day!
Times have changed, but dancing is still in full force at both Neals and Garner. I’ve said I could have lived the rest of my life not knowing that the old barn where hay was stored and chickens laid their eggs could be converted into a place where people could have so much fun. Joe Jimmy’s is a great place for children and adults of all ages to “hang out” to visit and learn or just practice dancing!

Mary Howard Woodward wrote us the following in 2015 at age 86:
One summer I was offered a job at the Cold Drink Stand (sometime during the 40’s) where the swimmers went to change into their bathing suits. During the summer my brother and I were in the swimming hole nearly every day. We visited with many of your summer guests.
Then there was the “Slab” where we spent many hours dancing and having fun. My brother would lead the Conga with a long line that held on. We could Jitter Bug very well. I always loved to dance and kept this up in adult life.

05/22/2026

In recording her memories, Mama said she and Billie were born on the Neal ranch [Hog Hollow still on Google Maps] in Concan. She remembers Tom putting Billie on a horse so they could round up the goats. One time when there was a snake in the path and Old Sal jumped which scared Billie. I guess it scared Mama too since she remembered it. She mainly remembered the fun they had growing up in Concan.

As the Shut-In, Shut-Inn or Neal’s Camp progressed, their ranch duties continued along with their vacation resort business. They were kind and helpful. Mama always said that Billie was the beautiful one. Both were! They had a lot of fun growing up and felt blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

A memory from their teenage years by me (Helen): I can’t remember his name but one of the teenage boys who visited Concan in the late 1930’s came back when he was in his 80’s. He told Mary Anna and me that he and his brother were the best boyfriends that Billie and Mary Tom never knew they had!

05/14/2026

I’m backtracking a little. According to John Leffler by 1886 wool and beef were transported from Concan to the nearest railroad station in Uvalde. By 1890 the community had a blacksmith shop, cotton gin and a wagon maker. Tom and Mimi’s 1916’s original store and John Caddel and J.P. and Callie Cunningham stores were in this area on the east side of the Frio. When Hwy 127 was constructed in 1938, this road was abandoned and commercial interests had either moved or were abandoned.

In 2008 Mary Tom Neal Buchanan remembered the following: In 1927 Tom and Mama bought land from Champ Cowan. The first thing they did was build the building which is now Neals Cabin 22. The Dining Room was upstairs. We never called it a restaurant. It was always the Dining Room. This is where Mimi and Maudie cooked the banty rooster that Lonnie said when the customer put his fork in the leg, it popped off the table it was so tough. I waited tables for many hours. The Bath House was down below. It was big and long and had dressing rooms on each side. We charged ten cents to dress, but most people dressed behind rocks. Some people did come and pay ten cents.”

05/08/2026

Originally Tom and Mimi called their place “Shut-in” or “Shut-In Camp” or “Shut-in Vacation Camp” as Concan and the Frio River offered peace and tranquility away from the cares and responsibilities of life; however, some people began assuming the cabins were meant for invalids or shut-ins, so the name was changed to The Shut-Inn, then Neal’s Camp, then Neal’s Vacation Camp, then Neal’s Vacation Lodges. I always called it The Camp. The name is now Neal’s Lodges or Neals and is owned by another family who also love and care for Concan and the Frio River.

After a trip to Concan, Mrs. Lem Joplin in a titled piece: A “Place Called ‘Shut-in’ Shuts Out Tense World, ” wrote, “Out a ways we found a ledge the side of the great rock away from possible passers-by. There we sat, shoulder deep shutting the cares of this world off into the crystal depths, soaking the tiredness out of our bones and laughing at inquisitive fingerlings nuzzling our toes on the rocky bottom – water was that clear.”

05/01/2026

In 1934 a dance pavilion which was “the slab” by that generation was built down by the river. This dance pavilion drew the interest of Whitney Ryan's Orchestra out of San Antonio. Mr. Ryan wrote the following letter on May 15, 1936:

Dear Mr. Neal,

You may depend on the orchestra for May 23. Eight pieces for $45.00 from 9 til 1 o’clock. You may advertise the orchestra as “Whitney Ryan’s Orchestra, The Aristocrats of Rhythm.”

Thanks and here is hoping for a sellout crowd.

Yours Truly
Whitney Ryan

I don’t know what a “sellout crowd” was during the 1930’s but I’m impressed that an orchestra was hired by Mimi and Tom Neal in this remote area of Texas.

In 2000 Bud Roden wrote the following:

As a child of maybe 10 (I am now a man 71 years of age) our family went to a rodeo in Uvalde, but there was no place to stay, and my father had a friend there that recommended Neal's at Concan. That was the beginning of 33 consecutive vacations on that Frio River. Seems that we stayed in the cabin just above the swimming hole. I learned to swim from the ledge to the big rock just under the swing. Those were the days when there were dances on the "slab" and quite a crowd on Saturday nights. Our first stay there, I rode a little paint horse and fell in love with him. My father bought him from Tom Neal for $20.00. Even at my age now I can still see Tom Neal just as plain as day. We lived in Corpus Christi, and my father had to come back up with a trailer to get my horse who I named Conny after Concan. I was a grown man before that horse died.

04/23/2026

In 1939 the Houston Chronicle paid for a “Wonderful Six Day Vacation” at Shut-In Camp in Concan to Chronicle carriers for their efforts in securing 42 new subscriptions from May 20, 1939 until July 28, 1939.

“Carriers eat and put pounds on their weight …carriers ride horseback to their hearts content. Everyone plays ball. Swimming and a meet is a feature of the camp. Prizes go to the winning softball team. A hardball team will be organized, and we will play some good team either from the C.C.C Camp or from Sabinal or Uvalde.

At least one barbecue will be in store for the boys which will be held along the riverbank. If you like to fish – some of the best fishing streams in the West are located right at Shut-In Camp. Camera fans can find many beautiful pictures waiting for the snap of their cameras. Shut- In Camp is the all-around “tops” as a camp for boys."

In 1940, George Brown of Brown and Root paid for the installation of 18 septic systems for Tom and Mimi’s Camp. The invoice which listed labor and all items needed was “Paid in Full by George Brown.” Mama wrote on the invoice, “Thank-you, George Brown.” What a wonderful gift he gave the Neal family.

Harold K. Stanard from San Antonio in his reservation request in1938 wrote:

Please reserve a cabin for me for the week beginning Monday, July 11. There will be seven in our party, so we want cots for that number. The rate last year was $10.00 for the week, which included five cots and fuel, and additional cots were furnished at the rate of 25 cents. If there has been any change in your rate, please let me know. We all enjoyed the week with you very much last year and are looking forward to another pleasant visit.

With the centennial anniversary of the Neal family’s camps on the Frio River, we’re inviting folks to share their favorite memories of the river and of Neal’s with us.

https://forms.gle/TLsA1EqA6d5o3nLZ7

04/17/2026

Tom and Vida (Mimi) Neal's humble resort originally consisted of five "cottages", a store and a dining room. Before 1926, camps for children were hosted during the summer for wealthy families from Houston or San Antonio. Camp quarters eventually became Shut-Ins "cottages."

After 1926, ten more "cottages" were added. The camps led to wealthy families who had leisure time to come to Concan and the Frio River. The Neal's Camp then grew from five to fifteen cabins.

With the centennial anniversary of the Neal family’s camps on the Frio River, we’re inviting folks to share their favorite memories of the river and of Neal’s with us.

https://forms.gle/TLsA1EqA6d5o3nLZ7

Buchanan Cabins, Owned by Original Neal Family

06/19/2026

06/14/2026

06/06/2026

05/29/2026

05/22/2026

05/14/2026

05/08/2026

05/01/2026

04/23/2026

04/17/2026

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Hotel

Shortcuts

Share

Category