Ridglea Country Club Estates

Home Owners Association

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History of Ridglea Country Club Estates

The secluded Ridglea Country Club Estates subdivision lays some seven to eight miles west of the Fort Worth Central Business Districts and encompasses some 184 acres. Part of the subdivision is within the Benbrook city limits, but most of the area lies within Fort Worth city limits.

The subdivision is only accessible through one entrance from Southwest Blvd. making it a very safe and secure area. The Clear Fork of the Trinity River that forms the eastern boundary, Mary’s Creek that passes through the center; the tree-lined streets that wend their way through the neighborhood and the large open areas of the golf course, together create the ambiance of country living. The houses are brick with side or rear entry garages, and are predominately one story, though some two story homes are scattered throughout. A few apartments, condos and garden-type homes line the main thoroughfare and many overlook the golf course as well.

The area’s oldest landmark is a cemetery that was constructed in the 1850’s and lies near present day Streamwood Road. The cemetery contains the gravesites of several Civil War veterans and members of the Wilburn Family, including Rachel Wilburn Snyder, who donated land for churches and schools in Benbrook. The last person buried in the cemetery was a member of the Snyder family in 1924. The Tarrant County Historical Society cemetery division maintains it.

Early owners of the land on which Ridglea Country Club Estates now stands included H.B. Herd who purchased the land in 1918; Earnest Allen, who owned Allen Farms and was instrumental in developing the area; Mary Armstrong, Jack Danciger and Mrs. Annie Ritz. The area is included in the 1855 J. Rogers Survey and the 1858 James Rogers Survey

In 1966, J.T. Luther and Fritz Barton bought and began to develop the area. Land was first selected for an 18-hole men’s championship golf course and clubhouse that were to be owned by Ridglea Country Club. The remainder of the land was divided into residential lots that were sold by the Earnest Allen Development Company, which formed in 1970 to facilitate this process.

Allen Place was developed as an addition to Ridglea Country Club Estates and is located on the site of an old farm that belonged to the Allen Family. Earnest Allen, Jr. remembers when Allen Farms had horses and cattle and was considered way out in the country. He says it took six miles of poles to hook up their phone and electricity.

The Stoney Creek Addition is a separate addition from Ridglea Country Club Estates, developed by Guy Burke, Stoney Creek is a private Street.