Chicken chain co-founder restores 3,000-acre Texas ranch, revives lost springs

Back in 1969, R. C. Bamberger made a bold move that left many locals scratching their heads. The co-founder of Church's Fried Chicken bought 3,000 acres of badly damaged land in the Texas Hill Country, stepping into a landscape ruined by generations of heavy cattle grazing. The topsoil was washed away, native plants were gone, and the natural springs had completely dried up. According to records kept by the Bamberger Ranch Preserve, the property was essentially a desolate expanse that most ranchers considered beyond saving. Instead of looking for quick profits, Bamberger launched an ambitious project to bring the land back to life.With decades of careful work and ecological planning, he restored natural water sources and developed a thriving wildlife habitat that continues to inspire environmentalists today.Evaluating decades of environmental destructionWhen Bamberger first set foot on the property, he inherited the results of decades of environmental neglect.