The Land of Milk & Honey in Brenham, Texas

Driving through the Milk & Honey Ranch gates, guests will see Texas Longhorns and miniature Scottish Highland cows nibbling on tender grass blades. Flocks of guinea hens scurry along dirt paths, and tiny goats buck and play in a fenced pen. Visitors immediately feel welcomed at this private ranch sanctuary.

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Milk & Honey Ranch offers farm-life animal encounters such as cow cuddles to five-star accommodations, amenities and activities. Located about 15 minutes from the historic and charming town of Brenham, and just over one hour from Houston and Austin. It’s an ideal place escape the chaos of city life and reimagine a simpler and more carefree lifestyle.

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo Jill Weinlein

Families can stay in casitas, cabins or cottages in the woods, near a multi-tiered pool or bucolic lake. Daily activities include tennis, pickle ball, walking along adventure trails, and soaking in a hot tub or cold plunge bath at the spa.

Meeting Brent Phillips, the owner of Milk & Honey Ranch, I was curious of how a South African native discovered this small town midway between Austin and Houston. Taking a tour of the ranch with him, I learned that Brent arrived in America at the age of 21. His brother was recruited to Colorado to play rugby, and he followed him for a visit to the United States. With only $2,500 in cash and two suitcases, Brent began his quest to live the American dream.

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

With a Bachelors in Science in Software Engineering he found a job immediately, and soon joined his brother Clinton in Aspen, Colorado after Clinton’s daughter suffered a stroke at the age of two. Together the Phillips created 2nd.MD, software for the medical field and their company 2nd.MD took off. It’s a company that helps people at their point of greatest need when facing difficult, uncertain healthcare choices. It’s helps to give them access to the best medical advice in the world so that they can make the best possible decisions for themselves.

His family was faced with a series of life changes that inspired them to seek a more meaningful and self-sufficient lifestyle. First the Covid pandemic underscored the importance of family, then a Big Freeze in Texas forced them to realize how dependent they were on external systems. When they sold the family business in 2021, they had enough financial resources to embark on a new adventure. Brent decided to make a change with his family and purchased the land where Milk & Honey is located today.

‘The Hotel’ and event space for weddings, family get togethers and friend reunions. Photo Jill Weinlein

One of the first buildings Brent built was the ‘hotel’ during the Ukraine war. Driven to help those he knows in Ukraine, he converted a garage into a hotel to accommodate displaced individuals. Most of the young men he knew in Ukraine from his software career had to fight in the war, so they were not able to leave their country to come to Texas.

Swimming pool and hot tub at Milk & Honey. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

When a stock market crash forced them to put their hotel on Airbnb they were able to sustain the ranch. Then when Brent’s wife, Daniela hydroplaned her car in a storm and was hospitalized for 9 days with severe brain injuries and a punctured lung, Brent was ready to sell the ranch. The medical bills started mounting, and he didn’t have any other choice. Putting his wife’s accident on social media, soon word got out that the Philips were facing hardship. Brent said the kindness of strangers, family, friends and Monica Carvajal from Burton, TX starting a gofundme page, helped keep the ranch open for guests. Once not a religious man, Brent turned to God to give him strength, and appreciated the prayers from so many people. Daniela has remarkably recovered from most of her injuries and was able to come back home to heal at Milk & Honey Ranch.

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Flow. Spa

The ranch has been helpful in so many ways to Daniela’s recovery. Brent built a serene pool and hot tub outdoors, plus a spa with treatment rooms and a hydrotherapy experience. He also installed a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to aid in his wife’s healing and for guests to use. Guests can book a stretch massage, as well as a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage. The Spa menu has three different types of facial treatments, including a luxury firming and anti-aging facial. Guests can have a body wrap, body scrub, relax in the infra-red sauna and salt/halo therapy.

Flow. Café at Milk & Honey. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Dining at Milk & Honey Ranch

Flow. Café’

Guests can dine onsite and never have to leave the ranch. Flow is a coffee café that also makes farm-to-table garden salads and pizza. Treat yourself to a variety of coffees, teas or mountain berry and Pina colada slushies. There are dining tables inside near a flickering fireplace and also outside on the view deck overlooking the ranch, pond, trees and animals.

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Accommodations at Milk & Honey Ranch

The Lodge

Those who stay at The Lodge have views of animals and stunning sunsets from a private deck. The Lodge accommodates groups up to six people in three bedrooms. There is a kitchen and living area, plus it’s near the pool and the Beach Club. Guest can take a paddle board or canoe out on the calm water.

Cottage at Milk & Honey. Photo Jill Weinlein

Cottage

Deluxe one bedroom stay

Wake up in the morning near an open field fills with horses, cows and donkeys. The beautifully decorated one bedroom cottage offers a large kitchen, dining area, five-star bathroom, one large bedroom with enormous walk-in closet and great room living area.

Elegant bedroom. Photo by Jill Weinlein

The Cabin

A Hidden Forest A-frame

Situated right by the pond, in the trees, guests are offered the ultimate clamping A-frame cabin experience. Relax reading in the hammock or enjoy dinner under the trees. It’s steps from beautiful walks and fishing spots to catch a variety of fish in the pond. In the evening soak up the scenery around a crackling fire pit and roast s’mores.

Great accommodations for friends and families. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Casitas

Lake views

There are also deluxe two bedroom accommodations near the pond that can accommodate up to four guests. Featuring two spacious bedrooms, a living area and kitchen it is a comfortable stay for a family and friends.

Resort-like swimming pool. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Milk & Honey Ranch. Photo by Jill Weinlein

Stay For the Day or Overnight