Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Navarro.
Hi Kristin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Let us introduce ourselves…
My name is Kristin Navarro & This is my husband, the chef, Eduardo Navarro. We are the power couple who took on something extraordinary & it changed us!
We moved to Texas in 2016 after the passing of my stepmother. We left everything & our law enforcement career to be with my father, Allan Watt when he needed us the most. We have no fairy tale story that led us here. Rather we have a story full of faith in God & a long journey of finding peace.
In January 2016 we tragically lost Renay, my stepmom, to suicide & our family was left heartbroken. My father approached us and asked us to help complete Oak Meadow Ranch, the place Renay loved the most, & I believe it was God’s journey to heal my family.
At that moment we really had no idea how amazing this journey would be or the people we would touch.
We started the journey in mid-2016 and after a family friend asked us to create their dream wedding, we knew this was God speaking to us.
By January 2017 we opened our wedding venue to the public & had one wedding under our belt.
Not long after, in April 2017, Eduardo opened his dream restaurant, The Whitehorse, on Oak Meadow Ranch after being a chef for over 20 Years and we never looked back!
Along our amazing journey a few years ago, God sent us a beautiful angel, Dawn. Dawn and my dad Allan got married in October 2021 and if you’ve had a parent that has lost a loved one …all you hope and pray & wish is for your parent to find someone to fill that hole in their heart. Dawn is a perfect fit.
Dawn, my dad, Eduardo & I just completed our largest exhibit to date! We brought home puzzles the giraffe!!!! You now can have an encounter with a Giraffe at Oak Meadow Ranch!
About me…I served 12 years in Law Enforcement, and received a bachelor’s in criminal justice & Master’s of Science in forensic science administration BUT had no business background! With God, a fantastic team, stellar support system; I was able to find inner talents & truly live a NEW dream. I was able to begin to heal and find inner peace.
The Ranch today… all I can say is the tranquility & presence of God at Oak Meadow Ranch is truly beautiful. He has blessed us with over 70 beautiful creatures (both farm animals & exotic animals) that guests can interact with, love & learn about. We added a total of 12 Airbnb stays that include cabins, glampers, & Conestoga wagons people can stay in & enjoy the ranch for a night or week. We have walking trails, prayer garden, hot tub, cowboy pool & fun swings to relax on.
What I realized 5 years after the tragic event… “Even through tragedy beautiful things will come”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
NO way was this a smooth road. We have encountered issues with staffing because we are located in a rural area, USDA licensing restrictions, and lack of urban amenities or traffic made it difficult to grow quickly. We learned a lot of social media & shared customer experiences to grow our business organically by using our disadvantages and turning them into our advantages. for example, we became a destination point.
We’ve been impressed with Oak Meadow Ranch, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a working ranch that provides a unique experience. We have unique lodging options, Wildlife encounters, gourmet dinners with chef Navarro, and many other things to do on the ranch. We are located just one hour north of DFW.
We are a family-owned and operated and have built this amazing place for Others to enjoy with family and friends.
We offer a one-night stay or extended stays. And we take reservations for the dinner and the animal encounters 7 days a week. You must have a reservation to partake in dinner and an animal experience.
A little bit about our animal experience…
We have over 15 different species of exotic animals that have been hand-raised by my family & I. You get to go inside the playgrounds and play with all our lovable animals. This is an experience you cannot find anywhere else! You get to feed the lemurs while they bounce around, partake in a kangaroo kiss, hug a sloth, play fetch with our Exotic cats, bottle-feed camels & much more. It is an amazing experience and something we became known for.
Our ranch is over 20 acres of serene landscape & we have a prayer garden, along with a few other cute things to see & find!
Our Brand:
The History of branding animals dates back to 2700 BC and are one of the most interesting tools used by livestock people still today. Each brand is by necessity different than others & often conveys the character of the ranch owner. The Secret language of livestock branding is both intriguing and unique.
Our story of our brand:
After search and thinking for some time about the ideal brand for our ranch it came instantly and prophetically one early morning. Our brand became the “cross arch over M”. It means “through the blood of Jesus, each of us receives a covering that makes us as strong, as an oak”. The reason for “M” meadow is plural and is based biblically on Matthew 18:19-20. We believe this ranch is our blessing to reach many people.
“Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:19-20, NKJV)
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I do not know if I necessarily believe in luck. I believe I am where I am & our business if where it is because of our strong faith, incredible hard work, & our passion for what we do. I absolutely love our life & what we have created, I have incredible role models & people in our lives. My father & stepmom Dawn are my biggest fan, they always believe in Eduardo & I and encourage us even when we had our own doubts.
Contact Info:
- Email: oakmeadowranchevents@gmail.com
- Website: www.oakmeadowranch.com
- Instagram: @oakmeadowranch_texas
- Facebook: @oakmeadowranch
