Hampton Robinson Mansion At 3033 Hampton Dr.

[1959catty]

I have heard so many stories about the Robinson House in Quail Valley. There are some really wild stories out there about this house. I don't know what is true and what is fiction. One thing I do know, it is a beautiful Mid-Century Mod. Does anyone out there have a Robinson House story?

[iksulul]

I have heard so many stories about the Robinson House in Quail Valley. There are some really wild stories out there about this house. I don't know what is true and what is fiction. One thing I do know, it is a beautiful Mid-Century Mod. Does anyone out there have a Robinson House story?

I grew up just down the street from his house and as a child I was always facinated by it. It was abandoned all throughout my lifetime yet the house remained kept up (grass mown every week, alarm system active (kids were always breaking in), etc...) One time I even thought I noticed some new, modern AC units appear on the side of the house. Obviously this house was placed in some sort of a trust and was able to be kept up to a certain extent. It sits on the largest lot in the subdivision and really is an expansive house. It always had a really erie feeling though, frozen in time. Funny thing is, I've asked people over the years who were familiar with Quail Valley and no one ever seemed to know what the story was with this house; rumours had always circulated about possible underground bowling alley and alleged murder/or suicide/ or death that took place inside, but nothing concrete. This always amazed me that no one could ever provide any factual information on the home.

Recently however, life reappeared at the house and some new residents have moved in. I just assumed a family member of the original owner (Mr. Robinson I assume?) as I don't think the home was ever offered for sale. Renovations seem to be taking place, the new residents have added some sculptures to the grounds, spot lighting, and what seems to be an enclosure for large animals (i think). Sounds strange and facinating but that's to be expected from such a cool mysterious house.

Sorry not to offer the answer to your question, just thought I'd contribute what I could. I'd love to one day hear the story as it happened.

[Willowisp]

http://www.fortbendstar.com/110707/n_Homeo...20lose%20it.htm

The house is at 3033 Hampton Drive Missouri City. As I understand it, it was built in 1957 and is incredible. I'd love to see pictures. Actually, I work not too far from there so maybe I'll go over and check it out, though the article makes me want to stay away.

Thanks to Fernando Brave and Stephen Fox for bringing this to Houston Mod's attention.

Jason

Link to William Cody mini-bio:

http://www.psmodcom.com/Architects%20Pages/WilliamCody.html

Edited November 13, 2007 by Willowisp

[spikey2]

Skyview of the Robinson Estate with that Donkey corral in the front yard

[Willowisp]

Thanks for that picture. I went by there today and it's definitely a compound. You can't see much from the front and there's a locked gate. Around the side is a golf course or open area so I walked around there but never really saw much other than the burros and an old car and old bus.

I don't know if the house was ever published, but some of the Houston Mod people have been inside so I'm hoping to get a picture if they took one.

It seems like the city would benefit from taking/buying the property and making a new street out of it and then the back of the new houses would face that open area (golf course?) so it leads me to question their motive.

Jason

[jamesf]

So where is this home?

[spikey2]

The home is at 3033 Hampton behind the high shrubbery, if you want to see this architectural masterpiece hurry. The city of Missouri City wants to have it torn down within the next few weeks, if it is not repaired.

[LongMeadowFarms]

The home is at 3033 Hampton behind the high shrubbery, if you want to see this architectural masterpiece hurry. The city of Missouri City wants to have it torn down within the next few weeks, if it is not repaired.

From the November 5, 2007 Missouri City council minutes:

"10. CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION

Council may meet in executive session, if necessary, pursuant to chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, for one or more of the following reasons: (1) consultation with legal counsel to seek or receive legal advice or consultation regarding pending or contemplated litigation; (2) discussion about the value or transfer of real property and other real estate matters; (3) discussion about a prospective gift or donation (4) consideration of specific personnel matters; (5) discussion about security personnel or devices; and/or (6) deliberation regarding economic development negotiations.

Section 551.072

[spikey2]

I drove by the home today with the intention of taking some photos, but it was pouring down rain so I kept going. The home can be seen from the street behind the over grown bushes, and you can see a pile of dirt along the fence that must be over 20' tall. The home looks big enough to be the club house for the country club.

Here is a sky view of the compound.

[iksulul]

I drove by the home today with the intention of taking some photos, but it was pouring down rain so I kept going. The home can be seen from the street behind the over grown bushes, and you can see a pile of dirt along the fence that must be over 20' tall. The home looks big enough to be the club house for the country club.

Here is a sky view of the compound.

if you walk around back onto the golf course you can get some clear shots as there are not any shrubs there.

[1959catty]

This is the story I heard about the house. It was owned by Dr. Hampton Robinson. He owned all of the land that would one day become Quail Valley. This was the families' country home. A few years after the house was built, Mrs. Robinson was found dying of a gunshot wound, the gun by her side. Dr. Robinson closed the house and never returned and that it has sat empty all these years. After his passing, the estate was tied up in heirs. I believe the current owner, Adam Dewalt Adams is Dr. Robinson's grandson.

A few years ago, my friend and I hopped the fence and had a peek in the windows. It was amazing! Beautiful terazzo flooring! The bathrooms had glass walls, with a brick outer wall for privacy. The living room had sliding glass walls that opened to the pool. It must have been quite a place in the sixties. It was really sad to see that it had been so neglected. I hope Mr. Adams gets his act together and gets the home up to code before the city destroys it.

Edited December 22, 2007 by 1959catty

[iksulul]

This is the story I heard about the house. It was owned by Dr. Hampton Robinson. He owned all of the land that would one day become Quail Valley. This was the families' country home. A few years after the house was built, Mrs. Robinson was found dying of a gunshot wound, the gun by her side. Dr. Robinson closed the house and never returned and that it has sat empty all these years. After his passing, the estate was tied up in heirs. I believe the current owner, Adam Dewalt Adams is Dr. Robinson's grandson.

A few years ago, my friend and I hopped the fence and had a peek in the windows. It was amazing! Beautiful terazzo flooring! The bathrooms had glass walls, with a brick outer wall for privacy. The living room had sliding glass walls that opened to the pool. It must have been quite a place in the sixties. It was really sad to see that it had been so neglected. I hope Mr. Adams gets his act together and gets the home up to code before the city destroys it.

It has also been rumored that there is a bowling alley somewhere inside..

I wonder if HoustonMod has caught wind of the possible destruction of this incredible house?

[iksulul]

I have heard so many stories about the Robinson House in Quail Valley. There are some really wild stories out there about this house. I don't know what is true and what is fiction. One thing I do know, it is a beautiful Mid-Century Mod. Does anyone out there have a Robinson House story?

Recent article on renovations.

[1959catty]

It has also been rumored that there is a bowling alley somewhere inside..

I wonder if HoustonMod has caught wind of the possible destruction of this incredible house?

I have heard the same and that it was underground. I think it is just a rumor. The Ft Bend CAD only documents a main level with 6487 sq.ft.

Recent article on renovations.

Thanks for posting. I've been following the story in the Ft Bend county papers.

[plumber2]

There used to be a small community south of Quail Valley on Highway 6 called Dewalt, which had a Post Office. I wonder if the grandson's name is connected with this community.

[spikey2]

I wonder what they will do with those huge concrete sofas and chairs that are sitting in the front yard?

[1959catty]

I wonder what they will do with those huge concrete sofas and chairs that are sitting in the front yard?

Boston Legal comes to mind.

[strickn]

Anyone have an idea of the designer and construction history of the house?

I grew up just down the street from his house and as a child I was always facinated by it. ...

[1959catty]

Anyone have an idea of the designer and construction history of the house?

William F. Cody was the architect. It will be a tragedy if the city tears it down!

http://quailvalleyhistory.com/History.html

Edited December 29, 2007 by 1959catty

[plumber2]

I remember taking a school field trip around 1962 to Weatherford's Nursery on Murphy Rd. It was a large commercial nursery that grew and delivered plants all over the state.

Does anyone know the history of the Bum Phillips house on Highway 6? I looks to be housing some kind of insurance agency

office now (State Farm I think).

[1959catty]

http://www.fortbendstar.com/110707/n_Homeo...20lose%20it.htm

The house is at 3033 Hampton Drive Missouri City. As I understand it, it was built in 1957 and is incredible. I'd love to see pictures. Actually, I work not too far from there so maybe I'll go over and check it out, though the article makes me want to stay away.

Thanks to Fernando Brave and Stephen Fox for bringing this to Houston Mod's attention.

Jason

Link to William Cody mini-bio:

http://www.psmodcom.com/Architects%20Pages/WilliamCody.html

It is incredible!! I wish I had my camera with me a few years ago when I hopped the fence and took a peek inside. No one was living there at the time, however, there were several pieces of furniture inside including a grand piano.

There is another thread about this house under Sugarland and the Southwest, The Robinson House in Quail Valley.

[BenH]

It is incredible!! I wish I had my camera with me a few years ago when I hopped the fence and took a peek inside. No one was living there at the time, however, there were several pieces of furniture inside including a grand piano.

There is another thread about this house under Sugarland and the Southwest, The Robinson House in Quail Valley.

This house will be looking for a buyer shortly. Here's some background from a message Houston Mod received this morning:

In July of 1954 a wealthy surgeon from River Oaks named Dr. Hampton

Robinson, Jr. started buying large tracts of land near the community

of DeWalt Texas. He was very well familiar with the area, as his

father was a cattleman and lifelong resident of Missouri City. His

mother was from the DeWalt family and had grown up in the old family

plantation house that was located just south of the DeWalt Cemetery.

Most of the land Dr. Robinson purchased was owned by descendants of

the Dew family, who was once headed by Dr. Hugh Dew, a physician.

However, Dr. Dew's main interest was not medicine, it was building

the Dew Brothers Company. During the course of many years in the early

1900's, he accumulated massive amounts of property in Fort Bend County

and used it for sugar cane, cotton, and cattle. Over the years the

land was divided and was passed on to his family. Two of the these

descendants that Dr. Robinson bought property from were Ruth Lalley

and Jesse Dew Agnew. His goal when buying the land was to acquire

".... enough acreage in the area for its future development by others

as a first class residential subdivision, with among other things,

recreational facilities, customary sized residential lots and

commercial reserves." When he purchased the property it was being used

primarily for ranching. After acquiring it, he continued the ranching

operation and also made many improvements. The first big one on his

newly proclaimed Robinson Farm was a Palm Springs, California inspired

mansion located on what is now Hampton Drive. This desert style house,

with its flat roof and expansive layout, was designed by modern

architect William F. Cody and completed in 1958. It took about 1.5

years to construct, with materials such as the stone exterior being

sourced as far away as Santa Maria, California. At the time it was

built, it was meant to serve only as a summer or weekend home. Other

improvements to the Robinson Farm included a massive tree planting.

About 1500 live oaks hand were hand dug from Pleak, Texas and planted

in 1961 and 1962. These oaks can be still found today following the

path of Hampton Drive. Dr. Robinson also constructed a small one story

house and a horse stable by the lake on what is now Thunderbird

Street. For many years the house was occupied by his brother, Joe

Robinson. As early as 1959, Dr. Robinson started meeting with

developers about the idea of developing a golf course on this

selective property. The first group was the Houston Golf Association,

along with their consultant - a former pro golfer and coach named

Henry Ransom. The second was a group of developers/investors led by

golfing legend Ben Hogan. Hogan and the investors even took a hayride

tour of the property during the mid 1960's, but the deal failed. It

made it all of the way to the final closing, but fine print was never

worked out and the agreement wasn't reached. The third party involved

James "Mac" MacNaughton and R.W. Carey, also known as Mac-Carey

Properties. After negotiating with Dr. Robinson, they finalized the

purchase of about 750 acres which was to become the new subdivision

of Quail Valley. In May 1969 they also bought out several other

smaller landowners including a Houston dentist named Mack Daughtery,

who had a 40 acre horse ranch and house at what is now Cartwright and

Oak Hill Drive. However, the family did not sell their home site and

barn, and the neighborhood was built around it. Mac-Carey also

purchased about 69 acres from Walter and Lillie Dew Brinkman. For

years the couple operated a large chicken egg farm along Oyster Creek,

close to what is now Quail Valley Middle School . At its peak, the

Brinkman Egg Farm was home to over 30,000 egg-laying chickens. Within

a few months of these transactions, Quail Valley became the first

master-planned community in Fort Bend County when the plat for the El

Dorado section of Quail Valley was approved by Missouri City on

October 16th, 1969.

[BenH]

There's an article in the new CITE magazine about this house by Ben Koush with photos by Paul Hester.

[KristinDaugherty]

Thanks!

I grew up in Quail Valley, and that house has always fascinated me. Local legend has it that the house was connected with the Joan Robinson Hill murder in some fashion.

[missjanel]

Is there a way to buy just one issue without having to subscribe?

There's an article in the new CITE magazine about this house by Ben Koush with photos by Paul Hester.

[marmer]

Is there a way to buy just one issue without having to subscribe?

I haven't gotten mine yet, looking forward to it. Ben, do you have it, or do you just know what's going to be in it?

MissJanel, you used to be able to buy single copies at Brazos Bookstore; call 'em and ask. On the other hand, individual memberships to RDA are not very expensive and are IMHO, very much worth it for the access to lectures, home tours, and Cite.

[missjanel]

Thanks. I will check with Brazos when I am back in Houston in January.

I haven't gotten mine yet, looking forward to it. Ben, do you have it, or do you just know what's going to be in it?

MissJanel, you used to be able to buy single copies at Brazos Bookstore; call 'em and ask. On the other hand, individual memberships to RDA are not very expensive and are IMHO, very much worth it for the access to lectures, home tours, and Cite.

[mkultra25]

Thanks. I will check with Brazos when I am back in Houston in January.

Issues Magazine Store (3425 S. Shepherd, just north of Richmond) also sells single copies of Cite.

[missjanel]

Does anyone have an interior pics? I'm disappointed that only two were included in Cite.

[codyfan]

Hello Houston Mod,

I realize I'm a bit late replying to this topic, but I'm 99.9% positive the house Cody designed

for the Robinsons in Missouri City(Quail Valley) is identical in design to the much acclaimed

"Jorgensen-Mavis" house on the Thunderbird Country Club golf course in Rancho Mirage.

Has anyone else noticed the striking similarities in these two Cody commissions?

Codyfan