CJCJ Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 I was a student at Rice University in the mid eighties, and lived near Westheimer Stables. I would be there every weekend, and most weekday evenings helping out...giving riding lessons, and taking out groups of riders. It was a fantastic place, run by a feisty old redhead named Miss Avis, and her crusty old cowboy husband, John Willoughby. The latter introduced me to team penning, and we went on to win prize money at rodeos all over the state. It was a really happy time in my life...simple and carefree. Needless to say, property developers were always sniffing around the large and perfectly situated site, and it was only a matter of time before Miss Avis was forced to move on. My fondest memory is riding down Westheimer Boulevard to the local Circle K with John W, to pick up his beer...and him insisting that as a rancher, he didn't have to pay tax on the purchase! There would often be a black and white police car parked on a obscured edge of the property, waiting to pounce on any speedsters...and John took great delight in running the cops off his land! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 21 hours ago, CJCJ said: I was a student at Rice University in the mid eighties, and lived near Westheimer Stables. I would be there every weekend, and most weekday evenings helping out...giving riding lessons, and taking out groups of riders. It was a fantastic place, run by a feisty old redhead named Miss Avis, and her crusty old cowboy husband, John Willoughby. The latter introduced me to team penning, and we went on to win prize money at rodeos all over the state. It was a really happy time in my life...simple and carefree. Needless to say, property developers were always sniffing around the large and perfectly situated site, and it was only a matter of time before Miss Avis was forced to move on. My fondest memory is riding down Westheimer Boulevard to the local Circle K with John W, to pick up his beer...and him insisting that as a rancher, he didn't have to pay tax on the purchase! There would often be a black and white police car parked on a obscured edge of the property, waiting to pounce on any speedsters...and John took great delight in running the cops off his land! This thread is about the building at 3736, which was a Stables restaurant at one time. Not related to the riding stables which IIRC was west of Fondren. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highrise Tower Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Was this related to the Westheimer family? I see 200 acres on Westheimer and only have to assume it was their family land. From the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated February 14, 1973. Westheimer Stables Abis Rent-A-Horse Horse Shows & Rodeo Arena Riding Instructions 200 Acres of Riding Ara Cook-Outs Horses For Sale Rent or Boarded Hay Rides Horse Back Riding 497-2293 / 497-1630 10 Minutes Out - 13331 Westheimer Rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted January 16, 2023 Share Posted January 16, 2023 Avis Rent-A-Horse refers to Avis, the name of the woman who owned and ran the stables. No relation to the Westheimer family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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