about us
Bobby is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, and Ironman triathlete who spent decades at the intersection of medicine and health economics. Gail is an actuary and the self-proclaimed Chief Beauty Officer of Madrone Springs Ranch.
Together, we turned 178 acres of raw Texas land into one of Hill Country's most extraordinary private retreats — not because we planned to, but because we couldn't stop building something worth sharing.
WE NEVER PLANNED TO OWN A RANCH.
&
Hi, we’re Bobby Gail!
For decades, we lived the Beverly Hills life — a career in medicine, a beautiful home, a life that looked exactly like it was supposed to. Then our adult kids made a suggestion: leave California. Move to Austin. Our reaction was "absolutely not."
Then we visited for a weekend. We bought a house before we flew home.
A few years into Austin life, the conversation shifted to land. First five acres, then fifty, and eventually — almost without meaning to — 178 acres of raw, overgrown Hill Country terrain in Dripping Springs. The cedar was so dense we could barely walk through it. But we could see the views. And when we bushwhacked our way to the creek, we knew.
How it all began
From Beverly Hills to a 178-acre Texas ranch
What followed was years of building. Miles of roads and trails cut through the land. Twenty-seven power poles installed to bring electricity to the property. Two homes, a barn, a mini-cabin, a lodge, and 70,000 gallons of rainwater capture tanks. Fences that turned out to be too low for the blackbuck antelope and fallow deer — a lesson learned the hard way.
Today the ranch is home to roughly 70 exotic animals: Gemsbok Ibex, kangaroos, turkeys, blackbuck and addax antelope, fallow and axis deer, miniature donkeys, chickens, ducks, and bees. We live here full time. The animals need daily feeding. Something always needs fixing. We wouldn't have it any other way.
Building something from nothing
Miles of roads. 27 power poles. 70 exotic animals. And counting.
When the world shut down in 2020, we made a decision: quarantine at the ranch, not at our Austin home. A few months in, we sold the Austin house and became full-time ranchers.
When Bobby retired shortly after, the next chapter became clear. The ranch that started as a weekend escape had become our whole life. It was time to share it.
Madrone Springs Ranch opened as a private retreat — one family or group at a time — so that others could experience what we had found: a place where the pace of life changes, where the land does something to you, and where you leave feeling genuinely different than when you arrived.
When COVID changed everything
We came out to wait it out, and never went back.
MEET DR. Bobby
Bobby brings 40 years of wellness experience to every stay.
Bobby Dubois, MD PhD, spent his career as a physician-scientist at the intersection of clinical medicine and health economics, co-founding companies focused on evidence-based care. He has completed four full Ironman triathlons and fifteen 70.3s — still competing at 69. He hosts the Live Long and Well podcast, where he explores the evidence that does or does not support health claims. Recent episodes have focused on whether your morning coffee is a good or bad idea, whether evidence supports the use of sauna and cold plunges, does everyone needs to reduce their salt intake (or not?), and many other topics.
His approach to wellness isn't theoretical. It's built on decades of evidence, tested against his own body, and embedded into every corner of Madrone Springs Ranch — from the rainwater and farm-fresh eggs to the cold plunge, sauna, and fireside conversations about the six principles to live long and well.
When we talk about what this place can do for you, we're not guessing. We've lived it.
MEET GAIL
Gail makes it beautiful. And seamless.
Gail is an actuary by training and a natural host by nature. As the self-appointed Chief Beauty Officer of Madrone Springs Ranch, she's responsible for the details that make a stay feel like home for guests. She handles the logistics so guests don't have to think about them, and she brings a warmth to every visit that no amenity list can capture.
We live on the property and are happy to make your stay as immersive — or as private — as you'd like. You're welcome to have the run of the place on your own. Or, if you want more, we're available to offer:
As hosts who live on the land, we're here as much or as little as you want.
We look forward to making your stay exceptional.
- Guided ranch tours to meet the animals and explore the trails
- A welcome happy hour to get you settled in
- Massages, instructor-led yoga sessions, and private chef services
- A whiskey-tasting experience featuring Texas, US, and international selections
- Fireside conversations on the six principles to live long and well
Embark on your journey towards a healthier you with our e-book, "Six Principles to Live Long & Well." In this insightful guide, we delve into key principles that can transform the way you approach health and wellness to live a more vibrant life.
Written by Dr. Bobby (Dubois), a physician, scientist, Ironman Triathlete, podcaster (Live Long and Well With Dr. Bobby), and your host at Madrone Springs Ranch
Discover a healthier you.
download our e-book
Learn more about them and take them with you to enrich your life.
We've spent decades studying what it takes to live long and well. The research is clear: time in nature, good food, movement, rest, and the people you love — those are the things that actually move the needle. We built Madrone Springs Ranch around all of them.
This place changed how we live.
We think it might do the same for you.
Come find out what that feels like.
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