The Dallas Arboretum’s DeGolyer Estate Wins a Preservation Achievement Award

The Dallas Arboretum is one of the city’s most beloved attractions. The centerpiece of the 44-acre gardens is the striking Spanish Colonial DeGoyler Estate, which overlooks White Rock Lake. It’s one of our city’s most important historic landmarks.

The DeGolyer mansion was designed by architects Denman Scott and Burton Schutt for the late geologist Everette L. DeGolyer and his wife, Nell Goodrich DeGolyer, an accomplished gardener. Completed in 1940, the home was originally called Rancho Encinal, which is Spanish for “Ranch of the Oaks.”

The DeGolyers found the name fitting as the property has so many live oak trees. The home was designed around the existing trees and sited to take advantage of views of the lake, meadows, and woodlands. Landscape architect Arthur Berger planned the grounds of the estate to complement the natural surroundings.

The DeGolyer House History

Mr. DeGolyer was an internationally renowned petroleum geologist widely regarded as the father of American geophysics. In 1910, he located the Potrero No. 4 oil well, the most successful oil venture of that era. He went on to open an immensely successful petroleum geology consulting company. 

As his business grew, it meant a 1936 relocation to Dallas for his wife and their four children. The DeGolyers had trouble finding an existing home for the family, but they knew precisely what they wanted. So, they built a 21,000-square-foot home with 13 rooms and seven baths. It was the first air-conditioned house in Dallas. The construction of the house in 1940 cost $125,000, but the 44 acres cost only $33,000. 

A National Historic Place and a Dallas Historic Treasure

The DeGolyers lived here for the rest of their lives and, according to many reports, hosted a steady stream of renowned scientists, publishers, authors, and fellow philanthropists. Mr. DeGolyer died in 1956, and after his wife died in 1972, the children donated the estate and Mr. DeGolyer’s vast library to Southern Methodist University. As there was no clear use for the house, it was sold to the City of Dallas for half its appraised value, about $1.075 million.

The next year, the city designated the DeGolyer estate as the location for the Dallas Arboretum, and in 1978, the DeGolyer estate was named to the National Register of Historic Places. It became a Registered Texas Historic Landmark in 1983, a Dallas Landmark in 1988, and received a State Historic Marker in 1991.

Today, the Dallas Arboretum is owned by the City of Dallas and supported by the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Society, Inc., a nonprofit organization, operates it.  

The Challenges of Preserving the DeGolyer House

The DeGolyer Estate is one of the best examples of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. It still serves as a historic homage to the family, but it is also a vibrant and busy place, serving as a rental property for weddings and corporate events.

Families flock here for outdoor concerts and brunch at the restaurant or on the patio. I think the DeGolyers would be thrilled that their home and estate are serving so many people so well. 

Preserving a historic home of this magnitude and importance is a monumental task. Over the past seven years, GSR Andrade Architects has been diligently working to ensure the DeGolyer estate remains a testament to our heritage for generations to come.

Robert Croysdale, AIA, has been the architectural project manager for GSR Andrade, overseeing this remarkable restoration journey.

“The first phase, after the feasibility study, was to ensure the building did not leak,” Croysdale said. “We had to stabilize the west wing, where the library is located. It had gotten so bad that water would stream through the windows when it rained. There was actually a bucket there to catch the water!”

Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction is known as the go-to contractor for historic buildings in this part of the country. There is simply no company with more skill and experience. They worked closely with GSR Andrade to reconstruct some of the windows and the clay tile roof and to repair the stucco walls. 

“There was hay and straw in some of the original stucco walls,” Croysdale said. “That was how they insulated at the time. We had to reconstruct the clay tile roof, and The Texas Historical Commission is pretty particular about what you do with the materials. They wanted the roof removed, waterproofed, and the original tile reinstalled. We were a little worried, but it turned out to be a really good idea.”

In addition to repairing and restoring the historic structure, GSR Andrade and Phoenix 1 also built new restrooms in the caretaker’s wing.

“We were even able to keep the original windows in place by adding Indow inserts for privacy and air filtration,” Croysdale said. “They work beautifully.”

The historic beauty of the DeGolyer Estate has been fully restored, and practical matters have been solved to create a more enjoyable experience for visitors and to ensure future generations benefit from this magnificent Dallas landmark.

The Preservation Dallas Awards will be presented at the Kalita Humphreys Theater on May 21. Presentation Achievement Awards ticket information can be found here.