Stunning Texas mansion on the cliffs of Sportsman’s World
Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Erika Carter
Every issue of PK Magazine features an iconic home, and this time around it’s one of the largest and most majestic residences on Possum Kingdom Lake. These eye-catching structures are the ones PK residents point out to friends and family when they’re giving a lake tour, and this issue’s ultimate family entertainment space sits on eight lots along the cliffline in Sportsman’s World.
The home, owned by Bobby and Catherine Simmons, is another Mark Anderson Homes showstopper. The Simmons live in Midland but split their time between their lake home and Rockin’ S ranch, also located in Sportsman’s World. Construction on the residence was finished in 2013 and took 18 months to complete.
Bobby Simmons said a home in Arizona that’s shaped like an “H” provided the inspiration for the incredible finished product. The couple drew upon the expertise of designer Betty Anne Graham to put the finishing touches on their luxury lakeside masterpiece. The home captures the Simmons’ lifestyle and interests, and it’s the perfect backdrop for their collection of Western and faith-based art.
Bobby Simmons also has been around horses his whole life, raising racehorses and performance horses. In fact, he’s been involved with several successful team roping and winning racehorses. Catherine Simmons said she never was around horses growing up, but added that she enjoys being around them at their ranch, where she maintains the financial records.
The main house measures almost 12,000 square feet, and there’s also a guest house the Simmons call “the saloon” that clocks in at 3,500 square feet. The main house features eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. The saloon has a small apartment, with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a half-bath.
The back of the home opens to a large courtyard and outdoor entertainment space featuring pool, hot tub, outdoor living and kitchen. Plus, lots of terraces for the incredible PK lake views. The space has access to the dock cliff line below.
There are three laundry rooms on the property, with five sets of washers and dryers. The home also has six oversized garage spaces, which Bobby Simmons said were a must for him. The couple’s home is made for entertaining and was built to create lasting family memories for their three children, four grandchildren and friends.
The Simmons’ home features three laundry rooms located in convenient locations on the property.
The home, which is surrounded by stone and wood fencing, features a long, winding drive and sports a unique mix of stone, stucco and wood accents.
The grand piano in the great room is Catherine Simmons favorite spot in the home. The large open space has the feeling of a performance hall when she plays.
Upon entering through the custom metal front door, guests enter a large entry space that opens to the huge great room and features incredible views of the lake and outdoor space. The great room, which has several gathering spaces for intimate seating and dining, is anchored by a large stone fireplace at one end and a gourmet kitchen at the other end. The soaring ceilings and windows are open to the second floor, and across the ceilings are huge wooden beams and four metal chandeliers that each weigh 880 pounds. The custom chandeliers have built-in fans to help circulate the air in the wide-open space.
At the entrance to the great room is a baby grand piano that is Catherine Simmons’ favorite accoutrement in the house. Her faith plays a big part of her life, and the piano is a way for her to express her faith through music. The great room wasn’t designed for its acoustics, but it ended up being the perfect spot for the piano – and when she plays it, it sounds like a performance hall.
The piano is flanked by two sets of winding staircases that anchor the entire house.
The kitchen is open to the main living space and features all high-end appliances. Behind it is a butler’s kitchen that houses a whole new set of ovens, stoves and warming drawers that are perfect for entertaining. The large prep space is ideal both for large holiday meals and as a serving space for guests.
The main floor also has a wine-tasting room and bar area. Bobby Simmons’ office also is located on the main floor, and it showcases some of his many accomplishments in the racing and team roping business.
The wine room has two large metal doors and an elegant wine tasting and storage area.
The master bedroom has custom art, a large fireplace, plus retractable black out drapes that can be closed at the touch of a button. The room features spectacular views of the lake and pool courtyard.
The master suite, located on the main floor, features a large living space and fireplace in the bedroom. Catherine Simmons said the electric custom curtains in the space are one of the favorite features of the house for her. The blackout curtains can be opened for great views of the lake and pool area.
The master bath features a his-and-hers lavatory space, large tub, fireplace and huge shower. The master closet contains a safe room and has custom cabinetry throughout, and special storage space was added for Catherine Simmons’ shoes and her husband’s collection of cowboy hats.
A ride on the elevator to the second floor leads to the remaining bedrooms, as well as a large game room and bar space at the top of the stairs. This game room opens to the great room below and has spectacular views of the lake. There’s also a dual space upstairs that features a bedroom, bunkroom and large bathroom. Its purpose is to accommodate families with children, or to serve as an older child’s private space.
The outdoor space is surrounded by a courtyard that features a zero-entry pool and spa, as well as a cascading waterfall that appears to drop into the lake. The outdoor living space has a large fireplace, heaters and a misting system to make guests comfortable throughout the year. The outdoor bar features a full commercial bar, a snow-cone machine and a pizza oven. Behind the outdoor bar is an outdoor food prep area with its own custom vent. This space has a gas grill, a flat-top cooking area, a smoker and a burner for large shrimp or crawfish boils.
On the back side of the property is a beach volleyball space and a bridge that connects the court to the rest of the outdoor living space. The cliffline below features a custom waterfall that uses recycled water from the lake. A fully paved service road leads to the dock below and can be accessed by all-terrain vehicles. The waterfalls, road and back of home are all built to blend in with the cliffline.
This majestic residence is truly worthy of its place in the collection of beautiful homes on Possum Kingdom Lake. It reflects the Simmons’ Western way of life, and no detail was spared to make it.
The two grand staircases are the focal point of the house. The custom metal chandeliers with built-in ceiling fans weigh 880 pounds each.
The large great room is anchored by a stone fireplace on one side and the front kitchen on the other. In between there are several intimate seating and dining spots. The massive floor to ceiling windows provide a great view of the lake and pool area.
Bobby Simmons’ beautiful office
showcases many of his fond
memories of his team roping and
performance horses. Two large custom
wood doors lead you into the
impressive room.
The master closet has custom storage for Catherine’s shoes and Bobby’s collection of western hats. The large space also features a safe room.
The main kitchen opens to the great room and features all gourmet appliances and a large island for entertaining.
“The Saloon” is a guest house with full commercial bar and large doors that open to the back yard views of the lake and sand volleyball court. The guest house has a small apartment and four bedrooms.
The Butlers Kitchen is located just behind the main kitchen and the perfect spot to prepare and cook meals for hosting large events for family and friends.
The outdoor living space features misters and heaters to accommodate the seasonal temperatures. The large bar features commercial beer tap, snow cone machine and margarita machine. The outdoor kitchen features every type of cooking device you might need. It includes a Green Egg, large flat top, gas grill, smoker and larger burner for crawfish and shrimp boils.
