More about our Story…
Though no one is quite sure, there are a number of different versions
as to how Blanco got its name.
The two most popular are:
1.
At the turn of the century, the cliffs of Mary and Martha were virtually white with vulture and dassie droppings and urine. They resembled spats that were worn by the army and these spats were kept white with a substance called Blanco.
2.
When descendants from Scotland first came to South Africa, they moved into the area down the Baviaans River between Tarkastad and Bedford. Being a little homesick they named their farms after places from home. Hence we have numerous farms with names like Highland Home, Glenrock, Glen Fergus, Glen Etive, Glen Roy and many others too numerous to mention. Blanco is the name of a small town in Scotland and this could easily be from where the name originates.
The story of Blanco Guest Farm as we know it today began…
when John Henry King’s daughter, Lillian, married Bert Ryan on 10 April 1911. They initially lived at Noupoortjie (later renamed Cyrilhurst), before John Henry purchased Blanco and gifted it to the young couple. Bert and Lil farmed Blanco until 1945, when their eldest son, John Raymond (Ray) Ryan, took over. He later inherited the farm following Bert’s passing in 1953.
During the 1920s, the Ryans educated their six children with governesses before establishing a small boarding school in around 1925. Children came from across the district and even as far as East London, drawn not only by the education but by the area’s remarkably healthy climate. A National Geographic survey of the time ranked the Winterberg region as the second healthiest climate in the world, second only to an area near Christchurch, New Zealand. Doctors regularly recommended the school to children suffering from asthma, many of whom returned home with dramatically improved health.
As parents visited during school holidays, they too experienced the benefits of Blanco’s fresh mountain air. Bert and Lil began welcoming paying guests, laying the foundations of Blanco Guest Farm. Their hospitality quickly became legendary, with family meals shared around one large dining table and Lil’s warmth making every guest feel at home.
During World War II, Blanco became a refuge for wives and children while their husbands served overseas. When the war ended in 1945, Ray returned home with his wife Pam and their young family. Although Blanco had fallen on difficult times, Ray and Pam revived the guest house with the guidance of Lil and the help of their loyal chef, Bollilo Toto. Starting modestly, Blanco steadily grew through word-of-mouth, attracting generations of guests who appreciated its genuine country hospitality.
Ray and Pam’s son, Patrick Ryan, inherited Blanco in 1971 and, together with Lynne, continued the family tradition of warm hospitality. In 2003, when Patrick retired, Blanco remained within the family when his nephew Chris (Claire Ryan’s son) and his wife Kim purchased the property.
Today, nearly a century after Bert and Lil first welcomed guests, Chris and Kim continue to preserve Blanco’s unique character. While the generations have changed, Blanco’s heart has remained the same a place where old-fashioned hospitality, family values, natural beauty and genuine warmth continue to create unforgettable memories for every guest who visits.
