The Restoration of a Dream

Long before interstate highways, Brown Stokes built River Oaks Courts in the 1940s so families exploring the Texas Hill Country for the weekend would have a place to stay that felt like home. Decades after his untimely death, the property's new owners restored the historic motor court, earned its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and commissioned a documentary to preserve the shared legacy of Brown Stokes, the town of Medina, and River Oaks Courts. Through the memories of Brown's daughter, descendants, and longtime Medina residents, Brown Stokes' decades-old dream comes alive. Future generations of travelers will always be able to press play and experience the spirit of River Oaks Courts.

From a Feeling to a Film

In 2022, the owners of River Oaks Courts realized they had become stewards of far more than limestone cottages and some riverside land. Brown Stokes' daughter, Ople Stokes Boyle, was in her 90s and was a regular visitor to her childhood home. She charmed folks with her memories of the place, but what happens to those stories when she's no longer here?

They felt these stories needed to be preserved, but they weren't sure how. Who could do the story justice?

Looking for guidance, they contacted the Institute for Oral History at Baylor University. Recognizing the opportunity to create something far more meaningful than a simple recording, the Institute referred them to StoryKeeping.

What began as a conversation about following Ople around with a camera evolved into a much larger question: What story would truly do justice to the shared legacy of Brown Stokes, River Oaks Courts and the town of Medina, Texas?

The story demanded a multi-generational cast of people, each carrying their own piece of River Oaks Courts' legacy.

Check out Ople's chapters to hear about her dad and what the property meant to her and her family. Press play on Anita's stories to hear about what life was like in old Medina city. Listen to Cecil talk about the intricacies of stonemasonry and what it took his father and uncle to build the limestone cottages of River Oaks Courts. Watch Gary and Sandy speak fondly of their grandfather and fill in the generational gaps of Medina living. Lean in close as LD, the oldest cowboy in town, describes the joys of sheep shearing and the wonder of watching the property decay for decades.

But you don't have to take their word for it. If you'd like to experience River Oaks Courts and Medina, Texas for yourself, visit https://www.medinariveroaks.com

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Meet Your Legacy Filmmaker

Clinton Haby is a legacy filmmaking pioneer who has been establishing and elevating the legacy film industry since 2009. Recognizing his retelling of his grandparents' stories was a disservice to their spirit, Clinton sought to capture their energy and stories in the magic of the first person perspective. Initially, Clinton was his own client. With no template to follow, creating a legacy film business from scratch was a long and difficult path, but listening to client desires and studying all the areas of specialization that go into this work made StoryKeeping a sustainable business. Clinton is fascinated by people, intrigued by what makes them tick, and loves helping folks talk through everything that makes life worthwhile.