Bareback bronco riding, barrel racing, bull riding and calf scrambles are staples of the rodeo scene, but the action is not limited to the dusty, faraway plains of Texas. If you follow the paved path just outside of Loop 1604 on Hausman Road, you will unearth a real Texas treat.
Pedrotti’s North Wind Ranch is the iconic San Antonio event center that carries a history as big as the Lone Star State. Owner Louie Pedrotti and his team of skilled event planners, culinary experts and managers continue to blaze the trail they started three decades ago.
From its simple beginnings as a restaurant and catering company in 1971, the Pedrotti’s brand has evolved into one of the Alamo City’s definitive event destinations. Starting with a catering truck and a modest kitchen, the Pedrottis ran their off-premise catering business for 24 years before expanding and purchasing land. In 1995, the company staked its claim to the 25-acre plot that serves as its current home. It was a transition that gave life to a host of new developments at the company.
Two of the first facilities to open at the newly acquired location included the “Shooting Star,” a 12,000-square-foot building with no floor or heat and limited air conditioning, and the “Pedrotti’s Rodeo Arena.” In 2000, the growth continued with three additional facilities: the “Brokemill,” the “Patio Room” and the “Chuckwagon.” The Pedrottis added the spacious 24,000-square-foot facility, “Lone Oak,” in 2004, and purchased 20 additional acres in 2008.
In addition to the rodeo arena, Pedrotti’s currently has five event center facilities – all of which are heated and air-conditioned. From a floorless, open space and dirt arena, Pedrotti’s has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the ranch hosts large-scale events for groups sizing anywhere from 200 to 2,000. The company works with major conventions with guests coming from across the country for weddings, holiday events and other corporate banquets for the likes of H-E-B, Nationwide Insurance and Eva Longoria Parker’s non-profit organization, Eva’s Heroes.
“It’s a pretty long way to travel,” Louie Pedrotti said. “It’s been a lot of fun on the way, and it’s also been a lot of work.”
Recently, Pedrotti’s entered the wedding market. When Louie and Sue Pedrotti’s son, Anthony Pedrotti, joined the team in 2007 as co-director of marketing, Pedrotti’s hosted only a handful of weddings each year. With Anthony’s arrival, and the expertise of Co-Director of Marketing Norma Diaz, the company moved to aggressively alter and adjust itself to meet the needs of brides, grooms and their guests, as well as to create a wedding wonderland. It was a decision that was met with success; wedding bookings have tripled, and clients are excited about the service.
“We took the approach to enhance one of our facilities to make it a little more elegant,” Anthony Pedrotti said. “Every bride- and groom-to-be wants to have a little bit of Texas flavor to their wedding in Texas, so we really hit the nail on the head; we combine glamorous elegance with some Texan flair.”
While the brides are booking at record pace, the Pedrottis continue to emphasize the importance of honesty and dedication, while providing clients with the events of their dreams. For Pedrotti’s, that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.
“Every event is different, and every client is different,” Sue Pedrotti said. “You have to stay on your toes to make sure you take care of every need. It is very interesting putting all the details together for an event on paper, then seeing it all happen right in front of you.?It is like putting together a puzzle.”
The Pedrotti’s team is also committed to supporting several charitable causes, and this passion is reflected by the scores of non-profit organizations that book Pedrotti’s for fundraising events and celebrations. Clients include the Children’s Hunger Fund, the H-E-B Special Olympics, the Texas Justice Foundation, United Way and TEAMability, among many others.
“I believe the future holds success for Pedrotti’s,” Louie Pedrotti said.?“The next few years may be tough because of the economy, but we plan to stick to our core values we initiated when we started our business; and in doing that, we will survive together and become a better business because of it.”
The Pedrottis are committed to ensuring that each member of their staff, the vendors they work with and even their clients and guests feel like members of the Pedrotti family.
“I believe a family-owned business is the finest kind,” Sue Pedrotti said. “I believe this is why our business is successful, and why we have survived.?When we started this business, we started from nothing and built?it on our faith, integrity, knowledge and commitment to our goal and to each other.?We take care of everyone employed here as family.?Family is the one thing that you have forever.”
Simply put, the Pedrottis are on a mission to engage guests in the city, state and even across the nation to enjoy the Pedrotti’s experience.
“From the minute you make that first call or inquiry, you will notice things are a little different,” Anthony Pedrotti said.?“We are a small family trying to make the sometimes difficult task of putting together a private event as easy as possible for you. We’re a one-stop shop and a full concierge service.?Let us do all the work. Bring the guests, and we’ll take it from there.”
(Featured in July/August 2010 NSIDE Magazine: https://www.getnside.com/sa/magazine/medical/current/articles/1764-Pedrottis____North_Wind_Ranch/)
