Cowboys of the Waggoner Ranch. By the late fifties, forces were marshalling to ensure total control for E. Paul and his heirs. W.T. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. ACRES 825,000. After a hard rain, this endless maze of graded red clay becomes a network of quagmires. Its a weird deal. They say he was as mad as a nest of hornets. The W.T. The major drainages through the ranch are Beaver Creek, which starts on the west side of the ranch and runs through the entirety of the northern portion of the property, and the North Wichita and the South Wichita Rivers, which converge in the southwest portion of the ranch and meander through the entire south side of the property. Jim Jennings, in a 2005 article in The Quarter Horse Journal, states, By 1868, the Waggoner outfit had grown considerably, but help was still short. W T Waggoner Ranch Brand Honoring Waggoner Ranch Family and Owners Canvas Print by Richard W Linford. But we are so far from the lights of townany townthat half an hour before daylight its still pitch black. Please create an account or shop as a guest. Over the years, a substantial amount of brush work has been done, and the mesquite canopy ranges from nearly extinct to moderate over portions of the ranch. By that time, Ella had died, at the age of one hundred, and her successor as trustee was John Biggs, the son-in-law whom E. Paul had groomed for the job. The summer after his discharge, in 1970, Bucky decided it was time to move to the ranch and begin his real education. I ask him what he thinks of the family feud that threatens to end the way of life that he knew. [11] Buster raised polo ponies and established the El Ranchio Polo Club on the ranch. Most other ranches in this general area also rely on creek water and earthen ponds. E. Paul, a whiskey-drinking, poker-playing party animal, stayed married to his wife, Helen, for fifty years, but few people doubted the rumors that he kept mistresses in Mexico and South Texas. Disgusted, he continued drilling for water. They still talk here of Paul Whitley, an unmarried cowboy who in 1950 rode his horse to Cedar Top, the most remote camp on the ranch, and lived alone in a primitive cabin until his final illness, in 2002. Now look at it! The little village of Lockett, where the descendants of those settlers now live, is wet in another way: It is the nearest spot where citizens of Vernon can buy beer and liquor. So it was the King Ranch whose legend was set down for posterity by the distinguished Texas author Tom Lea, while the Waggoners escapades were left to be recorded by the English author John Bainbridgea few passages in his 1960 book called The Super-Americans, about the excesses of Texass oil millionaires. The Waggoner Ranch, 550,000 acres extending into six counties, a realm steeped in Texas history, teeters on the brink of liquidation. [5], The ranch is located west of Wichita Falls, Texas, south of Vernon, near the Red River. Both ranches once covered more than a million acres. Originally, the trust was supposed to expire after twenty years, in 1943, but the terms of the trust allowed it to be routinely extended in twenty-year increments until 1983. What must be going through his mind? But the Willinghams arent talkingabout the lawsuit or anything else. The Waggoner Ranch got into oil in a big way, and today oil wells still methodically pump as cattle graze around them.. Both lakes offer good fishing, boating, and water skiing, and the Waggoner Ranch leases out approximately 500 privately-owned housing sites surrounding these two lakes. WHAT WE DO: We deliver strategic, brand-driven marketing communications solutions and deploy content that truly resonates . Neither of her parents came to the wedding; biographer Porter reports that E. Paul and Helen were having marital problems. It may be many years before a similar ranch of this magnitude becomes available, if ever. The United States Department of Agriculture, as part of a conservation project, had surveyed every foot of ground on the ranch, and Roberson fed this information into a database. Thats the only reason anyone would want to sell.. The Waggoner is the largest U.S. ranch within one fence, measuring 520,527 acres (207,000 hectares) or 800 square miles (2,072 square kilometers). From the highway, its pastures seem timeless and impregnable. Its the Story of Shankleville, One of the States Early Freedom Colonies. We opened it up. Today the home is bright and welcoming. As the large ranches of Texas, such as the Waggoner, 6666, JA, Slaughter, King Ranch and others, were established, fenced and began to operate, these legendary holdings were, at times, confronted with the problems of Indian raids and cattle rustlers. Its second only to the King Ranch in size, and second to none in its history of drink, divorce, and dissension. This sprawling property is approximately three-fourths the size of Rhode Island. Waggoner raised Quarter Horses on the ranch, including Poco Bueno, who was buried on the ranch. Joe Roberson showed me how to read the books. But Gene and Helen seem determined to do just that. He first settled on Catlett Creek near the site of present Decatur. Hes not a large man, but his pleasant and unassuming manner and his quiet, considered confidence give him stature. At least thats what everyone outside the two families, their lawyers, and the judge believe happened. He sits across the table from me in his starched jeans and freshly shined boots, ramrod straight, his hat resting in his lap, his gray hair slicked down. While the last of the calves are being loaded onto the trucks, I talk to a 22-year-old cowboy named Shane Bone, a handsome young man in dusty brown chaps and a well-used cowboy hat. Not a shred, she told me. Now available for sale on the open market, the Waggoner Ranch represents a singular opportunity so rare, it only comes along every 165 years or so. They almost killed him with kindness, literally. The letters were typed by his secretary, Neely told me. Bucky wanted to make it clear that he believed the situation was untenable. [9], In August 2014, the ranch was listed on the real estate market with an asking price of US$725 million. Yesterday a helicopter herded one hundred mother cows and their calves into a trapa corner of the large pastureand soon cowboys on horseback will be stripping the calves away from their mothers, herding them into separate pens and loading them onto trucks for transportation to other parts of the ranch. Waggoner Ranch, among US' largest, listed for sale - Chron Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vista Caliente - Signed Print by Woodrow M. Blagg - Cowboys - Waggoner Ranch at the best online prices at eBay! Passing under a granite arch, we head down a long, paved driveway to Zacaweista, an Indian word meaning good grass. Its the name of both the ranch headquarters and the sprawling rock-and-wood home that Electra built in 1910. The Waggoner Ranch Store is located in the Waggoner Estate building in Vernon Texas. The Bold Brand - The Land Report WAGGONER RANCH (VILLAS 18-21) Vernon, TX | Founded 1852 Archer, Baylor, Foard, Knox, Witchita, and Wilbarger Counties Established in 1852, the ranch was primarily used to raise crops, Longhorn cattle and horses. Heath@WaggonerRanch.com I worked a couple of weeks gauging wells. In 1923, W. T. formed what is known today as the W. T. Waggoner Estate. The only time we dont work, Hawley tells me, is when its raining and lightning, or when its very hot. The Bronc-busting, Cow-punching, Death-defying Legend of Boots ONeal, At Texas Swingers Clubs, the Lifestyle Is Booming. All pens are very well maintained. In the late eighties, as the oil revenue began to peter out, the new trustee of the Waggoner estate, Charles Prather, resigned. The Waggoner Ranch was founded by a man named Dan Waggoner around 1854 when he and his son relocated to a 160-acre farm in Wise County, TX, after the untimely passing of Dan's wife Nancy in 1853. The second Electra was, like her namesake, a globe-hopping socialite (she was once linked romantically to Cary Grant by Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons), but she also was an acclaimed artist, who knew all the celebrities of her day and sculpted busts of many of them. Some of the larger main shipping pens are equipped with hydraulic chutes and scales. This treated water is used for human consumption to serve the substantial headquarter improvements. She left the motor running, didnt even bother to shut it off, and walked to the depot and took the next train out of town. When Guy moved to New Mexico, Tony Hazelwood, who hated his guts, showed his disrespect by storing oats on the homes prized hardwood floors. [14] After Electra Waggoner Biggs's death, her share was inherited by Electra Waggoner Biggs's daughter Helen Biggs and her husband, Gene Willingham. They are already being augmented by Kroenke Ranches' world-class commercial Angus herd. Northwest Texas was open range in the 1850s, when Dan Waggoner and his fifteen-year-old black slave trailed 242 Longhorn cattle and 6 horses to Wise County. And so they were, for a hundred years and more. An additional 320 acres were then purchased in 1856 near the small town of Decatur, marking the first major expansion of Waggoner's estate. Approximately 160,000 acres of the 560,000 acres areproven prolific oilproperties. With the trust on the verge of expiring, Bucky and Electra II agreed to extend it until March 31, 2003. All canvas prints are professionally printed, assembled, and shipped within 3 - 4 business days and delivered ready-to-hang on your wall. Numerous smaller cultivated fields are scattered throughout the ranch. All I ever knew is the Waggoner Ranch, he tells me. He owns a bank, an oil company, and a cattle company, but he is happiest when he is working outdoors or having dinner with his family. The sale of the iconic Waggoner Ranch, while marking the end of one era, creates for a new owner the opportunity to begin another. By the 1880s, the Waggoners Victorian mansion, El Castile, was the most prominent structure in Decatur. Its now the residence of Gene and Helen Willingham. The Wichita River, the two branches of Beaver Creek, countless small streams and tributaries, and dozens of stock tanks supply the ranchs water. After a big wedding in Decatur, the couple honeymooned in Europe and then planned to settle in Philadelphia. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. The majority of the ranch is in native pasture, supporting a mixed variety of palatable native grasses. Copyright 2023 W. T. Waggoner Ranch Uptown Style WordPress theme by, 2013 Gelding (Cat Man Do X Smoked Diamonds), 2015 Stallion (Cat Man Do X Smokin and Swingin). Anne was the granddaughter of W.T.s friend Burk Burnett and hardly the type to sit around waiting for a roving husband. Perhaps they are afraid of ghosts. Brokers: Sale of Waggoner ranch looks hopeful as bidding ends - Chron Thats what folks in Vernon, Electra, Seymour, and other towns near the Waggoner Ranch are asking as they watch one of Texass greatest ranching empires teeter on the brink of disintegration. Its a constant battle. Over these past three decades, Bucky has absorbed every inch of this ranch and most of its colorful history. It would be Helens husband, Gene Willingham, who would one day become Bucky Whartons main opponent in the struggle over the Waggoner Ranch. Dan died in 1903, leaving everything to Tom. [6] It has about 14,000 cows and bulls as well as 500 horses. When it is necessary for them to be in the same room, they let third parties do the talking. The Waggoner Ranchis a historic north Texasranch located 13 miles south of Vernon, Texas. [3] It spans six counties[3][6] and is half as large as Rhode Island. Its absence symbolizes the fate of the Guy Waggoner clan in the history of the ranch. At every opportunity, Dan Waggoner purchased land. The Waggoner Ranch has been very well managed over time, and considering the recent four-year drought, the worst in recorded history, the ranch supports an overall good turf of native grasses. As previously noted, this massive holding spans six North Texas counties. W T Waggoner Ranch Brand Honoring Waggoner Ranch Family and Owners He ended up using it for cattle dip, and the well became Electras city dump., Near the entrance to Zacaweista, once the home of the first Electra, we stop at the grave of Poco Bueno. One closet was filled with fur coats, another with 350 pairs of shoes, and yet a third with the latest gowns from Paris and New Yorkand she was said never to wear one more than once. Richard King and Captain James Walworth's King Ranch brand was registered June 27, 1859 3. There is a photograph of her in the Red River Valley Museum, near Vernon College, along with a large collection of her work: busts of Will Rogers, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Knute Rockne, Amon Carter, John Nance Garner. At an early age, Dan started building what would become a ranching empire and founded the Waggoner Ranch in 1849. The many improvements and related assets mentioned above combine to offer the purchaser an extremely attractive depreciation schedule. The W. T. Waggoner Estate is seeking a working relationshipwith an industry partner to furtherexplore and develop the ranchlands. These camps range in size from just over 20,000 acres to nearly 40,000 acres each. As their cattle business grew, the ranch needed more grazing land, especially as barbed wire began to close in the open range. The entryway is glass, and there is a skylight over the vaulted ceiling above the staircase. Nothing is too trivial to spark an argument. Reply Anonymous February 3, 2013 at 8:00 PM Waggoner met in Graham, Texas, and formed what today is known as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. You get in here far enough, it just swallows you up, Hughes tells me. We see a bunch of javelinas too, and a bobcat as big as a mountain lion. Waggoner, a widower, and his young son, William Thomas, settled on Catlett Creek, near present-day Decatur. Choose from multiple print sizes and hundreds of frame and mat options. Without question, this legacy ranch represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance for an investor with vision and love of the land the rare opportunity to take this legendary offering to the next level. Texas History: What's your opinion?: Cattle Brands - Blogger His daddy worked this ranch for fifteen years, and Shane grew up on Cowboy Row. On the other three sides are a number of buildings constructed of identical reddish-brown stone, quarried on the eastern part of the ranch. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. Mesquite is the major invader in this part of Texas. After a time everyone seemed in agreement on all except one pointmaintenance of the dam at Santa Rosa Lake.