| Employees of the Waggoner Ranch horse operation concentrate on raising horses for working ranch purposes and strive to create athletic and trainable horses that are 15-hands tall with outstanding conformation. By the time he was 27, Tom had full reins of the Waggoner cattle empire.. Handbook of Texas Online, Leif Reigstad, Cast Out of Eden, Texas Monthly, March 2017. Wes O'Neal went to work for the Waggoner Estate in 1958. Originally, Dan Waggoner burned the Reversed 3Ds into the right hip, thigh or rib of his cattle; however, as the price of hides increased, it made economic sense to only use one Reversed D in order to save more of the hide. Depending upon weather and moisture conditions, the ranch has been operated with 11,000 14,000 mother cows, plus calves, bulls and replacements; however, due to the recent drought, and in order to protect the ranch, current stocking rates have been reduced to around 7,000 mother cows/calves, plus replacements and bulls. Oil Well. For the past 15 years, champions at both the National Reining Association and the National Cutting Horse Association Futurity have had Waggoner bloodlines in their pedigree. The ranch is reported to be the largest contiguous ranching operation of its kind under one fence in Texas, and one of the largest in the United States. WebXIT Ranch Map. But cow horses were not the only equine interests of the Waggoner family. HOUCHRON CAPTION (07/27/2003): A calf is branded on the ranch in 1983. All rights reserved. All together, as one may imagine, with this many contiguous acres, there is an immense variety of land types on the Waggoner. 8-b Map of Current Permits and Wells. Compare Today he is the horse foreman for the ranch, and lives at what has always been the horse headquarters, the Whiteface Camp, located near the town of Electra. Then he's two years old before you can ride him. The price? It may be hard to truly comprehend the sheer vastness of the Waggoner Ranch. In later years, W.T. This is your chance to purchase the W.T. Finally, a sire brand is placed on each foal's left thigh, behind the stifle. How big is it? No descendants of the Waggoner family live on the land for the first time in more than 150 years. By 1869 Dan and Tom Waggoner had formed a partnership known as D. Waggoner and Son. Even when he was a young lad of 14, W.T. All rights reserved. Among the notable employees on the Waggoner Ranch during its early years were Jimmie Roberts, E. B. Gillis, Walter Lowrance, Tony Hazelwood, and W. D. (Shinnery) McElroy. Camps today are houses with a small barn and a couple of corrals, located in areas distant from the headquarters. To make the trip, Dan gave Tom $12, a group of drovers and 50 saddle horses, all of which had sores on their backs from heavy use. The foals are halter broken and branded in July, while they are still on their mothers. W. T. Waggoner loved horse racing. The property rests in the North Central Plains region of Texas. 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. In 1871, with the westward push of the frontier, the Waggoners moved their headquarters to Clay County and settled temporarily on the Wichita River in southeastern Wichita County. Our readers support us. .hs-error-msg{color: #29353d} It covers parts of Wilbarger, Baylor, Wichita, Archer, Knox and Foard counties. Source: http://www.waggonerranch.com. The current inventory of studs, mares, geldings and colts is approximately 474 head. Dan died in 1903, leaving everything to Tom. 5 0 obj Lets just say that compared to buying a major professional sports team, or a huge skyscraper in Chicago or Lower Manhattan, or a small private island, the purchase of the W.T. In some ways, the job of cowboy on the Waggoner Ranch hasn't changed much since 1903, when W. T. Waggoner gave Lige Reed that advice about how to manage the hands. Waggener Ranch is a highly-restricted fenced and gated community, located just 30-minutes north of San Antonio and minutes south of Canyon Lake. Dorothy Abbott McCoy,Texas Ranchmen(Austin: Eakin Press, 1987). Santa Rosa Lake covers approximately 1,400 surface acres when full. In June of their yearling years the geldings are sent to Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, where they are used in the horse program classes. Today, the horses on the ranch are still bred for working ranch purposes. In 2016 tycoon and sports mogul Stan Kroenke, owner of the Los Angeles Rams and husband of Walton heiress Ann Walton Kroenke, bought the ranch. The men slept and ate at the wagon, and it became their home for up to weeks at a time. Knox Kinard, A History of the Waggoner Ranch (M.A. The horse became the ranchs foundation sire and probably the best-known quarter horse of all time. To look at what reservoirs are in play in the area, we did a simple production search in DI Desktop. Seymour, the county seat of Baylor County, is several miles south of the ranch, and has a runway that is 4,300 feet long. Texas cheerleader who was shot after her teammate mistakenly got into S.A. area's first horror-focused bookstore officially opens, Under-the-radar San Antonio burgers to try right now, ust how big is Texas? Wichita Falls Times Record News, February 25. In 2016, sports mogul Stan Kroenke and his wife Ann, an heiress to the Walmart fortune, purchased the W.T. These lakes were built by the Corps of Engineers as a major source of municipal and irrigation use water for Wichita Falls, area towns and nearby farming communities. reservoir, Southwestern Part K.M.A. Active oil wells with first production after January 1, 2010 colored by drilling trajectory. RELATED:Just how big is Texas? We need your support because we are a non-profit organization that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. Waggoner Ranch is approximately 535,000 acres of land and spans approximately 800 square miles. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) A look at an oil field in Wilbarger County. "A new stud is the same way. portalId: "5002023", O'Neal estimates that at least 60 percent of them trace to Poco Bueno. Waggoner left behind in East Texas the grave of his wife. Up until this time, the town was called Waggoner, but following the building of the station and a post office in 1889, it was dubbed Beaver Switch, after the nearby Beaver Creek. By 1868, the Waggoner outfit had grown considerably, but help was still short. WebOfficial MapQuest - Maps, Driving Directions, Live Traffic The cattle herd at Waggoner Ranch consists of around 10,000 mother cows. Bucky and E. Pauls daughter, internationally-known sculptor Electra Waggoner Biggs, became joint owners of the property. It is doubtful there is any other contiguous area of this magnitude in Texas which has had no commercial hunting pressure since the land was first settled. Gas Well. For years the area around the Zacaweista headquarters contained one of the major shallow oilfields of the world, which was developed by the Texas Company (later Texaco). WebFind local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Sarah Morgan, Dining with the Cattle Barons (Waco: Texian Press, 1981). Waggoner Ranch is also currently developing hunting opportunities that include quail, wild hog and deer. The ranch was located just south of the Red River, which separated Texas from Indian Territory, and both the Comanche and Kiowa made frequent raids into the area. They have bred some of the finest Quarter horses in the industry, bringing home the 1994 American Quarter Horse Associations Best of the Remuda Award.. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. These camps range in size from just over 20,000 acres to nearly 40,000 acres each. The ranch specialized in fine horses as well as cattle. 008: Waggoner Ranch cowboys live in tidy native-stone houses in line camps on the ranch. Earlier this year, the W. T. Waggoner Estate received the AQHA Best Remuda Award, presented by the American Quarter Horse Association together with the National Cattleman's Association. Subsequently Zacaweista, south of Vernon, emerged as the main headquarters. Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. The wooded river and creek courses offer exceptional cover and desirable habitat for native game. The Alamo City just barely fits inside of the borders of Waggoner Ranch. Webwesmont drive court a court b court c court d court e court f truman drive veterans drive eisenhower lane They will, however, join the other cowboys at times of the year when large pastures are being worked, and others will assist them in their areas when needed. % None of the majors had active oil wells in the six counties. Lunch, however, is normally brought to where the cowboys are working. 2018. The ranch is approximately 175 miles northwest of the Dallas/Ft. All those living at headquarters have their horses turned out together in a horse pasture. The four stallions bred on the Waggoner ranch this year included Tee J Jack Steel, a son of Jackie Bee out of a daughter of Steel Bars Jr; Mr Solano Smoke, by Doc's Solano out of a Mr Gun Smoke-bred mare; and Watch Frosty Jack, a Two Eyed Jack- and Colonel Frost-bred horse. The ranch's wild steers, huge supply of horses and rugged working conditions gave the men of the Waggoner instant recognition as top-flight hands. When the next day's mount is selected each evening, those horses are brought to the corrals at the headquarters so they will be easy to catch before daylight the next morning. Layline Energy was the top, with 1095 active oil wells. "But anyone who picks a young horse has to turn in one he has in his string." We have found that the longer we can leave them out, they seem to get a little more immunity. SOLD. Horses have always been big business at the Waggoner Ranch. Cowboys on the Waggoner Ranch move a remuda of horses from one end of the vast ranch to the other where they were working in 1983. for state desk story, Waggoner Ranch. The W.T. Distances and surface areas are magnified at higher latitudes, according to MAPfrappe, thus the ranch cannot be directly compared to other areas on the globe. With over half-a-million acres spread over six counties, its reportedly the largest U.S. ranch within one fence. 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. This stallion was leased, but he has been returned to his owner. The Waggoner Ranch fully supports the AQHA initiative to implement the Ranchers Heritage Breeders Program and the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Program with current staff serving as a member of two AQHA Committees. As seen in the previous table, wells with production from the Cisco (green) and Gunsight (dark gray) reservoirs are most numerous. A complete list of this inventory can be made available. Stretching across six North Texas counties, the Waggoner Ranch is considered to be extremely well located. He reportedly tried to buy the Thoroughbred Man O'War, but was unsuccessful in his efforts. One of those ranches is the historic Waggoner Ranch. By the early 1880s their range extended thirty miles from China Creek to Pease River. Three of his children "Guy, Electra and E. Paul" were appointed to the board of directors. always had a stable of fine thoroughbreds. Story by Jim Jennings. The Waggoner Ranch owns all of the land surrounding and under these lakes, but the water itself is used for off-site municipal water purposes. Cowboys assigned to camps are usually responsible for the cattle on their areas of the ranch. This iconic ranch property has been owned and operated by Waggoner heirs for approximately 165 years. About 26,000 acres were devoted to farming grain crops. Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation 4892 (June 1952). There have been multiple reports in print and online from New York City to Los Angeles and Houston to Seattle. @media only screen and (max-width: 768px) { He previously covered real estate, economic development, retail and tourism. In 1991, he was posthumously inducted into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame. Other areas show substantial regrowth, and those areas of the ranch with a dense canopy of mesquite offer exceptional protection for wildlife. The The wagon no longer goes out. Waggoner Estate Ranch. Even when he was a young lad of 14, W. T. had said, "I want to run the most cattle, breed the best horses and work harder than anyone." The W.T. WebWaggoner Ranch Batt. The facility is equipped to do embryo transfers and has both indoor and outdoor arenas, two barns, and over 30 stalls. Quarter horses have long been an important part of Waggoner Ranch. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. WebLarger Version of Plat Map. Red represents all other reservoirs. The 5 - 10 acre lots allow When Buster Wharton, Electras son, inherited her portion of the ranch, he raised polo ponies. Dan sent Tom (his son), who was only 16 years old at the time, to Kansas City with a herd of 5,000 steers. Also read our complete guide to the Four Sixes Ranch. McAllen and Harlingen are just drops in the bucket of the Waggoner Ranch. There are 200 saddle horses in the ranch's remuda. There are several other large ponds, as well as hundreds of livestock ponds scattered throughout the property. It covers parts of Wilbarger, Baylor, Wichita, Archer, Knox and Foard counties. "You know, you can't do too much on a two-year-old," he said, "they just can't go all day. Map showing the Waggoner Ranch. The Waggoner Ranch is major producing oil and gas asset with potential for more exploration. Production bubbles are based on daily oil. In 1923, Tom formed what today is known as the W. T. Waggoner Estate, naming himself as trustee. Distances and surface areas are magnified at higher latitudes, according to MAPfrappe, thus the ranch cannot be directly compared to other areas on the globe. In Lige Reed's time, and until the mid 70s, the ranch sent a chuckwagon out with the cowboys each spring and fall when the major cattle work was in progress. You must select an email preference. Then you need to ride him a year, so the mare is seven or eight years old before you know for sure whether she's doing you any good or not. Judy Alter, The ranch originally operated under the name of Dan Waggoner & Son. The boys will ride them some in the evenings, maybe gather some bulls on them. The many improvements and related assets mentioned above combine to offer the purchaser an extremely attractive depreciation schedule. The discovery of oil at Electra in 1911 (see WICHITA COUNTY REGULAR FIELD) caused the Waggoners to combine oil production and refining with ranching activities; the refinery cars and tanks bore the image of the Waggoner cattle brand. Waggoner Estate. Year 00 is the first year of production. This historic brand has been used in one form or another since that date, making it one of the very oldest brands in Texas. O'Neal noted that they were looking for another stallion for next spring. The ranch also has an oil operation, crops and recreational lakes. With the passing of the open range, they began purchasing Texas land. xW77xM` 8 Ra,Ei7ycn[ CLn\C__?gggLXes|DmK`iKf|tec6rb`POU;?UfTA;b[hWdK?{XG\Jxd}sTaG)2o?`O}~"[D%3/[N+XVdCd!b_P([XLNW+z{dJl./}&iAi24NIh zR{&P5Z/_,rmBfChr`M {G81q7{B-:yqje4j,o 6q=0nbL9LZcH:Oic-"BhQviEKJHB Using a rough outline based off of materials provided by the ranch and the online map-creating tool MAPfrappe, it's now easier to see just how big. Waggoner Ranch would engulf much of the Bay Area. Today, Waggoner descendants still reside at the ranch in two main compounds: Albert B. Wharton, III lives at the Zacaweista (Indian term for good grass) Headquarters and Helen Biggs Willingham and her husband Gene live at the Santa Rosa Headquarters. The W.T. We have sent you an activation email } The ranch has perfected water right permits to pump approximately 3,893 acre feet of water annually, which is used to irrigate farmland and water the grounds around major headquarter improvements. Map compares to other countries, states, New Braunfels golf course Sip N Putt is leaving putt putt in the dust, What to know about the invasive hammerhead flatworms spotted in Texas, Cardi B speaks out on 'mean girls' in viral TikTok at Houston Astros game, Highest-rated restaurants for tacos in San Antonio, according to Yelp, Medical Drive apartment shooting leaves 1 dead; suspect in custody after standoff, Texas cheerleader who was shot after her teammate mistakenly got into wrong car posts update, Horror-themed bookstore Ghoulish Books opens in Selma. Shareholders of the ranch reside at these two divisions. Wichita Falls, the county seat of Wichita County, is approximately 20 miles east of the eastern boundary of the ranch. Roze Porter McCoy, Thistle Hill: The Cattle Barons Legacy (Fort Worth: Branch Smith, 1980). Tom died in 1934. All pens are very well maintained. By the time he was 27, Tom had full reins of the Waggoner cattle empire. His stock at that time included 230 head of Longhorns and a few horses. All single cowboys live in the bunkhouse at the headquarters, and take their meals in the cookhouse. Now its remaining 40 cowboys must seek employment elsewhere. Many of the oil wells on the ranch are historical, dating back to the 1930s. The sale of the property was mandated by a judge after the Waggoner heirs could not agree how to liquidate, and on February 9 NFL Rams' owner Stan Kroenke agreed to purchase the ranch. The well highlighted is a relatively new vertical drill targeting the Coleman Junction formation. This was a time when much of Texas was open range and unexplored. W.T. "The cowboys get to pick their colts by seniority," O'Neal said. Another number brand is placed on the left hip to denote the year. Other. Dan Waggoner died in 1904, and W. T. took over the ranch. Grayback is slightly east of Zacaweista Ranch, one of the three subranches W.T. Image source: http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-famous-texas-waggoner-ranch-for-sale/. 2021 Chas S Middleton and Son. Listed at $725 million, the ranch is one of the top cattle ranches in the country and is also home to esteemed quarter horses, polo fields, and several lakes. Nous utilisons des cookies et d'autres donnes pour: Si vous cliquez sur "Tout accepter", nous utiliserons galement des cookies et d'autres donnes pour : Si vous cliquez sur "Tout refuser", nous n'utiliserons pas de cookies pour ces fins supplmentaires. Electra is a city in Wichita County, By this time, the Waggoner ranch covered a half-million acres. .hbspt-form{margin-top: 35px;} Many of the Waggoner broodmares go back to those stallions that have made the ranch famous. Waggoner Ranch is located in North Texas, 13 miles south of the city of Vernon. WebThis image shows the approximate boundaries of the Waggoner Ranch. The W.T. Camp men keep their strings of horses at their houses. http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc38582/m2/1/high_res_d/metadc38582.pdf, Wells in the Cisco formation target Late Pennsylvanian fluvial and deltaic deposits. You have a better uniformed bunch of colts, just three months difference in their ages. Until around 1882, the ranch used a D71 brand on their horses. Located on US 283 about 28 miles south of Vernon or 5 miles north of US 277; Ramp will accommodate all boat types ; Get better traffic, directions and commute updates while earning points. accessed May 01, 2023, Although the surviving heirs owned the land, they had no voice in its management according to the terms of the trust, and each trustee found it difficult to navigate the increasing tension between branches of the family. HOUCHRON CAPTION (07/27/2003): Cowboys on the Waggoner Ranch in 1983 move horses from one end of the vast property to the other. has created a haven for deer, turkey, quail, dove, waterfowl and feral hogs. The largest ranch under one fence in the nation, it was still owned by Waggoner heirs, namely the families of A. At an asking price of $725 Million Dollars and containing over half of a million acres this is truly a giant among giants, even in my beloved Lone Star State. These live creeks and their tributaries provide a desirable source of livestock water throughout the property. Slaughter (Slaughter Ranches), Jim Loving (JA Ranch) and Dan and W.T. thesis, University of Texas, 1941). Older horses turned in when a cowboy selects a young one are sent to O'Neal, who sells them to the public. Upon its sale in 2016 to Stan Kroenke, Waggoner Ranch was listed for $725 million. 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