Mullins Heritage Park
Thrifty, Brown County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1894, Brown County commissioners built a public road from Bangs to Cross Cut in the western part of the county. The chief crossing of Jim Ned Creek came at Mullins Ranch, so the county bought eleven acres here for the project. Brothers John Charles and William Haven Mullins and their families settled in Brown County in 1857, helping establish nearby towns of Mullin and Thrifty. Mullins Ranch was a regular stop for Methodist circuit preachers, and remained popular for camp meetings and recreation. The unfenced site was also a favored watering hole for cattlemen and area residents. Many of the traditional activities continue today at this historic gathering place. (2007)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1894 Brown County commissioners cut a public road from Bangs to Cross Cut, and its chief crossing of Jim Ned Creek fell at Mullins Ranch, prompting the county to buy eleven acres here. The Mullins brothers had settled the area in 1857, helping found the nearby towns of Mullin and Thrifty, and their ranch became a regular stop for Methodist circuit preachers, a favored spot for camp meetings, and an open watering hole for cattlemen and neighbors. Many of those gathering traditions continue at the site today.
Why it matters
The park marks a classic frontier crossroads where a creek ford, a public road, and a hospitable ranch combined to make one spot the social and travel hub of a rural county.
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Related people
- · John Charles Mullins
- · William Haven Mullins
Themes & tags
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