Old Buck Ranch
Bandera vicinity, Bandera County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Settled 1867 by former New Yorker, Judge Edward M. Ross, who had fought in Mexican war, then served in 1850's at Camp Verde, Army's camel post near Bandera. House is hand-cut native stone. Daughter Kate Ross, wife of Ebenezer Buck, of a prominent pioneer family, inherited ranch in 1901. Offering fine foods and hospitality, the Bucks in 1920 established this as Bandera's first guest ranch, continuing it until their deaths in 1941. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1966
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This ranch was settled in 1867 by former New Yorker Judge Edward M. Ross, a Mexican War veteran who had served in the 1850s at Camp Verde, the Army's nearby camel post. His hand-cut native-stone house passed to his daughter Kate, wife of Ebenezer Buck of a prominent pioneer family, who inherited it in 1901. In 1920 the Bucks turned the ranch into Bandera's first guest ranch, famed for its food and hospitality until their deaths in 1941.
Why it matters
It links the Army's short-lived camel experiment on the Texas frontier to the birth of the dude-ranch tourism that would later define the Hill Country.
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Related people
- · Edward M. Ross
- · Kate Ross
- · Ebenezer Buck
Themes & tags
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