Pat Dunn Ranch
Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Patrick Francis Dunn, the son of Irish immigrants Thomas and Catherine H. Dunn, was born October 10, 1858, in Corpus Christi. He married Clara J. Jones August 30, 1883. In December 1883, Pat Dunn entered a partnership with his mother and brother, Thomas, to graze cattle on Padre Island, and as manager moved to the island in January 1884. Settling 20 miles down the coast. Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico served as natural fences; during roundup, ranch hands drove stock into several corrals scattered along the 110-mile island. When his children reached school age, Dunn moved back to Corpus Christi and established headquarters at the north end of the island. In 1907, after buying his brother's interest, he built a 2-story house on Corpus Christi Pass (0.5 mile east), using lumber washed ashore from shipwrecks. Much of the house and corrals were constructed of fine mahogany. The house was destroyed in the hurricane of 1916, the year of his mother's death, which left Dunn as sole owner of the ranch. Pat Dunn sold his Padre Island interests in 1926, retaining grazing rights, which he used until his death March 25, 1937. His son, Burton Dunn, continued ranching operations until his death Sept. 8, 1970, after which the last cattle were removed from Padre Island. (1973)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Patrick Francis Dunn, Corpus Christi-born son of Irish immigrants, became the great cattleman of Padre Island. From 1884 he grazed cattle down the long barrier island, using the Laguna Madre and the Gulf as natural fences and driving stock between corrals scattered along its 110 miles. In 1907 he built a two-story house from lumber and fine mahogany washed ashore from shipwrecks; a 1916 hurricane destroyed it, and after his death the Dunn family ranched the island until the last cattle were removed in 1970.
Why it matters
The Dunn ranch is the story of Texas open-range ranching carried to one of America's wildest coastlines, a way of life that lasted on Padre Island into the modern era.
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Related people
- · Patrick Francis Dunn
Themes & tags
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