DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, friends — and this one's worth every mile to hear. Somewhere out in Carson County, Texas, there's a creek that carries a name bigger than most, and a ranch that carries a story bigger still. This is the 6666 Dixon Creek Ranch.
Now, the name on that creek? That belongs to Billy Dixon — noted buffalo hunter, noted scout — who set up his first dugout home right there on the High Plains in 1874. A dugout.
On the High Plains. In 1874. You think about what that takes, and you start to understand the kind of ground we're talking about.
Then, in 1882, the Francklyn Land and Cattle Co. came along and founded the ranch proper. Now, the Francklyn outfit was an English firm — and not just any English firm — backed by the Cunard Steamship Co. You heard that right.
Steamships. Out here on the dry Panhandle plains. Money travels in strange directions when land and cattle are calling.
By 1884, they were fencing the place with barbed wire — wire hauled all the way from the railroad at Dodge City. And those fence posts? Cut from the cedars down in Palo Duro Canyon.
That fence didn't just mark a boundary; it stitched together two very different worlds in one long strung-out line across the shortgrass. Then comes 1903, and a man named S. Burk Burnett rides into this story.
Born 1849, died 1922. Trail driver. Rancher.
One of the organizers of the Texas Cattle Raisers Association, and for forty-five years on its executive board. Forty-five years. That is not a career — that is a calling.
But here's the moment that just about stops the whole narrative cold. In 1905, Burnett hosted a wolf hunt out on this ranch. The guest of honor?
United States President Theodore Roosevelt. Right here. On this ground where Billy Dixon once scratched a dugout into the High Plains dirt, where barbed wire came rolling in from Dodge City, where cedar posts came up from Palo Duro Canyon — there stood a president.
The marker closes with a note that the ranch is not open to the public. Some stories, it seems, you can only hear from the road.
What the marker says
Takes name from creek where noted buffalo hunter and scout Billy Dixon established first dugout home on High Plains, 1874. Ranch founded, 1882, by Francklyn Land and Cattle Co., English firm backed by Cunard Steamship Co. Fenced, 1884, with barbed wire hauled here from railroad at Dodge City; posts were of Palo Duro Canyon cedars. Purchased in 1903 by S. Burk Burnett (1849-1922), trail driver, rancher; an organizer and for 45 years on executive board, Texas Cattle Raisers Association. Host during 1905 wolf hunt to U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. (1965) (Ranch not open to public.)