Prude Ranch

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Prude Ranch, out there in Jeff Davis County. Pull over if you can, because this one's got some patience built into it, and patience, as it turns out, is exactly what this story is about. Andrew Prude purchased three sections of land here in 1897, bought them from a man named J.

F. Taylor, and set about building something. He called it the A.

G. Prude Ranch. Now, three sections of land sounds like a lot until you hear where this story ends up, so hold onto that number.

He moved his wife Ora out to a small log house sitting right on Limpia Creek. Small. Log.

House. On a creek. That is your starting point.

In 1900, Andrew finished a wooden frame house for the family, a step up from the log cabin. In 1902, he added 1,257 acres to the ranch. The man was not standing still.

Then came 1911, and here is where Andrew Prude showed you who he really was. He built a large two-story ranch house, and he built it out of adobe bricks cast right there in a nearby stock tank. They called it the Big House.

By 1920, Andrew Prude had expanded that original three-section purchase to forty sections of land. Forty. From three.

Let that ride with you a minute. Then 1921 rolled in, and the Prudes made a decision that changed the character of this place entirely. They started a guest ranch, wanting to share the beauty of the land and the cool summer months with city dwellers.

Early guests came in on the Southern Pacific Railroad, stepping off the train and into a different world. But the land, and the times, had other plans. A severe drought hit.

Then the Depression of the 1930s came right behind it. Andrew Prude was forced to sell his cattle and most of his land. Forced.

That word carries weight. But here is the thing about the Prudes. When the drought and the Depression took the cattle operation, they leaned harder into the guest ranch and made it their full-time business.

A new highway came through, and guests started traveling from many locales, not just those stepping off a Southern Pacific train. New guest houses went up. A coaching school was added.

A rodeo. Then came summer camps for boys and girls, and educational programs behind those. The facilities kept expanding over the years to hold a wide variety of activities.

What started as three sections of raw land and a small log house on Limpia Creek became a place people seek out on purpose, from all over, and keep coming back to. Prude Ranch continues to be a popular tourist destination. Andrew bought three sections.

He built on a creek. He cast his bricks in a stock tank. And what he started is still going.

That is a Texas story if I have ever told one.

What the marker says

Andrew Prude purchased three sections of land here in 1897 from J. F. Taylor, and established the A. G. Prude Ranch. Soon he moved his wife Ora to a small log house on their property on Limpia Creek. In 1900 he completed a wooden frame house for their family, and in 1902 he added 1257 acres to the ranch. In 1911 a large 2-story ranch house was built of adobe bricks cast in a nearby stock tank, and was called the "Big House." By 1920 Andrew Prude had expanded his ranch to 40 sections of land. In 1921 the Prudes started a guest ranch to share the beauty of the land and cool summer months with city dwellers. Early guests arrived on the Southern Pacific Railroad. When a severe drought and the Depression of the 1930s forced Andrew Prude to sell his cattle and most of his land, the Prudes decided to operate the guest ranch full time. Soon a new highway was built, and guests traveled here from many locales. New guest houses were built, and a coaching school and rodeo were added. Followed by summer camps for boys and girls, and educational programs. the facilities have expanded over the years to accommodate a wide variety of activities. Prude Ranch continues to be a popular tourist destination. (1996)