Open Tuesday-Friday for pre-booked field trips and tours. Open Saturdays for General Admission.

Photos from Trails Through Time (Spring Break)

Monday, March 18, 2013

There was so much to see and do last week at the George Ranch, that it was easy to spend the entire day out there. The spring break celebration started on Saturday, March 9, and continued through Saturday, March 16. Trams and tours were running constantly to help everyone see all the historic home sites and demonstrations. There were also plenty of games and activities all over the park.

Guests gathered around the fire pit as Chef Nick Castelberg AKA Cookie, 
prepared an authentic cattle drive lunch using traditional methods.
 
The Chuckwagon was a crowded site at lunch time. 
Lunch included beef stew, beans, biscuits, and your choice of apple or peach cobbler.
 
 D’andre Gonzalez and Ariana and Tommy Ortiz played
 historic games on the lawn at the Ryon Prairie Home.
 
This Model T was on display at the George Home.

 

Grace Clarke from Quilter’s Cottage demonstrated quilting by hand
 for Victor and Jan DeAlmeida and their two grandson’s Ryon and Reece.

 

The cowboys gave a brief history lesson and a stern 
warning of the dangers of working with Longhorns 
before heading out into the field to bring in the 
herd for the Railcar Roundup.
Mr. Lynn and his horse pushed the cattle through 
the chute to the pens so guests could take a closer look.

 

Once the longhorns were in the pens, guests were invited to take photos.

 

 At the blacksmith’s shop, Robert Swim used a model rail set to 
explain the construction and maintenance of railroads. 
 
 At the Sharecropper Farm, Uncle Bob Beringer demonstrated 
tack maintenance. All the leather equipment such as reins, traces
 and harnesses used on mules and horses had to be kept clean 
and supple so ensure it would function properly and last a long time.
 
Before the mock cattle drive portion of the Trail Boss Trials, 
the cowboys explained how cattle drives changed when the use of 
chuckwagons allowed cowboys to carry more supplies than saddle bags did.
 
During the mock cattle drive, some visitors pretended to 
be cattle and others pretended to be cowboys.
 
 One of the challenges faced by the Trail Boss, or lead cowboy, 
was having to negotiate with land owners to cross their fields.
Our Trail Boss for the day had to think on her toes and negotiate
 to keep the cattle drive moving without incurring too much cost.

 

We’ve got more family fun on the horizon
 as the Easter bunny makes his way to the ranch on Saturday, March 30.
 Click for admission and historic meal pricing:  Old-Fashioned Easter 
More details will be up on the blog this week.
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