Clarendon, TX 79226 (Donley County)

Size: 14,897.52 Acres

Type: Farms and Ranches, House

14,897.52 Acres in Clarendon, TX - $14,525,082

About the Area

Donley County has an average annual rainfall of approximately 21 inches, and the average growing season is 206 days. Clarendon is the county seat with a population of approximately 2,000. Amarillo is the center of activity in the Panhandle. Commercial air service is convenient with the Rick Husband International Airport located about 5 miles east of Amarillo.

Acreage

The ranch consists of 14,897.52 acres, more or less, of grassland across terrain that varies from open to rolling into breaks that lead to Saddler Creek and the Salt Fork of the Red River. Elevations range from almost 2,800 at the north end of the ranch to about 2,400 along the river.

Despite several years of drought, the ranch has excellent grass cover due to reduced grazing the last few years. The ranch has historically been considered to have a carrying capacity of roughly 550 cow-calf pairs.

Ranch...

Ranch History

The RO (Rowe) Ranch was named for its founder, Alfred Rowe. Rowe established the ranch 1878 and by 1900 the RO covered 100,000 acres and ran 15,000 cattle. About 1894, Rowe bought from R. B. Edgell another ranch within five miles of Clarendon overlooking the Salt Fork of the Red River. Rowe set up the "River Ranch" as a second RO headquarters. In 1910, Rowe moved his family permanently to England, leaving Jack Hall to manage the ranch and keep its records. However, Rowe returned at least twice a year to check up on the RO. On one of these trips in April 1912 Rowe booked passage on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. After Rowe's death on the Titanic in 1912, the family continued to run the ranch. The Rowe family continued to run the RO until 1917, when it was sold to William Jenks Lewis, Sr.. By that time, the RO range had been reduced to 72,000 acres in Donley and Gray counties.

William Jenks Lewis was born in 1871, and began working for the RO in 1887. Alfred Rowe, its owner, had taken a liking to the boy and thus started him off as an "outside man" for the outfit. Over the next few years, Lewis was elevated from apprentice to top hand and was eventually given the responsibility of shipping RO cattle to the firm of Clay, Robinson, and Company in Kansas City.

By 1890 Lewis went out on his own and began buying and selling cattle throughout Kansas, New Mexico, and the Panhandle, sometimes with partners and always on leased land, including portions of the Ox-Bow, Mill Iron, and Spur Ranches. In 1917 Lewis made arrangements to purchase the remaining 72,000 acres and the cattle of the RO Ranch from the Rowe family for $595,113.26, thus fulfilling a dream of his youth.

The deed, which was formally signed on July 1, 1918, required $565.50 worth of revenue stamps. Lewis and his son, William , Jr., continued to use the RO brand and Rowe's policies over the years. By 1936, the ranch covered 62,289 acres and ran more than 8,000 cattle.

Though portions of the ranch have been sold over the years, the remaining RO Ranch is still owned by the heirs of Mr. Lewis.

*The preceding historical information was adapted from the Texas State Historical Associations descriptions of the RO Ranch, Alfred Rowe, and William Jenks Lewis.*

Wildlife

This ranch features an excellent natural habitat for wildlife with several types of terrain, good cover and numerous sites for water. Both mule deer and white tail deer can be found on the ranch. There is a large population of turkey, and the dove and quail populations are thriving too. Water foul can often be seen on the ponds as well. Wild pigs, coyotes, and other wildlife are commonly seen here.

This ranch is used primarily as a working cattle ranch, yet has an abundance of wildlife and a habitat that could have tremendous possibilities for development into a premier hunting and recreational property. The ranch has maintained long standing lease relationships with several individual groups for the hunting of deer, turkey and quail.

Improvements

The RO Ranch is operated as a working cattle ranch and is improved as such. It is fenced into 14 pastures and several traps. There are two sets of working pens. Most of the fencing is in good to excellent condition, with about 15 miles of new t-post fence constructed in the last few years.

The Gregory Camp is located in the southwest portion of the ranch and functions as the ranch headquarters. There is an older, frame style ranch home that is typical for this setting along with outbuildings and one of the sets of working pens.

The Dugout is a structure that was built within the last 10 years, mostly from materials recycled from other old ranch structures. It has a large wood burning fireplace, room for two sets of bunk beds, a small kitchen and a bathroom. With a spring fed pond and plenty of trees nearby, this is a great place to spend the weekend.

The Cabin was built within the last ten years but is a very rustic structure that looks like it would be well over one hundred years old. It is also built from salvaged or recycled materials from the RO and other area ranches. It is a one-room building with a fireplace, but no plumbing or electricity. There is a swimming hole and fishing pond just a few steps from the Cabin with water flowing to it from a nearby spring.

Water

The RO Ranch has an excellent distribution of water. Groundwater is produced by 4 solar wells, 4 windmills, and 3 electric submersible wells, all with stock tanks. Several of those well locations have water piped to additional tanks. There are also several spring fed tanks and dirt tanks to collect run-off water. Saddler Creek meanders for over 3 miles through the ranch, and joins into the Salt Fork of the Red River, which extends for over 4 miles through the ranch. There are several seep ponds scattered along these waterways.

In general, each pasture is set up to have at least two sources of livestock water. The water is believed to be of good quality throughout the ranch.

Minerals

Sellers will reserve one-half of any minerals and royalties they own in the ranch.

Personal Property

The corrals, chutes and the bulk cake storage bin belong to the Sellers and will be included in the sale. The mobile home & shipping container at the Spade Flat, the portable red barn at the Gregory Camp, the hunting blinds, and the deer & quail feeders all belong to those that hunt the ranch and will not be included in the sale.

Possession

The ranch is currently leased for both grazing and hunting. Possession will be determined upon the sale of the ranch.

2013 Taxes $13,172 Total

Comments

The RO Ranch is a historic, quality cattle ranch with outstanding potential for recreational activities. Ranches of this size seldom come to market, and ones with this level of care and history behind it are extremely rare. This property has been in the Lewis family for almost 100 years. Whitaker Real Estate is proud to offer you the opportunity to purchase this one of a kind Texas ranch.

Notice: Information contained herein was obtained from reliable sources; however it is not guaranteed and is subject to prior sale or withdrawal.

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Directions

The RO Ranch is located about eight miles northeast of Clarendon, Texas in Donley County. Clarendon is located about 60 miles southeast of Amarillo on Hwy 287, a four-lane divided highway. Driving time from Amarillo is just over one hour. Access to the ranch is very good and is provided by FM 1260, a paved two-lane road that becomes County Road 20 that runs basically north and south through the ranch. There are three county roads and several other access points off of these roads. There is a good network of dirt roads throughout the ranch.