Thought you might enjoy some information about the history of our new contest site.

My wife, Adelle, and I began working part time at Southfork Ranch about a year ago. We have become fascinated with the history and the continued interest in the TV series.

This was a home and working ranch built in 1970 by Mr. Joe Duncan, for his family and to raise quarter and thoroughbred horses. Filming of the Dallas series began at the Ranch in 1978. Mr. Duncan and his family continued to live here and in 1980 (the same year J.R. Ewing was shot) raised the world’s fastest quarter horse. With the popularity of the Dallas series skyrocketing and an announcement at halftime, during a Cowboy football game, that the Dallas series was filmed at this ranch, life changed for the Duncan family.

The property was sold in 1984 and it became a tourist attraction and convention center. Filming of the series ended in 1990 and for business reasons the property was vacated. In 1992 the property was sold at auction to the present owner and became a part of Forever Resorts.

Southfork Ranch is one of a number resorts and entertainment facilities known as Forever Resorts with sites located in thirteen states as well as sites in Africa and Europe. Some of the amenities that exist here on the 300+ acres besides the Ewing Mansion are Ranch Roundup (visitor center & museum), Lincolns Longhorns (gift shop and Jock’s 1978 Lincoln Continental), Miss Ellie’s Porch Deli (great sandwiches), and about 60,000 feet of convention space.

Southfork is home to more than 1400 events each year (one with more than 100,000 people!), and the ranch is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Dallas/Fort Worth.

Southfork Ranch personnel are looking forward to our use of their site for our monthly club contests and the TNT in October.