2010 4-H ROAD TRIP: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX

We have received confirmation from PRUDE RANCH that our “2010 4-H Road Trip” is a go for Thursday, AUGUST 12 – Sunday, AUGUST 15.

Casey Cieszinski, (mother of Cat Sabella), will be our liaison/tour guide for this year’s trip. Casey is a relative of the Prudes and spent much of her childhood in and around the Fort Davis, Texas area.

We will not have the ranch to ourselves, as Fitness Camp will be going on at the same time. We will however have the corrals, cook shack and arena.

The cost for this year’s trip will remain the same as last year at $4.00/per day/per person for lodging (no tax). We will again be staying in the Happy Trail Bunkhouses with the guys having one bunkhouse and the girls the other two. You will need to provide all of your own linens (sheets, towels, blankets, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.) and toiletries. Each bunkhouse has an indoor bathroom, shower, heat and A/C.

For those of you that want to do your own cooking, Prude is again letting us use the dining facility near the arena. It provides a refrigerator, stovetop, oven, coffee maker and tables/chairs. Any additional cooking items (pans, microwave, etc.) and groceries must be brought from home. If you would rather not supply your own food, there are several restaurants in the vicinity that provide breakfast, lunch and dinner (Indian Lodge at Davis Mountains State Park, a few restaurants in town and Prude Ranch). Prices vary and are at your own cost.

Horseback riding will again be discounted to $20/hour per person. Chavez and Dutch will be leading the trail rides into the mountains. Chavez thought that we might like to hold some playday events in the arena such as barrel racing, poles, flags, etc. and roping. This will be an additional but discounted cost. You are welcome to go horseback riding at any of the other Fort Davis area facilities.

Casey has been working diligently to provide some memorable opportunities for us this year. She has secured an invitation for us to visit the historic C.E. Miller Ranch in Valentine, Texas. This 33,000-acre ranch features spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife as well as prehistoric and historic ruins. It contains Sierra Vieja, the site of one of the last Apache battles in Texas, and also features old fort Camp Holland which was built for the army in the days when the Federales chased Pancho Villa to protect Texas from raids. We might be able to swim in the creeks or the natural springs while eating our picnic lunch. On the way back to Prude, Casey was thinking we could stop in Marfa to eat pizza for dinner and head over to the lookout to see the Marfa Lights. Another event that Casey has secured is an informal get together and demonstration by A. Whit Watkins, United States Dressage Federation (USDF) gold medalist and international competitor. Her facility, Sunrise Stables, is located on 4,000 scenic acres in the Davis Mountains below Mount Locke's Observatory just down the road from Prude Ranch and features an indoor Olympic arena, outdoor arenas and indoor and outdoor stalls. She specializes in dressage instruction and training for all disciplines and all abilities through FEI levels. If anyone is interested in speaking with Ms. Watkins personally, she can be reached at (432) 426-2402 (barn) (432) 426-2378 (house) email [email protected].

Some other excursions that are planned are heading over to Balmorhea to swim in the spring fed pool, visiting the Fort Davis Historical Site to learn more about the US Cavalry’s role in the Indian Wars, exploring and hiking in Davis Mountains State Park, sightseeing and doing a Star Party at McDonald Observatory, driving over to Alpine to visit the Museum of the Big Bend, dropping in on the Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) Clinic that will be going on at Sul Ross State University, etc. For the more adventurous, Big Bend National Park, Lajitas and Terlingua are relatively close (120 miles) in West Texas terms. Since August 12 is the peak of the Perseids Meteor Shower, we were planning on obtaining permission from the Davis Mountains State Park to watch from the Scenic Overlook at the top of Skyline Drive.

If your family wants to do things on their own, that is fine. You are not required to stay at the ranch either. We just want everyone to be able to have an affordable outing filled with fun and camaraderie. Remember, these are just ideas of the things we can do. If you have any others, please feel free to contact CASEY CIESZINSKI at 972-800-9272.

If you are interested in attending, please email the Rockwall County Rockin’ Riders 4- H Horse Club at [email protected] or contact Shelly Spearman at the Extension Office, 972-204-7660, [email protected]

Sierra Vieja Pass - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/VV/rkv2.html Camp Holland - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/qbc13.html Fort Davis, TX - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/hlf24.html Fort Davis National Historic Site - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/qbf15.html Balmorhea State Recreation Area - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/BB/gkb7.html Davis Mountains - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/DD/rjd3.html Davis Mountains State Park - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/DD/gkd3.html McDonald Observatory - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/UU/kcu28.html Marfa Lights - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/lxm1.html Museum of the Big Bend - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/lbm4.html Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/CC/sqc1.html Big Bend National Park - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/BB/gkb2.html Big Bend Ranch State Park - http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/BB/gibfk.html C. E. Miller Ranch - http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2003/nov/ed_2/ Last Apache Battles in Texas - http://www.ysletadelsurpueblo.org/tigua_trails.sstg? id=16&sub1=32&sub2=62 Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce - http://www.fortdavis.com/index.html Prude Ranch - http://www.prude-ranch.com/ Cattle and Dudes: A Family History of the Prude Ranch 1897-1997 – Rim Rock Press -http://www.rimrockpress.com/