Feature Attractions -
Southfork Ranch, Parker, Texas
by Carl Burnham
Southfork Ranch is a "rich" experience, with memorabilia of the hit Dallas television series at every turn. I grew up watching Dallas, like millions of others, viewing the Ewings vs. the Barnes, the sibling rivalries, the wheeling and dealing, and the latest schemes of J.R. in exerting his power in the "oil bidness" every Friday night on CBS. Starting out as a five episode mini-series over several Sunday nights, it soon became a show, and the popularity grew with every cliffhanger, with fans watching in 96 countries from 1978 to 1991.
Given the fans that visit from around the world, the popularity of the show continues to thrive. This was my second visit to Southfork, the first being back in 1988 when filming was still underway and an oil rig was displayed on the ranch (since sold for an undisclosed sum). After the show began in 1978, the ranch owners grew weary of all the attention and sold. The ranch was eventually sold again, and is now owned by Forever Resorts, which have continued to expand operations as an event and conference showplace. The largest concert gathering in the country, Celebrate Freedom, is held here every year. The youth Christian concert had over 200,000 in attendance at the ranch this year. The ranch is a non-working ranch, although there are horses, longhorns, minature shetlands, and donkeys on the property.
From the Museum, after a brief tour of the grounds, the tour continues in the mansion. From Jock's Living Room, the mansion tour guide provides an interesting history of the house, grounds, and the show. From here, you are free to tour the mansion and the grounds at your leisure. Tours of the mansion began in 1988, and include access to all rooms, which have been decorated in the style that would make a Ewing proud. Each room is named after a Ewing, with the upstairs decorated lavishly for J.R. himself, with a bedroom and bathroom.
Actual show filming by Lorimar Productions was primarily done in the MGM Studios in California, with scenes filmed outside the house during the summer, in deference to the owners at the time. As fans become aware of on their visit to the mansion, wide angle cameras were used in filming to make everything look larger, especially the pool area. The kitchen is decorated as it appeared in the show. For the Return to Southfork reunion show filmed in October 2004, the inside of the mansion was used for filming.
The Southfork Ranch has expanded to host a wide range of special events, conferences, meetings, weddings, gift shops, and Miss Ellie's Deli.
As shown above, Jock Ewing's Lincoln Continental, with a mere 35,000 miles on the odometer.
 A new Dallas movie is finally in the works, with John Travolta and Catherine Zeta Jones said to be in starring roles. We will have to see how that turns out.
As J.R. is quoted as saying, "Like my daddy alway's said, where there's a way, there's a will."
We
would like to thank
Forever Resorts and the ranch for assisting with our feature.
 Location:
3700 Hogge Road, Parker, Texas
972-442-7800 / 972-442-5259 fax or visit here.
Listen to the show opening intro from 1978
(Real Player required)
Read our Feature on the Southfork Hotel, conveniently located just 8 miles from the ranch 
Check out these books and DVDs of the series:
Dallas - The Series on DVD
Hello Darlin' - Tales About My Life - Larry Hagman
25 Years of Dallas
Watching Dallas
The Complete Book of Dallas
Dallas Hotels on Yahoo Travel
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