Southfork Ranch

Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center in Parker, in the US state of Texas, 25 mi (40 km) north of Dallas. It includes the Ewing Mansion, the setting for the television series Dallas.

History[edit]

The house was built in 1970 by Joe Duncan and was known as Duncan Acres, named after his family.^{[clarification needed]} The property was originally 200 acres (0.81 km²) in size. The "mansion" at Southfork Ranch is a 5,900 sq ft (550 m²) house with a 957 sq ft (88.9 m²) enclosed garage that was turned into a den/card room.

The ranch appears in the television series Dallas. Exterior shots were filmed on location from 1979 until 1989, though Lorimar Productions also made a studio mock-up of the ranch's exterior (complete with swimming pool) in California in 1979 for use when the weather made it impractical to film on location in Texas. From 1989 the series' production shifted entirely to the California studio set. The reunion movies J.R. Returns (1996) and War of the Ewings (1998) returned to the ranch, as did the non-fiction special The Return to Southfork (2004). War of the Ewings, in 1998, was the only time filming was done inside the real ranch for dramatic purposes. Southfork was again used for the new Dallas series. Some scenes in the prequel, Dallas: The Early Years, were filmed there in November 1985.

In 1993–94 the ranch was featured in the Little Texas music video "God Blessed Texas".

The ranch is now an event and conference center, owned by Forever Resorts. It was home to the KLTY-FM radio Christian concert Celebrate Freedom, held annually during the Independence Day celebration, and hosted the 4 July 2009 "America's Tea Party", which an organizer said drew an estimated crowd of 25,000–35,000.^[1]

In December 2012 a memorial service was held at the Southfork Ranch after the death of actor Larry Hagman, who starred as J.R. Ewing in the series. A memorial book for fans to sign was set up in the "J.R. Ewing room".

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Tour Packages and Requirements[edit]

Southfork Ranch offers a range of tour packages and experiences that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the iconic world of Dallas. Visitors can choose a package from the following packages:

Live Like a Ewing: Enjoy a VIP steak dinner, trail ride, and private tour of the Ewing Mansion, with optional add-ons like a helicopter ride and limousine service. ($325-$295 per person)

Live and Dream Like a Ewing: Spend the night$295 per person) in the world-famous mansion, complete with access to the entire estate, a private tour, and gourmet dining. ($1,978 for two, plus additional guests)

Chuckwagon Dinner: Gather your group of 20+ for a classic BBQ feast with a singing cowboy greeter and optional add-ons like J.R.'s Steak Dinner and a tour of the Ewing Mansion. ($70-$60 per person)
Day on the Ranch: Enjoy a full day of horse education, trail riding, and a tour of the Ewing Mansion, complete with lunch. ($325-$155 per person)
Equestrian Day: Learn the ins and outs of horse care and riding with our comprehensive package, featuring educational instruction and a trail ride. ($295 per person)

Requirements

Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance and are subject to availability and weather conditions.
Visitors must have confirmation email and present it at check-in.
Payment is due upon booking.
Riders must arrive 30 minutes prior to ride time for check-in.
Our wranglers reserve the right to reschedule trail rides due to weather, equine health, or safety issues.
The Equestrian Day package is non-refundable. If you must cancel, we will allow you to reschedule your reservation for a different date within one year, with at least 24 hours' notice. Failure to provide 24 hours' notice will result in a $50 rescheduling fee.

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