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| Above, the main ranch house. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
As mentioned in a prior post, I drove by John Wayne's former Hereford cattle (a British breed) ranch in Eagar, Arizona (next door to Springerville). I stopped and snapped some photos from the fence near the ranch entrance as there were "No Trespassing" signs posted. The 26 Bar Ranch is now owned by the Hopi Tribe.
The 4,000 acre ranch, the 26 Bar Ranch, was an investment for Wayne.
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| Above, John Wayne at the 26 Bar Ranch with two of his kids. |
From John Wayne.com:
As part owner of 26 Bar Ranch, Wayne had a major stake in the cattle game.
Located in Arizona, 26 Bar Ranch was just one of many productions Wayne enjoyed in the state. He filmed classics including “Stagecoach” and “Red River” and spent time with his family there. (From their experience at 26 Bar, Wayne’s kids learned the nuts and bolts of real ranch work and riding horses). Apparently, the Wayne-Arizona love affair was mutual: a stretch of the state’s route 347 is known as John Wayne Parkway, and his former ranch wrangles interest to this day.
That Bar 26 Ranch was a lucrative investment for Wayne is in large part because he was invested in its success, which from the beginning was anything but assured. Wayne was an actor, after all, and humble enough to recognize what he didn’t know. When he needed a partner to hop into the saddle with him, someone he could trust who could bring a solid hand on the operation, Wayne proved an able scout of talent too. In neighboring rancher Louis Johnson, he procured a partner and a pro—not only did Johnson bring stewardship that helped the enterprise turn a handsome profit, he became a lifelong friend of Duke’s. (Bets between the two men led to new cars for both—many, in fact.
A few photos of the ranch:
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| Above, "26 Hereford" is on a hillside on the ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer. |
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