National Register Listing

Guadalupe Ranch

a.k.a. Frijole Ranch and Rader/Smith Ranch

NE of Salt Flat in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Salt Flat, TX
The front portion of the ranch house is the oldest substantial structure in the area. Constructed around 1876 by the Rader brothers (who were probably the first permanent settlers in that portion of the Guadalupe Mountains), it constitutes the most complete and significant vestige of the early cattle ranching enterprise in the southern Guadalupe Mountains.

Ranching in this area began along with the range cattle industry which developed on the southern plains during the 1870s and 1880s. The stock grown in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas went either by trails eastward to railheads in central Texas and then to eastern consumers, or northward along the Goodnight-Loving Trail to the northern plains to increase the herds in that area. Dating from the mid-1870s, the Frijole Ranch complex comprises a vivid and tangible reminder of local involvement in a booming post-Civil War economy that helped to open and develop the Great Plains.
Local significance of the building:
Agriculture; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

The cattle industry played a significant role in the development of Texas, with cowboys driving cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Texas random facts
Culberson County, Texas, located in the southwestern part of the state, has a rich and diverse history dating back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by various Native American groups, such as the Apache and Comanche tribes, who roamed the vast expanses of land. These tribes hunted the abundant wildlife and adapted to the harsh desert environment.

The arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century brought significant changes to the region. The Spanish established missions and presidios in the area, seeking to convert the Native Americans to Christianity and establish control over the land. However, conflicts between the Spanish settlers and the indigenous peoples were common, and the region remained relatively unpopulated.

In the mid-19th century, the region that is now Culberson County became part of the United States after the Texas Revolution. The county itself was established in 1911, named after David B. Culberson, a prominent Texan lawyer and politician. At this time, the area was primarily used for ranching, with cattle grazing on the grasslands.

The discovery of oil in the early 20th century led to a boom in Culberson County's economy. The establishment of oil fields and drilling operations brought an influx of workers and boosted the local population. However, the oil industry faced ups and downs, with periods of prosperity followed by decline.

Today, Culberson County continues to be primarily rural, with a small population. The county's economy is based on agriculture, oil and gas production, and tourism. The vast and rugged landscape of Culberson County attracts outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers who come to explore the Guadalupe Mountains National Park and experience its stunning desert beauty.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Culberson County, Texas.

  • 1911 - Culberson County is established.
  • 1927 - The town of Van Horn is incorporated.
  • 1942 - Construction of the Van Horn Army Airfield begins.
  • 1969 - Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin visit Van Horn during a nationwide tour.
  • 2006 - Jeff Bezos purchases land in Culberson County for his private aerospace company, Blue Origin.