Main House
On the Saturday BEFORE Thanksgiving, The world wide famous King's Ranch holds their annual genuine [authentic] Cowboy's Ranch Hand Breakfast. People from near by and far away come to eat the food prepared as they have for many many decades [for the workers and ranch hands, maybe a hundred years or close, I don't know]. Bud and I try to attend. Some years we've missed out. This weekend [Saturday, November 23rd] we were debating to go. The weather wasn't all that super. Damp and only 52° F...cloudy and in Corpus, threatening rain. The breakfast begins at 7 in the morning, and it's an outdoor event. Inclement weather is a factor for us going or not. By 8:30 a.m. we thought maybe we'd chance it. So in a short while we were out the door and on the highway. The sky was clearing. They stop serving at 11 a.m. And, we are about 40 minutes from Kingsville, Texas. When we arrived, the line of cars entering the ranch land was stop and go, at least 2 miles long!! Normally, driving into the ranch, the ranch road to the serving area takes about 3-5 minutes. This particular morning...35 minutes!! We had our breakfast finally, consisting of orange juice, coffee, sausage, refried beans, eggs, biscuits and gravy, and tortillas. It's yummy. Not healthy for us these days, but I guess a ranch hand can work off the calories and fat consumed each day out herding cattle, etc.
Lots of extra activities all around, calf roping, branding [the walking W], demonstrations with fire arms, blacksmithing just to name a few. Also, country bands. There are also booths selling ranch books [history, cook books, nature], coffee mugs, t-shirts and more.
Last year, 5000 tickets were sold...this year, 8000!!!
Here is our Saturday morning breakfast in the great outdoors!!! In photos...
A view of some of the millions of acres
The Main House's Carriage House
Oh, my!! I have heard of this! Thanks for taking us along with you!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of this post was seeing YOU! You look great and I love all the things you and Bud do. Happy Thanksgiving!
Tho the same year after year...it's tradition in South Texas!
DeleteI love all things Western and have read nearly every western book written, except for the new ones. I started reading westerns, Louis Lamour, zane gray, and a lot of others when I was 12 and with all the westerns in moveis and on TV, have loved cowboys and wanted to be one. not a cowgirl. a cowboy. I would sit in the traffic and stand in the line to see this... I have not used my iron since I retired in 2006.. I still have it and the board, but in the closet. glad to hear you have gremlins in your dryer, I don't want to be the only one
ReplyDeleteIt'd be fun to go together sometime!
DeleteI would like to live in the carriage house
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd like is just to SEE the inside of them. Being private, it's not in the books
DeleteHello, it would be neat to see the ranch. My hubby would not wait in line for his breakfast, lol. He wants to eat. Enjoy your day, have a happy new week ahead.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much on breakfast myself, but I enjoy the history & beauty of this ranch. I could lose myself in happiness all year long, day in, day out!
DeleteYou have some very wonderful opportunities to become a part of in your great state! So glad you do and can enjoy this traditional breakfast. It is impressive in its size!
ReplyDeleteI ♥️ TX
DeleteOh wow this is something and I can imagine it's got to be a hoot and holler when they all get together!
ReplyDeleteIt can be...mostly tho, subdued.
DeleteWhat fun! I love the picture of you, rare these days. Looking good, Anni,😍
ReplyDeleteThanks D J
DeleteGlad the weather cooperated...
ReplyDeleteAnd nice pic of you!!!
🔥💛🔥
Thanks! It turned into a beautiful, sunny, day!
DeleteIt looks like a grand time was had by all! Nice photo of you! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much.
DeleteWhat a shindig!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting diet over the centuries. Farmers need their calories. My client (96 yrs. old) and her family still eat that way, but it's resulted in a lot of diabetes, and other issues. They no longer farm, of course.
We're lying low, here. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Thanks, hope you feel well soon!
DeleteWhat a coincidence, I was just thinking about this King Ranch Breakfast yesterday! I think you are the only one who has ever posted about it. You were both so patient!! Did you do any of the extra activities? I love the picture of you in your pretty black and white outfit!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy it there! No, just observe. Thanks.
DeleteThat sounds like a fascinating experience. Having that kind of breakfast every day might be too much but once a year is a different story.
ReplyDeleteIt was delicious.
DeleteBreakfast is my favorite meal of the day and it's even better when it's big and someone else is cooking it. Thanks for taking us along
ReplyDeleteI've never been much for breakfast, but learned to eat it around Bud over the years.
DeleteSounds like such fun! The breakfast sounds good. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteAnd having decent weather helps!
DeleteSounds like fun, but at times I would have trouble dealing with the wait. Others I would be fine with it.
ReplyDeleteThe only "waiting" was for parking!
DeleteI have never lived anywhere but Texas and have heard of this event. Just never had a chance to go there. Breakfast has always been my favorite meal. Probably because I had to eat hearty when youngster to work in the fields. I enjoy outings with you tho. My name is LaVoice.
ReplyDeleteI can go either way...breakfast, or no breakfast. But ya, having chores you NEED nourishment.
DeleteNot sure how often or even if possible. I love to see inside of there ranch. Although it sound like lovely breakfast.
ReplyDeleteThe history is extraordinary.
DeleteThis looks fabulous. I doubt if I'll ever make it, so thanks for the invite!
ReplyDeleteGlad you dined with us.
DeleteNot sure about the lines but the experience had to be great. That is a cool picture of you.
ReplyDeleteFor the food no long lines (about 8-10 serving areas)...but the traffic...ugh!
DeleteI don't know if I would have waited in line for breakfast or not (wait... I do know... I wouldn't have *LOL*) but I surely would have waited in line to walk those grounds and see everything. Absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for giving us a peek, Anni. Love, Andrea xoxo
ReplyDeleteFood lines moved very quickly. Lots of lines & serving areas. And they have a great system.
DeleteI'd love to go, such a legendary place. I have friends who worked for Exxon on the ranch. I worked for Mobil (back before Exxon bought them) on the West Ranch near Victoria, a huge south Texas ranch with exuberant Texas oilman owners, but nothing like the King Ranch.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Northeast Texas but never ventured to King Ranch territory. The breakfast looks like a great event. I'm sorry I've missed it.
ReplyDelete