Page 24 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Spring 2021 - Online Magazine

Local
History

6666
The

by Berry Cox

just made one of my countless
trips from Austin to visit my
I parents for Thanksgiving a few
weeks ago. Having trekked multiple
times to Amarillo, I have made it
a point to become familiar with
all possible routes, and over the
years, I have firmly established my
favorite one. I always head north
out of Abilene up to Guthrie, Texas.
Guthrie is a spotless little town of
160 people; just outside of town
is the headquarters for the 6666
Ranch. On my last trip, I found I am not sure what Captain Samuel Fort Worth is an experience that
myself once more, leaning on my Burk Burnett paid for the ranch you only need to subject yourself
pickup, on a hilltop, looking out at back in 1868, but he would be to once. On another route, you can
the 6666. It is a view that takes your surprised to know that the asking gaze out on a pasture where the
breath away, puts a lump in your price today is $320,000,000. But owner has farmed wheat, feeding
throat and lets you see the original, then, he would probably also be cattle on it, where his land is dotted
unspoiled, real Texas. shocked to know that a couple with oil wells pumping here and
of basketball players would cost there and countless, gigantic wind
I don’t know anyone on the ranch more than that. Burk left the ranch turbines turning for humanity. On
and have never stepped foot on the to his only daughter, and she to that trip, you have to give the owner
place, but on this last trip, I told her daughter, Ann Burnett. These credit for resourcefulness, but the
myself that I was going to write women have done a spectacular job picture of it just makes you shake
a letter to the 6666 and tell them of keeping the ranch beautiful and your head. Only thing missing was
how much I love the place and how intact for all these many years. a merry-go-round and a snow cone
many Texans appreciate how they stand.
have kept the land as it was since It is nice to know that such a special
its beginning. You cannot see all of part of Texas still exists. Leaving out I will be driving my favorite route
the 266,000 acres, but at times, you of Austin, you are glad to get away for Christmas this year to celebrate
can see hundreds of horses gathered from a town where the athletes my mom and dad’s 78 Christmases
in one pasture and a larger number take a knee during the national together and 77 years of marriage.
of cattle in another. You can see anthem, don’t like the school song, They were a part of the ranching
the immaculately maintained red and quit the team whenever they scene in the Sunray, Texas area
barns, corrals and living quarters. see fit, where the mayor paints the countless years ago. At the 6666, I
You know that there are 20+ full- streets and tolerates litter, trash and will again stop, get out of my truck
time cowboys down there, enjoying stuff you normally find in a pasture and take it all in for a few minutes -
pleasant conversation about chores, under the bridges and freeways. this beautiful and very special part
horses, cattle and how lucky they Driving 1-35 through Dallas and of Texas.
are.

24 Amarillo Senior Link