More History of the Rowe, NM Area

The information below is from a pamphlet titled "Pecos, National Historical Park" published by the US Park Service.

With the coming of the Atchison Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1880, New Mexico truly entered the United States. Passing within a mile of Pecos Pueblo, the transcontinental line followed the same ancient route over the divide, hauling in thousands of cattle and hauling out tons of ore bearing precious metals that had eluded Spanish treasure seekers. The railroad also brought scores of American settlers, who laid their views of land ownership, government and culture over those of the area's Hispanics.

To exploit the tourist trade made possible by this influx, rodeo producer Tex Austin established a dude and cattle ranch in 1926. Dubbing his operation "Forked Lightning Ranch," Austin acquired 5,500 acres surrounding Pecos Pueblo in dealings both legitimate and shady. He converted the remains of the Kozlowski's Stage Stop into his ranch headquarters and hired John Gaw Meem - now famous for his "Pueblo Revival" style of architecture - to design and build the main ranch house on a bluff above the Pecos River.

Following Austin's loss of the Forked Lightning Ranch in bankruptcy, Texas oilman E.E. "Buddy" Fogelson purchased it in 1939. Ten years later, Fogelson married actress Greer Garson. Summering in the ranch house, they experimented raising Santa Gertrudis cattle at high altitude. The Fogelsons fell in love with the valley and their conservation work paved the way for the creation of the Pecos National Historical Park.