Southfork under contract for sale.

cws

cws

Formerly kcmimichar
It would truly be a shame if it is not there anymore. It truly should stay as a museum representing the global phenomenon of the show. It try is "hallowed ground" and should be there for years to come. I bet Larry, Barbara,Jim,Ken and everyone else who has died are rolling over in their graves!!!
 
Angela Channing

Angela Channing

Telly Talk Veteran
It wouldn't surprise me if Southfork is demolished and turned into something that would make the new owners more money because I imagine tourism of past Dallas devotees is a declining market. I was in junior school when Dallas started and I'm now a middle-aged man and if I mention the show to younger people they haven't a clue what I'm talking about. Most people under about 35 have no interest in visiting Southfork because it means nothing to them. The building cannot be sustainable as a tourist attraction because there is little prospect of long term growth to make it a feasible business venture. People are eating less red meat so I'm not sure of its long term viability as a working ranch so thinking purely from a commercial point of view, knocking it down and using the land for a housing development would make a lot s sense. There is no sentiment in business.
 
pete lashmar

pete lashmar

Telly Talk Addict
Angela Channing said:
It wouldn't surprise me if Southfork is demolished and turned into something that would make the new owners more money because I imagine tourism of past Dallas devotees is a declining market. I was in junior school when Dallas started and I'm now a middle-aged man and if I mention the show to younger people they haven't a clue what I'm talking about. Most people under about 35 have no interest in visiting Southfork because it means nothing to them. The building cannot be sustainable as a tourist attraction because there is little prospect of long term growth to make it a feasible business venture. People are eating less red meat so I'm not sure of its long term viability as a working ranch so thinking purely from a commercial point of view, knocking it down and using the land for a housing development would make a lot s sense. There is no sentiment in business.
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There goes my overnight stay at Southfork for my 60th in 6 years! :sad:

You're right of course, I have no idea on visitor numbers but I think we can all agree that over the years they must have declined.
 
K

Karin

Moderator
Staff Member
garry said:
This sale has been going on for many months. Sadly the children of the late owner Rex Maughan have little interest in the property as a going concern. The current plan is for the property to be demolished for housing and retail next year.

Nothing lasts forever, does it.
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We need to stop this somehow!
The ranch house needs to be preserved for future generations. It's the biggest tourist attraction in the Dallas area. So I think "Visit Dallas" would be interested in preserving it. Also does anyone know how to get it declared a historical landmark?
 
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K

Karin

Moderator
Staff Member
Chris2 said:
It’s only a matter of time. They eventually closed the Ponderosa Ranch theme park too. The number of people who are interested in visiting only is declining over time as the memory of the series fades and the fans get older.
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What TV series did that ranch belong to?
 
Michelle Stevens

Michelle Stevens

'The Lovely Michelle'
I figured this would happen someday but not in the near term ... as in next year. When I was there in 2019 (for two days) it seemed to have a healthy group of visitors. They had a wedding party and a Chrysler car show on the property as well as Dallas tourist. Granted this was pre-Covid and the past two years may have been bad for them.

Karin Schill said:
Also does anyone know how to get it declared a historical landmark?
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I certainly think this idea needs to be looked into. For many of us of a certain generation when we think of Dallas, Texas we don't necessarily think of the Cowboys (NFL) or where John F. Kennedy was assassinated, we think of Southfork and the Ewings.
 
Taylor Bennett Jr.

Taylor Bennett Jr.

Telly Talk Winner
Michelle Stevens said:
I figured this would happen someday but not in the near term ... as in next year. When I was there in 2019 (for two days) it seemed to have a healthy group of visitors. They had a wedding party and a Chrysler car show on the property as well as Dallas tourist. Granted this was pre-Covid and the past two years may have been bad for them.


I certainly think this idea needs to be looked into. For many of us of a certain generation when we think of Dallas, Texas we don't necessarily think of the Cowboys (NFL) or where John F. Kennedy was assassinated, we think of Southfork and the Ewings.
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that mention of the Cowboys made me think of Texas Stadium, prominently featured in the Dallas intro - and also where Wild Bill Orloff had seats on the 50 yard line courtesy of Jock, and where JR first wooed the evil tramp Mandy Winger… long-since demolished :(
 
Barbara Fan

Barbara Fan

Admin
pete lashmar said:
There goes my overnight stay at Southfork for my 60th in 6 years!
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Save your money and go stay at the Mansion on Turtle creek (Where cast stayed ) and visit SF for the day, do the tour, go horse back riding, eat at Miss Ellies Deli, sit by the pool - soak up the great outdooors as it is fab

but inside SF - nah! its naff, small and very tacky in terms of furnishings

Its not something Id want to do - having been there several times

I also agree with @Angela Channing - as time passes, the interest in Dallas fades and it doesnt mean a lot to people under 35 at all

It makes its money by big events - not day tripper tourists on a nostlagia from the 1980s trip
 
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Taylor Bennett Jr.

Taylor Bennett Jr.

Telly Talk Winner
Barbara Fan said:
Save your money and go stay at the Mansion on Turtle creek (Where cast stayed ) and visit SF for the day, do the tour, go horse back riding, eat at Miss Ellies Deli, sit by the pool - soak up the great outdooors as it is fab

but inside SF - nah! its naff, small and very tacky in terms of furnishings

Its not something Id want to do - having been there several times

I also agree with @Angela Channing - as time passes, the interest in Dallas fades and it doesnt mean a lot to people under 35 at all

It makes its money by big events - not day tripper tourists on a nostlagia from the 1980s trip
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also, last time I checked, the original Southfork, the Box Ranch, still has its facade standing. Unfortunately the house was mostly destroyed in a fire several years ago.

en.m.wikipedia.org

Cloyce Box Ranch - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org
 
pete lashmar

pete lashmar

Telly Talk Addict
Barbara Fan said:
Save your money and go stay at the Mansion on Turtle creek (Where cast stayed ) and visit SF for the day, do the tour, go horse back riding, eat at Miss Ellies Deli, sit by the pool - soak up the great outdooors as it is fab

but inside SF - nah! its naff, small and very tacky in terms of furnishings

Its not something Id want to do - having been there several times

I also agree with @Angela Channing - as time passes, the interest in Dallas fades and it doesnt mean a lot to people under 35 at all

It makes its money by big events - not day tripper tourists on a nostlagia from the 1980s trip
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I think the main draw for me was the opportunity of having breakfast by the pool and being allowed to swim in it - but I couldn't agree more with the house itself, it's just so tacky and hideously decorated.
 
cws

cws

Formerly kcmimichar
Barbara Fan said:
Save your money and go stay at the Mansion on Turtle creek (Where cast stayed ) and visit SF for the day, do the tour, go horse back riding, eat at Miss Ellies Deli, sit by the pool - soak up the great outdooors as it is fab

but inside SF - nah! its naff, small and very tacky in terms of furnishings

Its not something Id want to do - having been there several times

I also agree with @Angela Channing - as time passes, the interest in Dallas fades and it doesnt mean a lot to people under 35 at all

It makes its money by big events - not day tripper tourists on a nostlagia from the 1980s trip
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Weren't we the lucky ones to live during the phenomenon of Dallas. I really don't think there will be anything like it ever again.
 
Lastkidpicked

Lastkidpicked

Telly Talk Dream Maker
I hope this won't stop any of you for coming out to Dallas for a visit. You'll have just as much fun visiting the filming locations as you would visiting Southfork. You can go to the Renaissance Tower and experience the views from "The Ewing Building".

You can rent a car and drive out to where Ewing 23 would be (Remember to drive on the opposite side of the road, @James from London )

You can stop at many of the restaurants, bars, and gas stations where they filmed in the early years. You can even sit in the exact same seats the actors did.

Come on out anyway. You'll be glad you did!
 
Barbara Fan

Barbara Fan

Admin
Lastkidpicked said:
I hope this won't stop any of you for coming out to Dallas for a visit. You'll have just as much fun visiting the filming locations as you would visiting Southfork. You can go to the Renaissance Tower and experience the views from "The Ewing Building".

You can rent a car and drive out to where Ewing 23 would be (Remember to drive on the opposite side of the road, @James from London )

You can stop at many of the restaurants, bars, and gas stations where they filmed in the early years. You can even sit in the exact same seats the actors did.

Come on out anyway. You'll be glad you did!
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I think a trip to Fort Worth on the train and visiting the Stcokyards / Billy Bobs is a must

the museum of modern Art where Miss Ellie met Wes

I first visited Tx / Dallas in 2008 and stayed at Hyatt Regency and went up and down in the lift several times a day thinkking i was in Dallas!!
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The one thing I would say is you really need a car, its not easy to get to SF on the Dart - and next few times i stayed i went to SF motel as they had a free shuttle bus to and from SF - so i would go very day and at different times of the day, I also got in for free!

I loved spotting all the buildings used in Dallas, Thanksgiving Square (sit on the wall - Im letting you go Bob and Pam S6 ep 3) and the lovely ceiling in / church/chapel
but the biggest disppointment was the lack of good shopping, it really was a business district - recall Neiman Marcus but i thought it would be more NY 5th Ave shops dotted in the centre - had to use a bus to go to Galleria and Dart to go to ? North Park shopping centre, near Cliff Barnes golden offices Campbell Centre

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