The ACLC Ranch began life in the early ‘60s as a Campfire Girls campground, later to be adopted by the Dallas Christian
Schools as a resort and retreat location. Over the years it went through a number of incarnations and hands returning
to the Church of Christ as a retreat and event location in the early ‘90s. In 1994 Billy Bob Todd bought the property
and renovated it as a dude ranch, with guest cabins and a comfortably rustic main lodge building.
The ACLC acquired the Ranch in 1999 to serve as the headquarters for the Advanced Coaching and Leadership Center
which brings us up to the present.
Montague County itself is an area of rolling hills and prarie in the Red River Valley, and primarilly a seat of
farming activity as well as offering oportunities for riding, hunting and fishing in a truly rustic setting.
Before pursuing the county's story, attention should be called to the fact that early european explorers and military
men traversed this land. Perhaps the first European to arrive here was Francisco Coronado, a Spanish explorer who
traveled across much of the southwestern part of the United States, starting in 1540.
Dr. Robert T. Hill, late Texas geologist and historian, carefully traced Coronado's route on a modern map. Coronado
had kept a detailed description of his journey, Dr. Hill points out. Hill concludes that Coronado's expedition
camped at the present site of Spanish Fort in Montague County. Other historians have speculated that Hernando De
Soto's expedition reached Montague County in 1542. It should be noted this was 80 years before the Mayflower arrived
at Plymouth Rock.
Before 1850 the Red River Valley was the home of the Wichita, Kiowa and Commanche tribes which thrived on the rich
hunting available for bison primarilly, but also deer, panthers, wild turkeys, rabbits, prairie dogs and other
game. Deer still abound on the Ranch, often grazing the grounds, and armadillos vie with the more traditional gophers
in harassing the lanscapers.
Historically Montague County was part of the early possessions of Spain, when, along with all of Texas, it was
claimed in an expedition led by Alvarez de Pineda in 1519, on a mission from the Governor of Jamaica to map the
northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
Later settlers lived mostly harmoniously under the Spanish rule until disagreement led to the declaration of Texan
independence in 1836, culminating, after the lost battle at the Alamo, in the victory in the Battle of San Jacinto,
and Texas became an independent republic. In 1846 Texas became one of the United States.
Originally Montague (pronounced Montaeg) County was part Red River County, in the first division of the new republic
into 23 counties.
Within easy driving distance are the North Montague County Historical Society and Museum, in Nocona, and the Red
River Station, a southern gathering point for cattle drives including millions of steer, along the historic Chisolm
Trail from Texas to the Kansan railheads between 1867 and 1887.
This
information was furnished by the North
Montague County Historical Society and the
Historic Chisolm Trail.
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