Dover in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Red Fork Ranch

Photographed by James Hulse, September 15, 2025

1. Red Fork Ranch Marker

Inscription. The Red Fork Trail Ranch House stood about a half-mile to the south of this location, now marked by a granite monument on Red Fork Street. The image above was drawn by Adolph Hunnius in 1876, a surveyor. (courtesy of the Kansas State Historical Society)

After the cattle trail became well established, trail ranches sprang up in various locations along the trail, especially in Indian Territory. Here, the trailing herds could stop and rest, the cattle could easily be contained in pens, and the drovers could enjoy basic amenities. The Red Fork Ranch is one of the best known and documented of these ranches. During the height of the trail season, tens of thousands of cattle could be found bedded down nearby. In addition to the drovers, travelers along the military road: stage coach passengers, teamsters driving heavy freight wagons, army patrols, and Indians. Generally, the cattle road ran along the east side of the ranch, with the military and stage road along the west.

Erected 2007 by Oklahoma Centennial 2007.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce •

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Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 35° 59.2′ N, 97° 54.525′ W. Marker is in Dover, Oklahoma, in Kingfisher County. It is at the intersection of North Chisholm Trail Drive (U.S. 81) and County Road E 710, on the left when traveling south on North Chisholm Trail Drive. The marker is located in the Chisholm Trail Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 520 N Chisholm Trl Dr, Dover OK 73734, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and Cherokee Outlet.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Red Fork Station (a few steps from this marker); Baker's Ranch (approx. 4.9 miles away); Rural Electrification (approx. 6½ miles away);

Photographed by James Hulse, September 15, 2025

2. Red Fork Ranch Marker

Bull Foot Station (approx. 7.9 miles away); Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Inc. (approx. 8.6 miles away); Kingfisher (approx. 8.6 miles away); Peoples National Bank (approx. 8.6 miles away); First Rural Mail Route (approx. 8.6 miles away).

Also see . . . Red Fork Ranch - The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society

Founded in 1872 at present Dover in Kingfisher County, the Red Fork Ranch was a strategically located trading post situated above the high water mark where the Chisholm Trail intersected the Cimarron River. At the time of its creation trading posts were referred to as "trader's ranches," and the river was known as "the Red Fork of the Arkansas River," thus originating the name Red Fork Trader's Ranch. In 1872 the trading firm of William McDole Lee and Albert E. Reynolds established the ranch. Lee and Reynolds encouraged cattlemen to fatten their herds over the winter on range surrounding the trading post. A semiweekly stage service from Arkansas City, Kansas, to Fort Sill created the need for keeping the ranch open year round.

(Submitted on September 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Red Fork Ranch Marker in the park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 15, 2025

3. The Red Fork Ranch Marker in the park

Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 92 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 19, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.