Near Eagar in Apache County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
26 Bar Hereford Ranch
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2010
1. 26 Bar Hereford Ranch Marker
Once owned & often visited by film legend John Wayne, the ranch with the prominent white show barn came to fame in the 1940s as the Milky Way Hereford Ranch, owned by the Mars Candy Family.
Erected 2002 by Round Valley Positive Action Tourism Committee and Springerville-Eagar Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Arizona, Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour series list.
Location. 34° 6.562′ N, 109° 19.555′ W. Marker is near Eagar, Arizona, in Apache County. It is at the intersection of School Bus Road and West Central Avenue (Arizona Route 260), on the right when traveling south on School Bus Road. Marker is about 150 feet south of West Central Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Eagar AZ 85925, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Mogollon Rim and in the White Mountains. It is also in the American Southwest, in the Mountain West, in Colorado Plateau, and at the Four Corners. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Colter Ranch (within shouting distance of this marker); Amity School (approx. 0.7 miles away); Old Grist Mill Site (approx. 1.2 miles away); Snyder-Cavanaugh Shoot Out
this page online
More about this marker. This is Marker Stop #8 on the Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour.
Regarding 26 Bar Hereford Ranch. After retiring from the U.S. Forest Service around 1914, D.C. Martin moved his family into a three-room frame house purchased from John C. Hall. He farmed using water from the Amity Ditch and raised cattle along the nearby Little Colorado River. His wife Edith, who taught at the nearby Amity School, reared her family here for nearly thirty years. They sold the farm in 1941.
The small farm became the nucleus in the 1940s of the famous Milky Way Hereford Ranch owned and developed by Alan Feeney and his wife, who were from the Mars Candy family. They named it for their popular candy bar.
In 1964 John Wayne, the movie star, bought the Milky Way along with 930 acres of the adjacent Colters Cross Bar Ranch. He formed the 26 Bar
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2010
2. 26 Bar Hereford Ranch Marker
The original D.C. Martin house is no longer standing, and after Waynes death the ranch was sold Tom Chauncey who carried on the proud tradition. Following Chaunceys death the ranch was sold to the Hopi Tribe who converted the headquarters into a Bed & Breakfast and continue to graze Hereford cattle on the 64,000 acres of prime Arizona ranch land.
Source: Pistols, Plows and Petticoats Historic Driving Tour Brochure.
Photographed by Bill Kirchner, September 24, 2010
3. 26 Bar Hereford Ranch
Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 22,561 times since then and 1,124 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
