Brochure for "Paint Rock Excursions".
D.E. Sims came to Concho County in 1876 and by 1886 he had amassed some 14,000 acres of land and had built a large ranching operation. His ranch spanned the area just north of Paint Rock, TX along the Concho River. This area included a rock bluff that was home to over 1500 Indian pictographs.
I knew that my granddad, Harmon Meixner, worked for D.E. Sims in the late 1800s and early 1900s and that my father, Robert Harmon Meixner, worked for Mr. Sims' son, Benjamin Victor Sims, during the depression years (probably around 1930-32). So for those two reasons I had wanted to visit the Sims ranch for some time. When I discovered a site on the Internet about tours to the pictographs, I decided a tour would be a great way to be able to visit the ranch and to see the pictographs as well.
The current owners of the ranch are Kay and Fred Campbell. Kay inherited a portion of the original ranch owned by her grandfather, D. E. Sims, that included the area around the pictographs. After varied careers, Kay and her husband decided to move back to the ranch when they retired several years ago. A small snapshot of the family tree looks like this: Dunlap Edward Sims married Ella LeCompte and had five children. They were Orland LeCompte Sims, Dunlap Sims, William Sims, Benjamin Victor Sims, and Walter Sims. Walter died at the young age of 14. Benjamin Victor Sims married Ellen Hartgrove in 1920. They had four children: Dunlap Sims, Benjamin Orland Sims, William McKinnie Sims, and Cora Ellen Sims. Cora Ellen Sims was called "Kay" by the family and has been known by that name ever since. She married Fred Campbell and this couple, Kay and Fred Campbell, are the current owners of the ranch with the Indian pictographs. I explained the family a little so you can see the relationship my family had with the Sims family. (1)
Photographs of the Sims family at the Visitor's Center.
On Feb. 19, 2013 (which is also my mother's birthday - she would have been 96) I met for lunch with my sister, Oneta, my brother Harmon and his wife Tanya, and my brother Jack and his wife Bobbie in Ballinger, TX. After lunch and a nice visit, we headed to the Sims/Campbell Ranch in Concho County to tour the pictographs.
Here we are at a restaurant in Ballinger for lunch and visiting before we head out for the tour.
The ranch is a mile northwest of Paint Rock. To get there just head north on Hwy 83 out of Paint Rock, TX, cross the bridge over the Concho River, and look for a brown sign on the left that says "Indian Pictographs". Turn in at the dirt road and proceed to the Visitor Center.
As I traveled up the dirt road that day, I saw what I considered typical pasture land for livestock but then the next thing I saw were two not so typical buffalo off to the right. These are truly beautiful animals.
Buffalo on the Sims/Campbell Ranch.
I had called ahead of time and talked to Kay (Sims) Campbell by phone to set up our appointment. (Making an appointment by phone is the preferred way to set up a tour.) I had a wonderful visit with Kay by phone. I found that not only had our father and grandfather worked for the Sims family but that the Meixner and Sims families had been lifelong family friends. In fact Kay told me a bit of family history I had not known before. She told me my uncle Victor Meixner was named after her father, Benjamin Victor Sims. This is the same Ben Sims my Dad worked for during the depressions.
The Visitor's Center on the Sims/Campbell Ranch.
As we approached the Visitor Center I was excited about finally meeting Kay in person. As it turned out my experience exceeded my high expectations. Kay welcomed us warmly. We had a nice though brief meeting with her husband, Fred Campbell, before he headed out to take care of ranch business. Kay is a very warm, friendly, and interesting person. Her knowledge about the pictographs and the various Indian tribes that painted them is extensive and her unique presentation was witty and charming. I thoroughly enjoyed her account of the Indians that roamed the area, her discussion about current interpretation of the pictographs, and what part the pictographs played in the Indian's spiritual ceremonies.
Kay (Sims) Campbell showing a picture of the Concho River and the cliffs where the pictographs are located.
The family listening to Kay's presentation and passing around artifacts she showed us.
She also gave us an informational demonstration of how the Indians probably made the paint that was used in painting the pictographs.
Kay's presentation of how the paint was made and a demonstration of pictograph painting on her arm.
Our time at the visitors center took a little longer than it normally would because we talked about our two families and the relationship they have had over the years.
After her presentation, Kay gave us a brochure titled "Along the Trail".
Along the Trail brochure.
We then proceeded to our cars to drive down to the cliffs and view the pictographs. I jumped at Kay's invitation to ride with her to the cliffs so that I could continue our visit about our families. We had a great visit riding down to where the pictographs were located but I was shocked and saddened to hear that one of her sons had passed away suddenly just the week before. Yet, here she was welcoming us and making sure we had an enjoyable experience just a few days after this tragic event.
Upon arrival we departed our cars and worked our way by foot along the line of cliffs. Kay pointed out and explained the various pictographs and gave us great insight into each one. Be sure to refer to and follow along in the "Along the Trail" brochure. It also gives a good explanation of the paintings.
Kay pointing out the pictographs to the family.
A small sampling of the many pictographs. The last two photographs of our family group were taken by Kay (Sims) Campbell.
Upon completion of the tour we returned to the Visitor's Center. We took pictures and examined the various artifacts, arrow heads, and pictures on display and then it was time to go.
Top two pictures are artifacts and arrow heads found on the ranch. The next two are family members checking things out and looking at pictures with Kay.
I could have spent several more hours visiting with Kay. She is a living symbol of that pioneer spirit in Concho County. She is a wonderful lady that gave a gift of what, to me, was a magical afternoon. In addition to that, my generation of the Meixner family re-connected to Kay's Sims/Campbell family. A connection that started over 110 years ago.
Here I am visiting with Kay (Sims) Campbell about our families before the tour (above) and after the tour (below).
I highly recommend a "Paint Rock Excursions" tour. Set up a time with Kay and then take the day and drive down for the tour. It will be well worth your time effort.
After we left the Sims/Campbell Ranch, we proceeded to the old house where my father grew up. I will make a separate post about this experience.
References:
(1) http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/mar/17/local-ranch-displays-history-citys-namesake/
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