As late as the 1870s the area of the Covered S was favored hunting grounds for the Comanche Indians. Flat Top Mesa was sure to have been a sacred ritual location for young warriors to receive their “medicine” and rite of passage into manhood. In 1871 Ranald Mackenzie assumed command of a black regiment of the United States Cavalry at Fort Concho near San Angelo, TX with orders to put a stop to Comanche raids along the Texas frontier. That summer Mackenzie and his “Buffalo soldiers” began a series of expeditions into the uncharted Llano Estacado in an effort to drive renegade Indians onto the reservations. Mackenzie Trail came through present day Snyder, TX then headed north through the ranch to the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River. It is presumed Mackenzie used Flat Top Mesa and Mackenzie Mountain (located just east of the Covered S) as landmarks to find the river which would lead them up to the Llano Estacado. Many Indian tribes were forced to Reservations by the 1870s. But Quanah Parker and his band of Quahadi Comanche Indians were very resistant and elusive. In 1871 and 1872, several attempts were made by the Fourth United States Cavalry to subdue them, but all failed. By 1873 the buffalo herds of Kansas were decimated and the buffalo hunters moved down to the Llano Estacado. The livelihood of the Comanche was being destroyed. In 1875 Parker was camped just west of the Ranch. Quanah made the decision to willingly leave his life of freedom and move to the Reservation at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Since they no longer had to worry about the Comanche, buffalo hunters moved into Scurry County in 1876. This marked the end of an era. By 1879 the Indians and the buffalo were gone, and the dawn of cattle ranching had begun.
The first known land purchase was a one-section near Flat Top Mesa at the notable price of one dollar per acre. The first known ranch home built on the land was constructed in 1895 and inhabited by the colorful character Red Buck Pruitt. This site is now known as the Old Homestead and can be visited for artifact hunting. In 1902 the entire area was purchased by W.A. Fuller and his two sons. The Fuller family came west with hopes that the dry climate would cure their young daughter Carrie of tuberculosis, but sadly she died en route. The Fullers made a successful ranching operation and then, quite fortunately, were around for the oil boom of the 1950s.
In 1911 the Santa Fe Railroad was built from Snyder to Post. The tracks go through the Covered S, and Fullerville is a siding on the ranch to this day. Today, the Covered S is a working ranch. Black Angus cattle and ranch horses are raised on the ranch. Each Spring the calves are branded in the traditions of the Old West. During branding season, the mother cows and their calves are rounded up, one pasture at a time. The calves are roped, dragged to the fire, and flanked. Then the Covered S brand is placed on each calf.
In the Fall the cattle are again rounded up. The calves are separated from their mothers and weaned so they can be sold and shipped to market.
In the Fall the cattle are again rounded up. The calves are separated from their mothers and weaned so they can be sold and shipped to market.
The topography of the ranch varies from open, rolling, native grass pastures that have been cleared of brush to rugged rimrocks with some cedar break country. The more open cleared country is located throughout the southern portions of the ranch. The Caprock Escarpment is the boundary on the westernmost portion of the property. There are many areas of the ranch where the brush has been sculpted, leaving desirable habitat for the abundant wildlife. Flat Top Mesa is a prominent landmark on the ranch towering approximately 400 feet above the rolling plains.
There are creeks running through every pasture on the ranch. Each of these flows into Lake Alan Henry which borders the northern boundary of the ranch.
There are a couple of ponds on the ranch, both with fish.
There are creeks running through every pasture on the ranch. Each of these flows into Lake Alan Henry which borders the northern boundary of the ranch.
There are a couple of ponds on the ranch, both with fish.
