Past Lives on Ross Maxwell Road

One day at Big Bend National Park, Jeff and I drove down a scenic road that also had some deserted cabins along it – sort of snippets of past lives on Ross Maxwell Road before it was part of Big Bend.  We’ll get to the scenery later, but for now we’ll focus on the past lives…..

Remains of Adobe Home on Sam Nail Ranch

Sam Nail and his brother, Jim, moved into this area, between the Chisos Mountains and Burro Mesa, in 1916.  A one-story adobe house, the remains of with you see here, was built following the techniques of the Mexican-Americans along the river.  Altho they are no longer visible, there was a well, garden and small holding pen, used to hold a cow, chickens and horses.

Walking on Sam Nail Ranch

Sam and Jim lived in the house alone for two years, when Sam married Miss Nena Burnam.  They continued to live here, raised their family, and ranch several sections that they owned and other areas that they leased. 

Luna’s Jacal

Technically, Luna’s Jacal (he-kaal, with the accent on the second syllable), is on a dirt road called Old Maverick Road that Ross Maxwell Road runs into, so I’m just including it in this blog.  Gilberto Luna lived in this house for many years, farming the dry Alamo Creek drainage by using the technique of floodplain farming.  He out-lived several wives and had numerous children.  He died in 1947 at the age of 108.

Inside the Jacal

You can’t tell it by this image, but this is an extremely low ceiling building.  Jeff walked into it and was bent almost double!  Either Luna was a pretty short guy, or he (and his family) didn’t mind walking bent over!

Ocotillo Roof

The roof of this building was made from the branches of the ocotillo plant/shrub.  Notice the huge barbs/thorns!  If you didn’t walk bent over enough, not only would you hit your head or back, but you’d also get stuck pretty badly!

Thomas Hernandez Ruin

There was one other set of ruins that we came across driving on Old Maverick Road, beneath a cliff of Pena Mountain.  The ruins (above and below) are the ruins of Thomas Hernandez, who farmed the flat along the road.  The ruins are a house (top image) and a shed (lower image).  Nothing else is really given about Mr. Hernandez.

More Hernandez Ruins

Enjoy!