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Poki Roni Ranch, an El Paso Tradition! 
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In the early 1930's, workers digging an irrigation ditch at the Poki Roni Ranch, uncovered a large brass bell with the date "1779".  Through the years we have uncovered pieces of pottery, buttons, and shell casings dating back to the early 1800's.  Early writings indicate that a fifth mission on the mission trail existed in this area as early as the mid 1700's.  Was this burned church bell from the fifth mission?  We like to think so. 
    In any case, this farm has been in constant operation for a mighty long time.  We think it is the oldest continuous operating hacienda in El Paso county.  The current bell tower was built in 1888.  Ask one of the farmhands if you can see the " room at the top of the tower"--- We would be happy to show it to you. 
    The main house on the Poki Roni Ranch has worn many different hats through the years.  The thick adobe walls once housed a courthouse, a small store, and for 7 years in the mid 1800's even a convent (Our Sisters Of Piety). At it's hey-day in the late 1880's, the farm boasted 186 acres of farm and desert grazing land, 6 deep wells, 5 wind mills and 80 milk cows. 
    The farm you see today has been modified just a little: 14 acres, 40 horses, many chickens and roosters, some very friendly farm dogs, 1 windmill and nearly 1000 trees.

(NOTE: Due to a lawsuit filed in 2005, through the law office of: Mark T. Davis, 1554 Lomaland, El Paso, TX 79935 PH: 915-779-3596, we are unable to offer free-roaming peacocks on the farm grounds.  We sincerely apologize or any disappointment this may cause your kids)

   The Poki Roni Ranch stands today as an excellent of early Mexican farm life.  Wonderful adobe buildings have stood the test of time.  The mud which formed the bricks to build these houses came from right here.  A few of the old trees you'll see here were actually planted before Pancho Villa was born. 
     We want to make sure each and every guest to our property leaves with some unique memory of their day on this wonderful old farm: The Poki Roni Ranch.


YOUR HOSTS: TRAVIS KIRCHNER AND RAUL URBINA

Raul Urbina and  Stephen Urbina with Travis Kirchner and his mother Patricia Kirchner, when Mrs. Kirchner was named Horseperson Of The Year in 2004.
THE POKI RONI RANCH FAMILY
Mary and Mortimer Hoxie (both buried at Evergreen Cemetary on Alameda Stree) were born in central Texas in the 1830's.  They eventually established the San Gabriel Ranch in Taylor, Texas.  Health problems brought them to sunny, dry El Paso, around 1917, where they purchased the Poki Roni Farm from the heirs of the famous Nacho Apodaca. 
    The Hoxie's youngest child, Christine Hoxie, married grocery store owner Frank Bowers.  In the mid 1930's, during the great depression, Frank and Christine entertained families and school groups.  Their cabins hosted families from New York and Chicago, who paid to stay by the week.
     In the mid 1960's Patricia Kirchner ( Christine and Frank's daughter) took over the operations of the farm and continued to teach horseback riding,  never missing a week of teaching,still to this day.
   In 1974 the ranch was sold to Patricia Kirchner's son Travis.  With the help of ranch foreman Raul Urbina of Chamberino, N.M. and his two sons Stephen and Raul (Irvin High School) Travis Kirchner and Patricia still play host to many thousands of happy, excited school children, whose first " horse experience"  is usually at the Poki Roni Ranch.

P.S. The ranch road was named "Bowers Road" in the 1930's as a tribute to Mrs Christine Bower and Her husband Frank, and their daughter Patricia.
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