Spade Ranch, Historic ranch in Cherry County, Nebraska.
Spade Ranch is a cattle operation spread across the western Nebraska Sandhills between the towns of Gordon and Ellsworth. The property contains multiple buildings, corrals, and extensive grazing land that support ongoing ranching work.
The property was established in 1888 and grew under Bartlett Richards and William Comstock into one of the region's largest operations. Operations experienced major changes in the 1920s when new managers took over and modernized the business.
The ranch's name comes from its cattle brand, which resembles the Ace of Spades playing card and still marks the livestock today. This brand is a recognizable sign of identity that has connected generations of workers and owners.
Visitors should bring warm clothing and sturdy shoes since the land is open and windy. Spring through fall offers the best time to explore, when the grazing land is green and the ranch shows active operations.
At the peak of its expansion, the operation ran approximately 60,000 cattle across around 500,000 acres, making it one of the largest private livestock operations of the early century. This enormous scale is difficult to imagine today across the Sandhills landscape.
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