Cowboy Hill, Historic burial ground near Ponca City, Oklahoma
Cowboy Hill is a burial ground situated on an elevated bluff overlooking the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River in Kay County, north of Marland. The cemetery contains numerous graves arranged across the sloping terrain with expansive views of the river valley below.
Zack Miller, founder of the 101 Ranch, donated the land in 1920 to the Cherokee Strip Cowpunchers Association for use as a cemetery. The association was created to honor cowboys who had worked on ranches in the Cherokee Strip territory during the pioneer era.
The burial ground holds graves of cowboys and performers from the 101 Ranch Wild West Show, including trick-roper Jack Webb and other notable figures. The site represents the resting place of people who were part of the ranching and entertainment culture of early 20th century Oklahoma.
The cemetery is accessible by a dirt road that branches east from Highway 156 north of Marland before crossing the Salt Fork. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes for walking on uneven ground and may wish to bring water, as the exposed hilltop offers little shade.
Many visitors overlook the fact that the cemetery was originally meant only for cowboys who met strict membership criteria of the association. The graves reveal personal stories of individual ranchers whose names might otherwise be forgotten in broader histories of the American West.
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