Texas Ranch House is an PBS American reality television series that premiered in May 2006. Produced by Thirteen/WNET New York, Wall to Wall Media Limited, and PBS, the show placed fifteen modern day people in the context of 1867 Texas. Show participants attempted to run a ranch for two and a half months using 19th century tools and techniques.
The historian Alwyn Barr, professor emeritus at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, was the consultant on the program.
Participants
Cookes
Bill Cooke – Ranch owner, a California businessman, husband of Lisa, father of Vienna, Lacey, and Hannah Lisa Cooke – Ranch owner's wife, homemaker wife of Bill and mother of Vienna, Lacey, and Hannah Vienna Cooke, 19 – eldest daughter of Bill and Lisa Lacey Cooke, 17 – middle daughter of Bill and Lisa Hannah Cooke, 14 – youngest daughter of Bill and Lisa Maura Finkelstein – Girl of All Work. She initially is the Cooke's maidservant, but turns into a ranch hand in Episodes 7–8. She becomes the wrangler of the cattle drive, from Maryland
Cowboys and cooks
Stan "Colonel" Johnston – Ranch foreman (episodes 1–2) Ignacio (Nacho) Quiles – Cook, from New York (episodes 1–3) Ian Roberts – Ranch Hand, from Arizona (episodes 1–4); he walked out and in episode 8 was fired Robby Cabezuela – Ranch hand/"top hand" in Episode 1 and Ranch Foreman from episodes 2–8, from Texas Shaun Terhune – Ranch hand from Episode 1–3 turned Cook in Episodes 3–8, from Vermont Johnny Ferguson – Ranch hand, from England Anders Heintz – Ranch hand, he supervises Maura during the cattle drive, originally from Sweden. He is one of the five ranch hands that walked out in Episode 8 after the firing of Jared. Rob Wright – Ranch hand, who arrived at the Ranch right after Mr. Cooke's speech in Episode 5. (episodes 5–8) Jared Ficklin – Ranch hand, from Texas. He was fired in Episode 8 due to Mr. Cooke insistence that he owned the horse that Jared bought previously that Mr. Cooke paid the Camanche for four horses. Jared is a descendant of Ben Ficklin, general manager of the original Pony Express and namesake of the ghost town of Ben Ficklin, Texas.