Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

John Steele Zink first purchased
1,800 acres of land for use as
the Zink Ranch in 1945. Between
then and the time of his death in
1973, he added much acreage to
the original purchase. John’s son
Jack and grandson Darton have
followed John’s legacy with the
addition of more acreage over
the years. Today, the Ranch has in
excess of 33,000 acres.
John Steele Zink had a vision
for the use of the outdoors, and an
affinity for scouting in particular.
Jack and Darton continued this
vision as well, steadily adding and
improving facilities at the Ranch
for scouting and other users.
The Zink Ranch is nestled
among the beautiful, rocky hills in
Osage County. Its main entrance is at the
intersection of Highway 97 and Rock School
Road. While the Ranch does have its own
full-time staff, the Boy and Girl Scouts and
the Red Castle Gun Club are independently
operated and provide staff and programming
for their own facilities on the Ranch. Other
groups utilize common facilities made available
to them by Ranch staff.
Today, the Zink Ranch continues to serve,
enhance and preserve this natural habitat.
In addition, the Ranch upgrades existing
facilities, particularly for the Boy and Girl
Scouts, whose mission has been and continues
to be well aligned with the philanthropic
interests of the Zink family from decades
past through present day. The Boy Scouts of
America have entered a period of continuous,
multiple facilities’ enhancements and expansions,
and upgrades and additions to Girl
Scouts’ facilities on the Ranch are currently
on the drawing board as well.
The Zink Ranch exists to serve many public
interests related to recreation, activities, education,
personal development, and general
enjoyment of “the great outdoors” on both
land and water. The Ranch’s expansive facilities
and abundant lakefront help facilitate a
tremendous variety of activities during all
seasons. Of course, scouting is at the head of
a long list of Ranch users.
In the fascinating biography, To Indy and
Beyond: The Life of Racing Legend Jack Zink,
Dr. Bob Blackburn writes:
“By 2004, the Zink Ranch meant more to
[Jack] than just a home or a retreat from the
city and the world of business. It had become
more than land and water and woods, more
than a place to build roads and buildings and
lake. Nothing held a place in his heart like the
Ranch. It was a place where people could get
close to nature, test themselves, and rediscover
the joy of being with friends. For Jack, the
Zink Ranch was his gift to the future.”
Below: Entry to the Girl Scouts’
Camp Swannie.
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