Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People
A full-color photography book showcasing Oklahoma paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the state great.
A full-color photography book showcasing Oklahoma paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the state great.
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John Steele Zink first purchased<br />
1,800 acres of land for use as<br />
the Zink Ranch in 1945. Between<br />
then and the time of his death in<br />
1973, he added much acreage to<br />
the original purchase. John’s son<br />
Jack and grandson Darton have<br />
followed John’s legacy with the<br />
addition of more acreage over<br />
the years. Today, the Ranch has in<br />
excess of 33,000 acres.<br />
John Steele Zink had a vision<br />
for the use of the outdoors, and an<br />
affinity for scouting in particular.<br />
Jack and Darton continued this<br />
vision as well, steadily adding and<br />
improving facilities at the Ranch<br />
for scouting and other users.<br />
The Zink Ranch is nestled<br />
among the beautiful, rocky hills in<br />
Osage County. Its main entrance is at the<br />
intersection of Highway 97 and Rock School<br />
Road. While the Ranch does have its own<br />
full-time staff, the Boy and Girl Scouts and<br />
the Red Castle Gun Club are independently<br />
operated and provide staff and programming<br />
for their own facilities on the Ranch. Other<br />
groups utilize common facilities made available<br />
to them by Ranch staff.<br />
Today, the Zink Ranch continues to serve,<br />
enhance and preserve this natural habitat.<br />
In addition, the Ranch upgrades existing<br />
facilities, particularly for the Boy and Girl<br />
Scouts, whose mission has been and continues<br />
to be well aligned with the philanthropic<br />
interests of the Zink family from decades<br />
past through present day. The Boy Scouts of<br />
America have entered a period of continuous,<br />
multiple facilities’ enhancements and expansions,<br />
and upgrades and additions to Girl<br />
Scouts’ facilities on the Ranch are currently<br />
on the drawing board as well.<br />
The Zink Ranch exists to serve many public<br />
interests related to recreation, activities, education,<br />
personal development, and general<br />
enjoyment of “the great outdoors” on both<br />
land and water. The Ranch’s expansive facilities<br />
and abundant lakefront help facilitate a<br />
tremendous variety of activities during all<br />
seasons. Of course, scouting is at the head of<br />
a long list of Ranch users.<br />
In the fascinating biography, To Indy and<br />
Beyond: The Life of Racing Legend Jack Zink,<br />
Dr. Bob Blackburn writes:<br />
“By 2004, the Zink Ranch meant more to<br />
[Jack] than just a home or a retreat from the<br />
city and the world of business. It had become<br />
more than land and water and woods, more<br />
than a place to build roads and buildings and<br />
lake. Nothing held a place in his heart like the<br />
Ranch. It was a place where people could get<br />
close to nature, test themselves, and rediscover<br />
the joy of being with friends. For Jack, the<br />
Zink Ranch was his gift to the future.”<br />
Below: Entry to the Girl Scouts’<br />
Camp Swannie.<br />
O K L A H O M A P A R T N E R S<br />
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