Dorgan-Sublett Historic Site

Dorgan-Sublett Historic Site is a one-mile round-trip walk to the remains of an early-1900s farm along the Rio Grande. Allow about 30 minutes. It’s a good stop if you’re curious about Big Bend’s settlement history; expect ruins rather than restored rooms, and a moderately steep rise at the end. The dirt pullout is 4.5 miles west of Castolon and has space for two vehicles. Pets aren’t allowed on park trails.

The walk starts at a stone farmhouse with an exhibit, then crosses grass and desert scrub to a shaded mesquite grove with a bench and La Casita. Sandy washes break up the dirt path. From La Casita, the trail climbs 56 feet to the hilltop houses. At the fork, the Sublett remains are to the right and the Dorgan house to the left. The upper Sublett area is fragile, so stay on the trail.

James Sublett bought land here in 1918 and called the operation Grand Canyon Farms. It was among the first large-scale farms along this stretch of the Rio Grande. He used mule-drawn Fresno scrapers to level fields and improve irrigation. Architect Alvert Dorgan leased Sublett pumps and irrigation equipment, then hired local families, including the Garcias of La Coyota, to crate and ship vegetables.

Local mesquite or cottonwood beams, called vigas, limited the width of adobe roofs in Castolon. Dorgan used a petrified-wood fireplace at the center of his house as the point where the beams met, making the building about twice as wide and deep as other Castolon homes. Part of its wall and the fireplace still stand.

From the hilltop, the Chisos Mountains, Emory Peak, and Mule Ears lie to the north and east; Santa Elena Canyon is southwest. The remaining wall and petrified-wood chimney make a strong foreground if you want the photo to show both the ruins and the view.