Copperas Cove woman hopes to preserve historic ranchland

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

Some might describe Ona Trubee of Copperas Cove as a modern-day cowgirl, as she oversees and cares for the Parrie Haynes Equestrian Center, located on 1,600 acres of state-owned ranch land in Killeen. 

Day in and day out, she keeps an eye on the acreage that is home to cabins, camping spots, along with miles and miles of primitive trails that she clears and maintains for the visitors each year. 

Located on Maxdale Road, the Equestrian Center doesn’t just provide a home for horse-folks to bring their horses for trail rides. 

It and the ranch itself have provided a space for children of all ages to play, camp, hunt, and have some time in the great outdoors. 

“We do marathons out here, have Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, retreats, Latter-Day Saints trekkers, veterans, and more,” Trubee said. 

The property is part of an original parcel of more than 5,000 acres of ranchland and former cotton fields owned and operated by husband and wife Allen and Parrie Haynes. 

Parrie Haynes bequeathed the entire ranch in 1957 – “to the state orphans home of Texas to help orphan children today as the Parrie Haynes Ranch. Her bequest has expanded to benefit all the youth of Texas”, as reads the weather-worn plaque on the portion of the property that could become one Texas’ new state parks. 

Trubee also spoke to the history of the property and the intent of Haynes.

“Just after the Korean War, there were a lot of soldiers who did not come home. There were people who were just destitute,” she added, pointing to the relevance today. “I think it’s important to help keep the family group together. It’s good to get out here and breathe. It’s quiet out here.”  

The western half of the ranch has facilities that once served as a youth center, and back in 2007, a grant by the Coca-Cola Company via the C5 Foundation funded the construction of cabins and a now-unused 160-seat facility that has a scenic view of the Lampasas River. 

The grant-funded facilities, presently uncared-for on the western side of the property, have now sprung up with overgrowth that is encroaching upon the dedication plaque that recognizes the Haynes family for their gift to the children of Texas. 

However, Trubee is concerned that the portion of the property that she cares for will lose its purpose of being open to all the children of Texas if a private developer ends up purchasing the property. 

Whether it be used for future development, or merely for hunting, Trubee is concerned. 

About 10 years ago, Trubee found herself as the property’s newest caretaker, subleasing at that time from the nonprofit organization, C5, which works with youth. The property is also championed by the nonprofit, Friends of the Parrie Haynes Ranch, which also seeks to protect the property’s legacy. 

Recently, the center hosted a youth hunt. However, Trubee has more than a vision of young hunters accessing the property a limited number of times per year.

Again, this time around as 10 years ago, the ranch and equestrian center’s fate is up in the air. 

In October 2024, Bell County officials recommended a new state park at Parrie Haynes Ranch, as one of the priorities they wanted state representatives to consider. 

The 89th Texas Legislature convenes on Jan. 14, and there are thousands of bills filed each session. 

The State of Texas owns the ranch, and according to the information at that October meeting, one emphasis was the creation of a state park out of the west side of the ranch.

However, the area occupied by the equestrian center may have a new owner in the near future due to a receivership.

Bell County Judge David Blackburn said in October that the state would be appointing a trustee who would be charged with disposing of the property. 

It is uncertain if the state would retain ownership – or if the land that Trubee cares for will be sold to a private buyer or developer. 

The park would be funded by the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, a fund that purchases land and develops new state parks.

For more information on the Parrie Haynes Equestrian Center, go to www.parriehaynesequestriancenter.com.