Cutter Frisco: Growing Up on the Original Southfork Ranch: A Memoir

by Douglas D. Box

I once had a horse named Cutter Frisco. Well, he wasn't exactly my horse. He actually belonged to my father, but I sure thought of him as mine. I was the one who took care of him, fed him, and washed him. I was the one who rode him most days. Cutter Frisco was a gold-colored gelding and his father was the legendary championship-cutting horse, Cutter Bill, so it seemed only natural that Cutter Frisco inherited his good genes. Indeed he did, for he had tremendous speed and dazzling agility that many of the other horses lacked. No wonder I became attached to him. That glorious animal made me want to be a real cowboy. I thought we'd be together forever, Cutter Frisco and I. But somewhere along the way, I lost my favorite cutting horse.

184 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2014

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bigger than life!

If you enjoy reading about bigger than life Texans, start reading this book now! This memoir by Douglas D. Box, son of shrewd and clever Texas businessman Cloyce Box, tells what life was like to grow up in the shadow of a business tycoon on the original Southfork Ranch. As a native Texan and resident of North Texas for over twenty years, I so enjoyed reading and reminiscing about the development of the area. So interesting to discover the history of the mysterious steel beamed skeleton of the mansion which rests in north Frisco. Wonderful story of the people who lived there and the guests who visited, including the cast of the famed show, Dallas.

[Nancy Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best non-fiction books I have ever read👍🏻
A true story about a larger than life family in Texas, written by the youngest son. I felt like I was there with them.

[Cornish Maid · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author’s style of writing was very disjointed. He hops around a lot. The book is focused on the story of his father through the author’s eyes. If you’re mainly interested in the story of the filming of the Dallas series, that is only one small chapter. Although the author does refer to their ranch as, “the original Southfork” many, many times throughout the book.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutter Frisco might not appeal to anyone that doesn't live around Collin County and pass by the former Box Ranch from time to time, wishing the big mansion that looked like Tara from Gone With the Wind was still standing. Everyone around Frisco has always wanted to see the mansion rebuilt.

Now, Douglas D. Box has written the book that will answer many questions folks have asked through the years about how the place burned down and why it didn't get rebuilt.
Box Ranch put the small town of Frisco on the map when film crews came into town to film "Dallas," using the property as the setting for Southfork Ranch.

It was also interesting to learn more about the Box family and their years spent living in Frisco.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great insight into a early life in Frisco Texas and the real life version of JR.