PALO DURO CANYON STATE PARK – The smell of chicken-fried steak sizzling in cast-iron skillets mingled with the sweet aroma of peach cobbler baking over coals as the day began early Saturday at the second annual Chuck Wagon Roundup at Palo Duro Canyon State Park.
Before the first light touched the rugged canyon walls, chuck wagon cooks were already up, tending to their fires and preparing breakfast in the cool pre-dawn hours. One by one, the campfires flickered to life, casting a warm glow on the 11 authentic wagons set up near the Pioneer Amphitheater — each a tribute to the cowboys who lived and worked on the open range over a century ago. As the sun rose, smoke from the cooking fires curled upward, blending with the scent of fresh coffee grounds and the low hum of morning conversation, setting the stage for a day rooted in tradition and nostalgia.
“This is living history,” said Eric Miller, a board member of the Partners in Palo Duro Canyon Foundation, which organized the event. “We can’t take Palo Duro Canyon for granted. It’s a natural landmark unlike anything else in the United States, and it’s right in our backyard.”