Alan Straton is seeking an Expert Opinion/Commentary on Cowboy Mills – Do You Know Anymore about this character and his Ranch?:
Details of the Request: Please drop your answers in the comments section below.
Deadline date and time: 14/01/2027 | 01:01 am
At one time in Uitenhage a character by the name of Cowboy Mills had a ‘Ranch’ just outside of Uitenhage (now Kariega). Internet sleuthing is poor with me only having found the references below.
I am particularly interested in the reasons why the ranch was established, when, the motivation for starting and details around the tragic death of Mr and Mrs Mills along with memories from people who visited the ranch and a history of when it was closed and what happened afterwards to the animals and land.
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100001067792997/search/?q=Cowboy Mills: Cowboy Mills from Wide Horizon outside of town with his lions and other animals.
Wide Horizon was at Rocklands, heading west, on the left side of Elandsriver Rd.
Nigel Venter: Cowboy Mills and the Dancing Ducks. Apparently the ducks would be paraded in front of crowds, they used to walk over black painted roof sheets that got hot from the sun. The ducks would dance on the hot sheets to keep their feet cool. Don’t know how true that was.
Lynn Phillips: His son, I think, is Basil Mills, and he’s a chip off the old block. He lived and may still be in Makhanda. He is an artist, tourist guide and one of the greatest raconteurs I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
Basil Mills – a wilder side of Grahamstown – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2UlGje4TQ4 – Born on a wildlife sanctuary, Basil Mills is known for rehabilitating sick and injured animals in Grahamstown. Taking after his father previously known to residents of Uitenhage as “Cowboy Mills”. Basil has joined the circus, trained horses and surrounds himself with snakes and crocodiles. He often gives presentations on South African wildlife and is involved with many children’s events at Scifest Africa. Besides taking care of injured wildlife, Basil spends his time recreating movie sets on his farm and collects wagons and historical artifacts. Basil believes in protecting wildlife for future generations and educating children about wild animals. He has looked after a number of interesting animals including warthogs, an African Wild Dog, crocodiles, pythons and meerkats. Profile by Kayleigh Tuck with Lauren Hill – School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University.
In the above video reference is made to Basil’s parents dying in a car accident – do you know any details
SOUTH AFRICA: The arrival of Wild Animals at Wide Horizon, Animal Sanctuary. Date: 23rd December 1961 – https://reuters.screenocean.com/record/1096182
https://www.facebook.com/profile/100001067792997/search/?q=Cowboy Mills
Annette Scanlen: On our sports days at Summerwood Primary school Cowboy Mills would do tricks on horseback!
Godfrey Kariem: “I remember ‘Cowboy Mills’ and ‘Wide Horizon’ his wild life park, which was popular with locals and tourists,especially on holidays and weekends, this during the 1960’s into the early 1970’s if I am correct.
The park housed various animals,some caged some not.
Cowboy Mills and his wife managed the park, if I recall they had a set of twin sons at the time, I stand under correction.
Contact Details for Alan:
MyPE
https://MyPE.co.za/history
0415054600
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An emailed addition: I remember Cowboy Mills and Wide Horizon when I lived in Uitenhage in the early 60s when I would have been 11 or 12 years old. I loved going there, the thing still I remember clearly is the smell of the animals and the haphazard layout of the cages scattered around the rough terrain. It was in 1962 when a rumour began to circulate round the town, saying that Cowboy Mills and his wife had both been killed, apparently in a murder-suicide. This was never confirmed however. Much later I came across a reference suggesting that it had been a double murder but again there was no follow-up.