Southfork Ranch 2009, "America's Tea Party", which an organizer said drew an estimated crowd of 25,000 to 35,000 attendees. In December 2012, a memorial service was held at the Southfork Ranch after the death of actor Larry Hagman, who starred as J.R. Ewing in the series. A memorial book for fans to sign was set up in the "J.R. Ewing room". Southfork Ranch Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center in Parker, Texas, in the United States, about north of Dallas. The ranch includes the Ewing Mansion, which was the setting for both "Dallas" television series: the original, which first aired
Dallas (1978 TV series) "Scenes from a Marriage". However, CBS wanted a "saga-like" show, resulting in Jacobs creating "Dallas". When the series proved to be a hit, CBS reconsidered Jacobs's original idea, which evolved into "Dallas" spin-off series "Knots Landing", premiering in late 1979. "Knots Landing" followed the lives of Lucy's parents, Gary (Ted Shackelford) and Valene (Joan Van Ark), as they move to California to start a new life following the start of their second marriage in 1979. During the early seasons of "Knots Landing", several "Dallas" actors (Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, Charlene Tilton, and Mary Crosby) made guest appearance in the new