Log cabins have a tradition at Crystal Creek Ranch that goes back to the formation of Shannon County in the early 1800s.
While the Delaware Indians lived on the ranch in earlier years, Billie Mahan built the first log cabin on the property in 1833. This log cabin served as the first courthouse in Shannon County, prior to the construction of a permanent one located on the Current River below Round Springs. The log cabin again served as a temporary county courthouse after the Civil War, in which the Round Spring Courthouse was destroyed. At this time a new courthouse was constructed in Eminence, where it still is today.
Our Russ Noah Log Cabin is located not far from the original 1833 cabin location and was built in the 1950s by Russ Noah, who patterned it after the log cabin he had lived in during his earlier years. Russ donated the cabin to Crystal Creek Ranch, and we moved it to its present location, adding a floor, foundation, and new roof as well as finishing the chinking of the outside walls and installing inside furnishings. The furniture is native red cedar hand-made by local craftsmen.
