With the Chisholm’s Chuck Wagon Gathering last weekend, it dawned on me that a lot of people might not know what a chuck wagon is. You might be surprised to learn that Chuck isn’t a real person, and the wagon doesn’t belong to him. A “chuckwagon” is a horse-drawn wagon that served as a mobile kitchen during cattle drives and on the prairies of the U.S. and Canada, similar to a very early food truck. The concept originated in 1866 when Texas farmer Charles Goodnight created it by combining a Civil War surplus wagon with a Studebaker manufactured covered wagon to feed cowboys on long journeys. He added a “chuck box” for storage and a hinged lid that served as a flat working surface, along with accessories for water and firewood. Common chuckwagon food included baked beans, salted meats, coffee, and sourdough biscuits. Now you know about chuckwagons and can join in on next year’s festivities at The Chisholm on March 28th, 2026.
