SOUTHFORK Ranch and Hotel Green Pioneers in Our Own Backyard by Lee Allen


outhfork Ranch, internationally renowned as the filming site for the “Dallas” television series and home to the legendary Ewing mansion, is America’s most famous ranch. South- fork may be a beautiful celebrity, but it’s also a green pioneer. The ranch and its sister property, Southfork Hotel, are long-time accredited participants in Forever Earth’s Environmental Manage- ment System, a third-party-certified corporate commitment to identify and control the environmental impact of business activities and services. The ranch offers tours and is a sought after venue for special events, meetings and conventions; the full- service hotel is conveniently located in Plano. Both are owned by Forever Re-


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sorts, which initiated the Forever Earth comprehensive environmental program to manage all its properties. Calling it the right thing to do at the right time, for the right reasons, Forever Resorts’ Executive Vice President John Schopp- mann says, “The certified credential of the International Standards Organiza- tion (ISO 14001) provides verification of our commitment to conducting busi- ness in the most environmentally sound manner.”


Southfork Ranch and Hotel have been lauded for their efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Plano, Texas, and are three-time winners of the Facility of the Year award from Meeting Profes- sionals International. “Compliance


with our Environmental Management System requirements is a top priority, and whatever is done at one property is also implemented at the other,” says Southfork Operations Manager Sally Parker. “Recycling is the name of the game. Neither property uses any kind of styrofoam, and all of our restaurant to-go containers are biodegradable. We recycle just about everything and have installed waterless urinals and low-flow devices on toilets, showerheads and sinks.” Site facilities use fluorescent bulbs, and in-room motion sensors have reduced the properties’ energy bills.


Employees at the hotel also walk their talk when it comes to environ- mental projects; as a member of the


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