In an era when Amarillo was still a young, raw-boned boom town, A. R. Anderson and his bride Josephine came west from Minnesota, lured here by the oil and gas boom. They settled in Amarillo in 1926, living for a time at the Herring Hotel. Though their roots were in Minnesota, where Mr. Anderson had been in the real estate and lumber business, the Andersons brought to Amarillo a touch of the Old South in their love of fine horses, plantation style homes and a gracious way of life. Their desire to raise, train and show fine horses prompted them in 1937 to purchase a large section of land on the western edge of Amarillo.

At that time there was a dairy farm on this property, which extended from what is now Plains Boulevard south to Wolflin Avenue and west from Georgia Street to the previous site of Sunset Center. They had the land cleared and replaced the dairy buildings with a lovely two- story home, a brick structure with three bedrooms upstairs, a foyer, living room, sun porch, dining room and kitchen downstairs, and a full basement. Most impressive was the magnificent staircase fashioned in true Tara tradition.

Behind the home were long, low buildings that became famous as Sunset Stables. Here the Andersons bred, raised, trained and exhibited their fine strain of American Saddle Horses. Mrs. Anderson became a familiar figure in every major horse show in the West, especially as an exhibitor of fine Hackneys. In 1948 the Andersons’ horse “Anacacho Del Oro” was said to be the greatest fine-harness horse in the country. At the same time, the Andersons owned the only championship jumper in the Amarillo area, and another winner, “King Talululu”, a three-year-old that did five-gaited work. The Andersons continued to breed winner after winner, with “The Master”, a six-year-old bay jumper earning a place on the 1952 American Equestrian Olympic team.

Following Mr. Anderson’s death in 1951, Mrs. Anderson continued to administer the business interests and to raise her beloved horses. The Andersons were true philanthropists and one of Mrs. Anderson’s favorite charities was Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch west of the city. Upon her death in 1967, twenty-two of her fine horses were bequeathed to the ranch.

The house was occupied by Mrs. Anderson’s sister, Miss Sara Morris until her death in the summer of 1972, at which time the entire estate was sold to land developers. Of course, the appearance of the original property has changed drastically, but the mood, atmosphere and beauty of the home has remained undimmed through the years, speaking of a gracious mode of living which few of us will ever see again. Since its opening in July of 1975, Rhett Butler’s fine dining restaurant strived to maintain the dignity and gracious style that were a tradition with the Andersons. After Rhett Butler’s closure, Sam’s Restaurant opened for a brief period. As history would dictate, Barrett Pierce, a Texas oil man purchased the property in 1989, moving his company, Rio Petroleum, Inc. to the site in 1991 where it still operates today. The Pierce’s, Barrett and Carol have maintained the integrity, character and charm of the building yet bringing the renovations into present day.