Bicentennial Bur Oak

Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa

The Story

Bob Woodruff Park, Plano, Texas

This is the story of an incredibly large and exceptionally old Bur Oak that was unfortunately lost in October of 2023. In 1987, the tree was proclaimed to be over 200 years old but when it failed in 2023, although a small part of the center was hollow, it was discovered to be around 450 years old, possibly as old as 500.

Location and Size

The Bur Oak stood about 300 feet from Rowlett Creek in the southeast section of Plano’s Bob Woodruff Park. At 85 feet tall, 210 inches in circumference (or 67 inches in diameter), a crown spread of 103 feet, 70 tons in weight, and growth ring evidence the tree was over 450 years old- it was massive in size and the oldest known tree in North Texas. For comparison, according to the Texas Forest Service Big Tree Registry, the Texas State Champion Bur Oak (the largest known Bur Oak in Texas) is in Tarrant County, and it stands 81 feet tall, 218 inches in circumference, with a crown spread of 105 feet for a point total (or index) of 325. 

Site History

Prior to the land becoming a city park, previous owners included the Dr. Daniel Rowlett Family, the Colonel Landon W. Oglesby Family, the William T. Land Family, William D. Prince, and the Claude C. Albritton Family. The Land Family used the timber on the property for their west Plano farm, but thankfully the Bur Oak tree was spared. 

Ownership of the site passed through many hands over time. Several of these families helped to build and develop Plano and North Texas. Among these are: the Rowlett Family, for whom Rowlett Creek and the City of Rowlett are named; William Sachse, for whom the town of Sachse is named; and the Colonel Landon W. Oglesby Family, the owners of a general store in downtown Plano.

Trees have always played a vital role in this area. Early pioneers often determined their homestead with water and timber in mind; so, many people settled along Rowlett Creek. William Prince loved trees and was the first in the area to hand graft paper shell Pecan buds onto the native Pecan trees, grafting over 1,000 Pecan trees along with his son, Dexter. During William’s ownership of the property, people gathered thousands of pounds of paper shell pecans. People still enjoy coming to Bob Woodruff Park in the fall to harvest pecans.

Bur Oak Species

Bur Oak trees, in general, are found in lower lying areas and the wood is heavy, hard, impermeable, and durable. The trees are very hardy, tolerating drought, as well as city pollution. Thick corky bark enables these trees to withstand fire and other damage better than most Oak trees. They provide deep shade, and, in the winter, the corky twigs and stout branches give them a picturesque appearance. They produce large acorns that attract birds and wildlife.

History of Tree

After some research, the Plano Bur Oak was designated as the Bicentennial Tree in 1987 and was recognized as having been alive during the signing of the U.S. Constitution. A plaque was installed near the base at the time. 

Beginning in 2000, an ongoing program of tree pruning and fertilization was donated to the city to keep the oak as healthy as possible over the years.

The citizens of Plano celebrated the life of this magnificent tree and recognized the history of the land surrounding it at Plano’s 2002 Arbor Day Celebration. It was registered as a historic tree with the Dallas Historic Tree Coalition (now the Texas Historic Tree Coalition) at the time of the celebration. The celebration included speeches by officials, a kid’s climbing event, and a bark rubbing station. To the best of our knowledge, the kids climbing event was the first one ever held in the state. At that time, a lightning protection system was installed to protect the tree. The city provided the lightning system materials, and the labor for the installation was donated.

Neil Sperry’s Gardens newsletter featured an article on the first ‘Fun Climb’ at the 2013 Earth Day Dallas (now known as EarthX).

KDFA CW33 covered Dallas’ Earth Day celebration April 22, 2018 at EarthX 2018 including the ‘Fun Climb’.

Originally, the Plano Bur Oak was estimated to be 243 years old, but in 2006 intense winds took down two large limbs growing around forty-five feet from the ground.

A 24-inch diameter tree cookie was cut from one of the broken limbs, and this allowed an arborist to estimate the tree’s age more accurately. By reading the tree cookies’ growth rings, they realized just the limb (not the tree) was 226 years old. This led to the conclusion, the tree was quite likely over 400 years old and possibly over 500 years old. With this discovery, the tree’s name was changed from the Bicentennial Bur Oak to the Quadri/Quincentennial Bur Oak.

At least two articles were written about the massive limbs that broke and how their loss helped reveal the tree was much older than previously thought:

August 1, 2006, The Dallas Morning News article written by Jake Batsell, ‘Loss of Branch May Be a Gain: Oak’s Life Might Be Cut Short, but Limb Could Reveal True Age’.

August 25, 2006, The Dallas Morning News published an article written by Jake Batsell, ‘Plano’s Bur Oak Older Than Thought: New Estimates Indicate It Could Be 500 Years Old, Not 243’.

A rededication ceremony was held during the City of Plano’s 2012 Arbor Day celebration to commemorate the tree’s newly determined age and at that time a new bronze plaque was placed on the concrete monument at the base of the tree due to the aging and discoloration of the original plaque.

During an inspection of the tree in September 2021, three cracks were found at the base of the tree that could have been due to the angle at which it leans. One crack was more prominent than the other two that were smaller and less visible.

Due to the potential for structural failure, a fence was immediately installed around the tree. If an effort was going to be made to save the tree, urgent pruning to reduce the weight and stress on the tree was needed, as well as installation of lag rods in the trunk to add support. Unfortunately, it was obvious a large colony of bees had moved into a decayed area of the tree (see picture above right), created by the loss of a limb in 2006. Before a chainsaw could be used in the tree, it was necessary to evict the bees, who were still active that year with the temperatures reaching the upper 80s through mid-October.

Because the bees’ entryway into the tree was 45 feet off the ground, relocating them was difficult, and a pheromone known to repel bees was introduced at their entryway to discourage the bees from staying in the tree. The beekeeper suggested the tree work be scheduled a week after the pheromone was applied, as most of the bees should be gone by then. In the meantime, a storm with 70 to 80 miles per hour winds went through the area. When the tree was inspected the following week to see if the bees were gone (which they were), the cracks in the tree had become noticeably larger.

The larger crack extended into the 68-inch diameter trunk to a depth of over 50 inches.

Due to the potential for the cracks to get even worse and the possibility the tree would fail, a crew was called out as an emergency the next day (Saturday). They reduced a significant amount of weight. The following Monday, the crew returned to provide more pruning, install threaded rods in the trunk for support, and repair the lightning protection system.

May 24, 2023, prior to the loss of the tree, Rain Bird featured the Plano Quincentennial Bur Oak in a docuseries video production, ‘Tree Stories: Season 2 Episode 2’. The Tree Stories docuseries, hosted by Narrator, Elliott Bambrough explores iconic trees across the United States. In this short film, Ellott travels to Plano and visits the oldest living citizen in North Texas, the Quincentennial Bur Oak¹.

_{¹ Tree Stories with Elliott Bambrough, The Tree Narrator, ‘Season Two: Episode Two Quincentennial Bur Oak’.}

Loss of the Tree

Since the oak is in a floodplain, its roots are occasionally under several feet of water, which was one of the likely causes of the leaning trunk. Unfortunately, in October of 2023, the oak finally fell after heavy rainfall soaked its root system.

• October 27, 2023, The Dallas Morning News article written by Susan McFarland, ’Historic Oak, estimated at least 400 years old, topples with storms’
• October 27, 2023, NBC Channel 5 reported on ‘Beloved Plano tree topples over after storm’
• October 27, 2023, WFAA Channel 8 reported, ‘Plano mourns loss of Quadricentennial Bur Oak in Bob Woodruff Park’
• October 29, 2023, CBS Channel 11 in Colorado Springs covered the story, ‘Nature Lovers in Texas Mourn Loss of Tree’
• November 9, 2023, City of Plano video production on the ‘Loss of the Quadricentennial Bur Oak in Bob Woodruff Park’

Removal of the Tree

How to remove the massive tree in a muddy floodplain and what to do with the wood became the subject of many emails and meetings. City forestry crews cut up the smaller limbs and a private contractor was hired to remove the tree and place the wood in a specific location that would allow for public access.

Much of the trunk contained a small area of wood with a blue stain, which is often associated with iron or rust inside a tree. After closer inspection of the fallen tree, a railroad spike was found embedded in the trunk around 18 feet from the tree’s base.

Tree Lives On

The City of Plano decided to invite local artists and wood turners who would be willing to use the wood for artistic and meaningful purposes to submit their ideas. This provided a way for the tree to live on for many years to come. Over several days, the public was allowed to visit the site and collect wood for projects.

June 28, 2024, the Plano Magazine published an article written by Alyssa High, ‘Local artists turn a more than 400-year-old tree into art pieces’.

In March 2025, the artists showcased their products at the annual Texas Forever Fest at Plano’s Haggard Park. And, in this way the tree can live on…continuing to give to the community through the artists’ creations.

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A wayward sign will be placed on the site to commemorate the tree with the following text:

Tribute to the Grand Old Bur Oak

Bicentennial Bur Oak

A majestic old Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) stood on this site until October 26, 2023. Well known and well loved by the community, the old oak held a special place in the hearts of many. 

The Bur Oak was the oldest tree of any species in North Texas. The impressive giant measured over 85’ tall, 17.5′ in circumference (or 68” diameter), 103 feet in crown spread, and 70 tons in weight. Growth ring evidence indicated that the tree was over 450 years old.

The tree was recognized as historic by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition in 2002 for bearing witness over its lifetime to the movements of Native Americans, great herds of bison, pioneers, and early settlers of Collin County.  In recognition of being alive at the time of the signing of the Constitution of the United States, the tree was named the “Bicentennial Bur Oak” in 1987. 

Because the old oak was in flood plain and its roots were often underwater when it flooded, the tree was slightly uprooted, causing the tree to lean to the east. Over time, the angle of the tree’s lean became more significant. It weathered many storms, and, in 1990 a slight vertical crack appeared in the base of the trunk. In 2000 a lightning protection system was installed in the tree to help ensure its survival, and it was routinely inspected, fertilized, and pruned to maintain the tree’s health.

Farewell, old friend!