Drew Knowles & XIT Ranch
In 1885, the Farwell brothers from Chicago founded the XIT Ranch of Texas. Texas traded the Farwell brothers 3 million acres in the panhandle in return for building the new Capitol Building in Austin.
"Today, our family owned and operated ranches are located in the original Rita Blanca division of the XIT west of Channing, TX and in Southern Colorado next to the Spanish Peaks."
"The Historic XIT Ranch Is Back And Bigger Than Ever | Cowboys and Indians Magazine"
"Meet Abby Knowles: The Badass Chef Of The XIT Ranch | Cowgirl Magazine"
"SMART LADIES SPARKLE. Matt Koch guides an XIT Ranch mare at the Open Two Rein World Finals in Fort Worth. | The Land Report"
Here is a breakdown of the leading producers in the hyper-realistic wax and silicone figure industry:
1. Madame Tussauds Studios (London, UK)
Scale: Undisputed global leader in both volume and museum footprint.
Facilities: Headquarters are in London, with satellite studios in key regions.
Specialty: Celebrity likenesses, world leaders, and pop culture figures. Each figure is crafted by a team of ~20 artists requiring over 350 hours of work, 500+ measurements, and real human hair insertion.
2. Lifesize Figures and Private Studios
Beyond the commercial giants, there are specialized studios that produce hyper-realistic figures for private collectors, films, and smaller independent wax museums:
Guangzhou Shangpin Culture Creative Co. (Guangzhou, China): A major international manufacturer known for high-volume silicone and hyper-realistic wax figures for global attractions and museums.
Sculpture Commission (Surrey, UK): A noted independent studio that supplies wax museums worldwide with bespoke, hand-sculpted portrait figures.
Executive Team:
Trying to be John Orr:
"Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery Statement 2025 | Merlin" [pdf]
