The story of the Lone Star Ranch (1907 - 1938) is a significant piece of Alberta history. Three boys of Irish decent; Patrick, Tobias (Tobe) and Mike Stapleton; came west from Petrolia, Ontario.

Michael James Stapleton was the "Lone Star" in the story of the Lone Star Ranch of Southeastern Alberta, Canada. Despite warnings by the Irish explorer, John Palliser, that southeast Alberta was practically useless for agriculture, the government encouraged settlers into the Palliser Triangle. Three million people poured into the West between the turn of the century and 1914.

Mike Stapleton visited the area north of Brooks, Alberta near the turn of the century and must have seen something around 1905-06 that encouraged him to settle in the Red Deer River Valley. All in all, Mike built the spread to about 90,000 acres (about 140 sections - 140 square miles). It was considered one of the largest ranches in Alberta.

Mike succeeded for about 30 years. In spite of the droughts, bad winters and economic downturns, the Stapletons made a name for themselves in southeast Alberta. However, a final blow came with the winter of 1937. The snows were so deep that the cattle and horses could not be fed at the outlying cow camp and horse camp. By the spring of '38 it was all over for the Stapletons and the Lone Star Ranch.