Strickland Propane is a fictional propane company from the animated series King of the Hill , and what “happened” to it depends on whether you mean inside the new revival canon or in fan discussion and theories online.

Quick Scoop: What happened to Strickland Propane?

In the new Season 14 revival setup, Hank Hill has spent about a decade working in Saudi Arabia for a major propane supplier (Aramco), which strongly implies he left Strickland Propane behind and that the company may have shut down, been sold, or changed hands off‑screen. The show does not give a definitive, on‑screen explanation yet, so its exact fate is left intentionally vague and fans fill the gap with speculation, jokes, and “what‑if” scenarios on forums and Reddit.

In‑universe status (revival era)

Fans piecing together the new continuity point to a few main ideas:

  • Hank leaving for Saudi Arabia suggests Strickland either went under, was bought out, or no longer needed him, since he was deeply loyal to the place.
  • Some fans think Buck Strickland’s long history of shady gambling, womanizing, and bad decisions finally caught up with him, possibly leading to legal trouble or a forced sale.
  • Others imagine Strickland being swallowed by a bigger player like Thatherton Propane or a big‑box chain like Mega Lo Mart re‑entering the propane market and pushing it out.

A common headcanon is that the propane market modernized (self‑serve kiosks, automated refill stations), and the old‑school “your friendly neighborhood propane dealer” model became much harder to sustain, especially under an owner as chaotic as Buck.

Fan theories and forum discussion

On forums and Reddit, the question “what happened to Strickland Propane?” has turned into an ongoing thought experiment:

  • Some people imagine Hank eventually buying the business himself, turning it into “Hill and Son Propane”, with Bobby as assistant manager in the future.
  • Others argue Buck would keep it barely afloat forever through charm and long‑term contracts, while Hank quietly saves the operation from total disaster behind the scenes.
  • A darker set of jokes has Strickland collapsing after a major scandal, safety incident, or ill‑fated gamble by Buck, finally ending the company’s run.

A typical fan‑fiction‑style scenario goes like this: Buck runs the business into massive debt, Hank takes out a big loan to save it, renames it, and slowly turns it into the Hill family business while Bobby and even the alley guys help out.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Strickland was acquired by Thatherton, or perhaps Mega‑Lo Mart is trying once again to venture into the propane market, ultimately leading to Strickland’s downfall.”

How the show uses that mystery

The revival leans into the idea that life moved on for Hank and Arlen:

  • Moving Hank overseas shows he stayed in the propane world, even if Strickland itself faded into the background.
  • Keeping Strickland’s fate ambiguous lets the writers focus more on family, aging, and changing times rather than bookkeeping details about a fictional small business.

In interviews and coverage, the key point is that the show is more interested in Hank’s growth and the Hill family’s new stage of life than in giving a concrete business epilogue for Strickland. The company becomes a symbol of “the old life” that Hank isn’t necessarily nostalgic for anymore, even though he still loves propane itself.

Multi‑angle summary (with HTML table)

Here’s a quick look at the main angles people talk about when asking “what happened to Strickland Propane?”:

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Angle What likely happened Source type
Official revival setup Hank leaves Strickland and spends ~10 years working propane overseas; Strickland’s exact fate is left unclear. Entertainment coverage / recap.
“Business reality” theory Modern competition (kiosks, big‑box chains) and Buck’s mismanagement eventually make Strickland uncompetitive or force a sale. Fan business discussions and threads.
Takeover headcanon Strickland is bought by Thatherton or squeezed by Mega Lo Mart trying propane again. Speculative Reddit posts.
“Hill and Son Propane” idea Hank eventually buys the company or starts his own successor shop, with Bobby as assistant manager. Popular fan comments and jokes.
Symbolic reading Strickland represents Hank’s old life; its disappearance or sidelining emphasizes change, aging, and moving on. Episode commentary / article analysis.

TL;DR

No single canon answer explains exactly “what happened to Strickland Propane,” but the new season shows Hank has moved on to a different propane job overseas, while fans widely assume Strickland either folded, was sold, or transformed off‑screen—and they have a lot of fun filling in the blanks with their own stories and theories.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.