What does it take to call yourself the Cowboy Capital of the World? We’ve heard the claim before, but what exactly does that mean? Sometimes it can mean different things.
In the case of Bandera, Texas, this means that not only was it once a staging area for cattle drives, but many rodeo champions have also hailed from the town.
Nestled along the banks of the serene Medina River, with the shade of trees to help stay cool in the summer sun, you can understand why it was a prime spot to gather.
Bandera does an excellent job of preserving the history of the little town (population 879 in 2023). Showcasing limestone historical buildings and embracing cowboy roots, they keep the past alive for both visitors and citizens.
Your first stop should be at the Bandera County Convention & Visitors Bureau at 126 State Highway 16 South, which sits in a pretty historic building with an interesting story. The ladies working there are a wealth of knowledge and can help you find anything you might be looking for or tell you where to start on your tour of the area.
Of course, the first things we wanted to see were the historical sites – and boy, are there a lot. You’ll find it hard to go more than a block or so without seeing a beautiful old building. Most are gorgeous limestone, but some are simple wooden, western-style buildings.
On Main Street you will see the gorgeous Bandera County Courthouse. Luckily, we were there at Christmas time and were blessed to see it outlined in sparkling white lights. It’s always odd to us that such a large courthouse was built when the population for the entire county was under 4,000 people. But the architectural details are well worth it.
We pulled up the website with a list of historic and heritage sites to make sure we found them all. They’re easy to find. Many of them are near each other, or you can simply run across them driving around town.
Many businesses are still using the old buildings, which have been repurposed as boutiques, restaurants, saloons, etc. Some of the historic places are privately occupied and not open for touring, but you can still enjoy their architecture from the outside.
Downtown you’ll find Arkey Blues Silver Dollar Saloon billed as the “oldest continuously operating honkytonk in Texas,” and the O.S.T. restaurant. OST stands for Old Spanish Trail and the building has been in use since 1921. It has unique memorabilia and photos of movie stars all over the walls. TJ’s at the old Forge, a two-story old-west-style building, is another restaurant that was so good we ate there twice.
A big “don’t miss” is the Frontier Times Museum. It’s small but has some unique items on display that we haven’t seen in any other museum.
If you like to look for antiques and collectibles, check out Western Trail Antiques & Marketplace, built in 1873. It claims to have the “oldest elevator west of San Antonio.” It’s a market that holds more antiques and collectibles than you thought possible. Make sure you budget plenty of time to explore.
There are some chain hotels to stay in but if you’re there to experience “cowboy” life, why not stay in one of the fun cowboy-style cottages, lodges, dude and guest ranches, or yurts? There is such a large variety of lodging choices that you’ll have no problem finding a place that suits your taste.
Even though Bandera is a tiny town, it really does feel like the “cowboy capital,” filled with historic significance and adventurous stories. Make your plans to go soon. Just be sure to reserve your lodging ASAP because it is constantly hopping with activities and events, with visitors from all over the world.
Then let us know if you also think it lives up to its name as the Cowboy Capital of the World.
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