A Huge Howdy to all y0u cowboys 'n' cowgirls out there...

 

 Bandera earned its official title, Cowboy Capital of the World, not just for its ranching heritage but also for the record number of national rodeo champions who lived here or still do, and weekend rodeos are still going on, too with bull riding, barrel racing, and bareback riding.  In the good ol' days the cowboy was the glue that held the West together. Ranchers would hire cowboys to keep a watchful eye over the herds on the wide open range. Although the addition of the fenced in herds has removed some of the need for cowboys, you can still see the skills that these old cowboys had by attending a rodeo. Even today cowboys show off their talent with bull riding, using the lasso, and roping and tying steers.To keep the rough and tough cowboy alive the Rodeo was invented to let talented individuals display their cattle handling skills in addition to many other additions over the years. The most exciting of all these skill tests is, of course, bull riding. If you don't already know the point of bull riding, the basic object of the sport is to stay on top of a very angry, bucking bull longer than anyone else.

Fame...


Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie visited the town while taping their reality television program, The Simple Life 2. They worked at the Bandera County Jail. Bandera is a Showcase of Texas Music. CDs by local music icons are available, Hometown of singer-songwriter brothers Bruce and Charlie Robison. Willie Nelson has an instrumental called "Bandera" on his Red Headed Stranger record. Rudy Robbins (born 1933), a Western actor, stuntman, singer, and songwriter, has lived in Bandera for nearly five decades. Bandera was once home to Texas music legend Robert Earl Keen. The city is home of Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar, a famous Hill Country Honky-Tonk. Bandera also has a large presence in biker culture.

Happenings

 

On Sunday mornings, Bandera is a popular destination for motorcyclists from San Antonio, known as the Bandera Breakfast Run.  On Wednesday evenings, the 11th Street Cowboy Bar hosts steak night. You bring your own slab of beef — or chicken, fish, veggie skewers or whatever you find at the local grocery stores or meat market — and cook it on one of several charcoal grills set up.

Pike’s Place Restaurant, about six miles east of Bandera near Pipe Creek. A renovated country cottage, smartly appointed with antiques from the rambling shop on the grounds, operates as a farm-to-market cafe.  Met Wilbur, the friendly resident potbellied pig. Contact: 167 Panther Ridge Road, Pipe Creek; 830-535-4442; www.pikesplacerestaurant.com.

Also on Main Street is Dogleg Coffeehouse, where espressos and green tea lattes were pleasing, as were bacon-and-cheese scones.  Contact: 315 Main St.; 830-796-8080.

Imagine Lavender Farm About 30 miles west of town along FM337, is open from mid-April or early May through July (and sometimes again in October and November, depending on the crop’s growth schedule), welcoming visitors to roam the property and cut lavender from 18 varieties of three species of plants. The growers also make lavender products such as organic soaps, lavender sugar and lavender-infused honey. Contact: 17582 FM337 East, Vanderpool; 830-966-5105; www.imaginelavender.com.

 The Frontier Times Museum, founded by J. Marvin Hunter and named for Hunter's Frontier Times magazine, is located in Bandera across from the First Baptist Church.

Adventure

The rugged Hill Country State Natural Area is the location of the Bandera 100K trail run and the Cactus Rose 100 mile endurance run, two of the toughest ultra marathons in Texas

Activities for the kids include Mutton Bustin', Calf Scramble and Stickhorse Races. Come to Bandera....where the fun never stops

History

There are many stories regarding the origin of the name "Bandera". One says that back in the 19th century, a flag was placed at the top of a path that came to be called "Bandera Pass" due to "Bandera" being the Spanish word for "flag"

 

Bandera Links