If you’re looking for a party, Labor Day weekend is when you’ll find one in Bandera County. That is when the Bandera Regional Community Foundation hosts the “Celebrate Bandera” event, where you’ll find lots of music and entertainment including Old West-style gunfights and a big parade down Main Street. There’s even a bull-riding challenge on Saturday night. The weekend wraps up on Sunday with Cowboy Church services on the river and a chuck wagon cook-off.
But if you can’t make it to Bandera County on Labor Day weekend, come out any time of year to visit one of the many dude ranches in the area. Vacation at Dixie Dude Ranch and enjoy horseback riding, swimming, hiking, or even a massage. Or, try the Flying L Guest Ranch, where you’ll see nightly shows of trick roping, country music and even gun juggling. Other options are the Mayan Dude Ranch, the Running-R Guest Ranch, Rancho Cortez, and the Silver Spur and Twin Elm Guest Ranches. Visit www.duderanches.com to find contact information for these dude ranches in Bandera County. If you prefer a hotel or motel, you’ll find a list on the Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site at www.banderacowboycapital.com.
If you want to see real old stuff from the real Old West, take your kids to the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera. It’s located one block north of the Bandera County Courthouse at 510 13th St. If you visit Monday through Saturday, you’ll find the museum open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For $5 per adult ($3 for seniors) and just $1 for kids 6-17 (under 6 are free), your family can see some 40,000 pieces of authentic artifacts from old Bandera County. There’s even a shrunken head! Visit www.frontiertimesmuseum.com for more information.
If you’re hungry while you’re in Bandera County, the county seat of Bandera has some good places to eat, too. Try the Old Spanish Trail café, located right on Main Street. The menu ranges from some tasty Mexican food to chicken fried steak and gravy to burgers for the kids.
If the “OST,” as they call the Old Spanish Trail in Bandera County, doesn’t suit your fancy, try Billy Gene’s restaurant. It overlooks the beautiful Medina River. Or, hitch your ride out front on Main Street and get some barbecue from Busbee’s. Don Busbee sold the business a few years back, but the barbecue is still good. For a really good burger in a hurry, go to the filling station called Pico. You wouldn’t expect a good burger there, but you’ll be surprised.
Another great place to eat in Bandera County is in the little town of Pipe Creek. The Pipe Creek Junction Café on Highway 16 heading toward San Antonio is the place to go for a big plate of fried shrimp. Tasty!
Learn more about Bandera county at its official Web site, www.banderacounty.org.