Just as we walked out of the parking lot of the Fort Worth Stockyards, low and behold, this is what we saw – the four o’clock cattle drive of The Fort Worth Herd.  Loved it, loved it, loved it!  Makes one really feel they are “Where the West Begins.”  FYI: This is the world’s only twice daily (11:30 AM and 4:00 PM) cattle drive.   It was interesting to watch visitors who were so eager to talk to the cowboys.  It is hard to resist the mystic of cowboys and the Old West.

The steers don’t look too excited do they?  I imagine that is how they felt on the trails also.

Be still my heart!  Across the street on the sidewalk, there was a longhorn for a Kodak or should I say Nikon moment.  I spared the poor thing and did not get in the saddle, but it was unbelievable to be so up close and personal with Rufus – that is not his name, but I had to call him something.  (On their website, they show the longhorns with their names, but I couldn’t match his picture with one of their pictures.)

Not only do they have Texas Historical Markers, but this area is listed as a National Historic District.  It would certainly take more than the hour and a half we had to see everything.

We all learned something.  This poster explained the different jobs of the cowboys and their positions on the cattle drive.  I never knew that.

Chisholm Trail Marker – Just think about it.  They brought the cattle right through this place.

In the visitors center, we watched a twelve minute video about the history of the Stockyards.  Vintage photographs were used to tell the story of the Fort Worth Stockyards.  It was very interesting, and left me wanting to know more.  The guided walking tours were over for the day (I tell you, we are good at visiting things that are closed), but I certainly would like to go back to take the tour.  A visit to the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame (It is also in the Stockyards.) would certainly be on my list of things to do.

There are several (really more than several) bronze (??) Texas stars set in the sidewalk called the Texas Trail of Fame.  Amazingly, I knew many of the names of those honored.  I had to take a picture of Lady Bird’s star.  She was a fine lady, and deserves honor.

This little visit to the Fort Worth Stockyards has certainly whetted my appetite to return to Fort Worth for a stay-cation or vacation.  As friend Betty said, “We need to come to Fort Worth and stay a couple of days.  Then we can really visit and see all the sites.”  The Stockyards National Historic District, Sundance Square, the Fort Worth Cultural District, and The Fort Worth Zoo, are just a few attractions that come to mind.  Of course, we also always want to eat and shop.  I think staying a couple of days in Fort Worth is a very good idea.  There is so much more I want to see and experience.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go to  Billy Bob’s – “The World’s Largest Honky-Tonk”?  Might be fun!

Blessings to you and yours,