The Cowboy Capital of the World

Our campground is a mile or two out of the town of Bandera.  We really didn't set out to find this place, I just called around until I found an RV Park that had an opening for the month of March and it was the first reasonably priced one I could find but I am super glad fate led us here.  I looked up the population and I think it said that Bandera has a population of 800 something but it feels way bigger.  There are tons of little shops, restaurants and bars.  The city actually puts out a weekly calendar of things going on around town.  

My favorite place down town is called The General Store.  They have a little bit of everything from boots to little souvenirs.  In the front of it they have a fully working 1950's ice cream fountain and its decorated with antiques.  

The courthouse.

This is the Chamber of Commerce.

Old historical building.

An oldie parked in front of the Old Spanish Trail restaurant.

Although I did not take pictures rest assured that they have the two most important stores in Bandera....Dairy Queen and Dollar General. 😁  

On Saturdays they have what they call the cowboys on main.  Some of the local ranchers come into town.  They have covered wagon rides.

The cowboy on the left in this picture was awesome.  He was full of old stories. He had pictures of him and Roy Rogers.  He also told us the story of how he was in the movie Best Little Whore House in Texas and he got to meet Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton.  He drove one of the wagons.  He said they were both the nicest people.  I could have stood there and listened to him all day.  He had the "Grandpa feeling", where you want to sit across the kitchen table with some milk and cookies and just listen to his 'good ol' days' stories.  

I think this guy's horns are even longer than the one we have here at the campground.  

There was another couple talking with this guy and I heard them say they were from Minnesota.  I said we were from Minnesota and he asked where.  I said "Clarissa, but nobody ever knows where that is".  I was about to say an hour north of St. Cloud but he said.  "I know where Clarissa is I have relatives there, we're from Royalton."  Small world.

As part of the cowboys on main.  The Bandera Cattle Company Gunfighters put on a couple shows on Saturdays.  This Saturday was a little different because it was time to retire the Texas flag.  Once a year they take down the old one and cut it into each of the colored pieces and burn it.

Then they put up the new flag for another year.

At the end of the ceremony they lit off a cannon.  They said it was going to be loud so I was kind of prepared for it but I still almost dropped my phone.  

 Then we went back at 2 when they did a couple skits with gunfights.

Bandera is known as the cowboy capital of the world.  Once you get outside of the limits there is ranch after ranch in any direction.  But it's also a big bike hub.  People from all over come on their motorcycles to ride the curvy, hilly roads and they have all kinds of rallies here.  The best of both worlds.

We have some more adventures planned for this week when Darien and Jon get here lets hope that the corona crap doesn't put a damper on things.  They have already closed Sea World and Seven Flags but so far the Alamo is still open.

Love and miss you all.