Why Bandera is growing
Bandera grew up in the 1850s as a cypress shingle camp on the Medina River and became a staging point on the Great Western Cattle Trail. Dude ranches arrived in the 1920s, and the town still lives the part — horses on Main Street, honky-tonks with sawdust floors, and a county that has produced more rodeo champions than most states. It's 50 minutes from San Antonio and pairs perfectly with Boerne.
Book a dude ranch night for trail rides and chuckwagon dinners, and catch the summer Cowboys on Main shows on Saturdays.
Things to do nearby
South Texas · History
The Alamo
Founded in 1718 as Mission San Antonio de Valero, the Alamo is where about 200 defenders held out for 13 days in 1836 — the shrine of Texas liberty.
South Texas · History
San Antonio Missions
The Alamo plus four 18th-century missions linked by the River Walk's Mission Reach — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Parks & recreation nearby
Connect the city with a trail, lake, historic site or open-sky day trip.
State natural area · Bandera
Hill Country State Natural Area
Explore the landscapes, trails and stories around Hill Country State Natural Area.
State natural area · Pipe Creek
Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area
Explore the landscapes, trails and stories around Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area.
State natural area · San Antonio
Government Canyon State Natural Area
Explore the landscapes, trails and stories around Government Canyon State Natural Area.
Where to eat
Old Spanish Trail (OST) Restaurant
Chicken-fried steak beside the John Wayne room on Main.
Family friendlyBusbee's Bar-B-Que
Small-town smoked brisket and sausage.
Family friendlyBrick's River Café
Breakfast and burgers near the Medina.
Family friendlyArkey Blue's Silver Dollar
Legendary basement honky-tonk — Hank Williams' name is carved in a table.
11th Street Cowboy Bar
Big outdoor dance floor and weekend country bands.
Things to do
Frontier Times Museum
A 1933 museum of cowboy, ranch and frontier artifacts.
Family friendlyDude ranches (Dixie Dude, Mayan)
Trail rides, rodeos and cookouts.
Family friendlyHill Country State Natural Area
40 miles of horseback and hiking trails.
Medina River
Kayaking, tubing and Bandera City Park.
Family friendlyCowboys on Main
Saturday summer shows with roping and gunfight reenactments.
Family friendlyTexas Cowboy Hall of Fame plaza
The Bandera Cowboy Capital monument on the courthouse square.
Thinking of moving here?
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Where to stay
Places to stay near Bandera
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