Day Trip From Dallas

DAY TRIP FROM DALLAS - FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS

HISTORY OF THE FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS

Just a short drive from Dallas you will find Fort Worth Stockyards, the historical district built on the original stockyards site, celebrating the area’s proud tradition as part of the cattle industry in America. The Stockyards is known as “where the west begins” and is actually the last standing Stockyards in the United States.

Between 1866 and 1890 drovers trailed more than 4 million cattle through Fort Worth, giving the city its nickname Cowtown. When the railroad arrived in 1876, Fort Worth became a major shipping point for livestock, so the city built the Union Stockyards in 1887.

These days, thousands of visitors from all over the world head to the Stockyards to experience Cowtown and a real western experience. Local volunteers still run the world’s only daily cattle drives through the Stockyards, to the delight of the kids and tourists, and thousands of cattle are still sold from the Exchange Building by satellite video. Plus a town full of entertainment venues, shopping and dining, all dripping in cowboy theme, there’s no reason not to go.

THINGS TO DO AT THE FORT WORTH STOCKYARDS

STOCKYARDS CHAMPIONSHIP RODEO

Fort Worth Stockyards is home to the world’s only year round rodeo – with the action taking place every single Friday and Saturday night at 8:00pm in the historic Cowtown Coliseum. The two hour Championship Rodeo features bull riding, tie down roping, team roping, barrel racing, bronc riding and break away roping, as well as a calf and mutton scramble with prizes for the kids!

HERD CATTLE DRIVE

When you think of the wild west, the first thing that comes to mind is the Texas Longhorn and an American Cowboy. Fort Worth brings the tradition of cowboys and cattle drives back to life, offering authentic cattle drives of the Texas Longhorns, driven by genuine Texas cowhands, twice daily through the main center of Fort Worth Stockyards at 11:30am and 4:00pm.

HISTORIC WALKING TOURS

Take a walking tour through the Stockyards to visit the historic locations of the area, offering interesting facts, culture and stories about the olden days from extremely knowledgeable personal guides.

LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE BUILDING

Built in 1902, the Livestock Exchange Building was once an office for cattle traders, and known as “The Wall Street of the West”, taking care of all the business that occurred in the Stockyards. These days the building is mainly used as offices, but you can still find the North Fort Worth Historical Society Museum inside, as well as satellite cattle auctions every other Friday on the first floor.

MECHANICAL BULL

If you want to test your skills on a mechanical bull and pretend you’re a cowboy, you can find one across the road from Stockyards Station.

STOCKYARDS GHOST TOURS

Interested in ghosts, hauntings and paranormal activity?! Well, the Historic Fort Worth stockyards are the perfect place to go – the paranormal activity is some of the most active and written about in the United States! The Ghost Tour takes about 90 minutes, and walks you through the active paranormal areas of the Fort Worth Stockyards, sharing the detailed history of the Stockyads, Bordello’s, the shoot outs, the hangings and so much more!

FILTHY MCNASTY’S SALOON

Found one block west of Main Street, Filthy McNasty’s is the place to go for live entertainment and dancing, and to be a part of the history of the west in the place where it began!

There are so many things to see and do in the Fort Worth Stockyards, these lists are barely scraping the surface! Check out the upcoming EVENTS on their website, as live entertainment changes often and big names are often found in the Stockyards. Visit fortworthstockyards.org for more information.