Grab this Fort Worth Stockyards family fun round-up and go have fun in Cowtown.
The Historic Fort Worth Stockyards is covered in Western heritage and rich history. Where else can you see and feel Western family fun and real cowboys riding Texas longhorns down the street right where everything happens? It’s no surprise that this city is known as Cowtown. Downtown Fort Worth and the Stockyards are where I send friends who come to town and want to have fun in Fort Worth. It’s the perfect place to show off what Fort Worth, Texas. Here’s a list of Fort Worth Stockyards family fun.
Whether you’re looking for a pair of cowboy boots, maybe a cowboy hat, or want to have fun and eat, from Longhorns to cowboys to unique shops, the Fort Worth Stockyards is your place to visit for family fun!
Fort Worth Stockyards Family Fun A-List
Being a native Texan born in Fort Worth in the 60s, I still get giddy when I visit the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Along East Exchange Avenue and across Main Street on West Exchange Avenue are shopping venues, saloons, hotels, eateries, and everything else.
The Stockyards District is a fun place with plenty of live entertainment, including live music, bull riding, and enactment gunfights, and you can even sit on a live steer for $5 and get your picture taken with your camera.
I’ve listed some of my favorite things to do in Fort Worth Stockyards. Come out on any day of the week because it’s always open. You may be able to catch a Stockyards Championship Rodeo in the Cowtown Coliseum, which also includes watching the clowns do some trick roping, guitar strumming, and whatever else those funny clowns can think of doing to make us laugh.
The Chisholm Trail Exhibit at the Stockyards Museum
Things To Do At The Stockyards In Fort Worth
- Billy Bob’s is a must-see – walk in and see it.
- Cowtown Coliseum
- Fort Worth Cattle Drive – every day at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Grapevine Vintage Railroad – runs from Grapevine to Stockyards and back.
- The famous Joe T. Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant (cash only) is very popular and is down the street off Main St.
- Livestock Exchange Building
- FTW Stockyards Stables
- Historic Walking Tours
- Ghost Tours (starts at the Cowtown Winery)
- Stockyards Museum
- Stockyards Station
- Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame (2515 Rodeo Plaza, across from Billy Bob’s)
- Carriage Rides
- Mule Alley (shops and restaurants, including the Biscuit Bar)
- Hotel Drover (hotel at the end of Mule Alley)
- The new John Wayne Museum
- And much more!
Duke – John Wayne Museum at the Fort Worth Stockyards
John Wayne Museum
John Wayne: An American Experience is an amazing interactive museum dedicated to his life and legacy, and it’s in Fort Worth’s Historic Stockyards. The museum is brand new to the stockyards (2022). On April 2nd, my son and I were invited to see the museum and meet John Wayne’s granddaughter, Anita LaCava Swift. She was there to read a few Little Duke series to the kids. The location is at E. Exchange and Rodeo Drive. Once inside, you can shop for your favorite John Wayne memorabilia, see photos, and reminisce about the good old days. Then, tour the museum.
The cost is around $22 for adults and $18 for kids.
John Wayne’s Granddaughter – Anita LaCava Swift
Stockyards Museum
The Stockyards Museum showcases the rich history of the Fort Worth Stockyards with collections of artifacts and such. This is where you’ll learn what being a cowboy was all about back in the day, the legends of Texas, and how “the old west was won.” Ask anyone there (preferably someone who remembers it) about the Chisholm Trail. It’s very interesting.
Children’s Area At The Stockyards
Look for the cattle pen maze, mechanical bull riding, petting zoo, other games, and rides across the street from the train station and all the specialty shops and Risky’s BBO. It’s not hard to miss. Your kiddos will spot the area for sure!
Make Time To See The Cattle Drive
The daily Longhorn cattle drive happens on East Exchange Avenue at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Everyone moves to the sidewalks when traffic stops to let the herd come through. It still amazes us locals, and we still plan for it when visiting the area. Afterward, you can check out the livestock exchange building and the Stockyard’s stables to see the cattle in their space. PS. You may want to hold your nose!
The Stockyards Station
Catch a live Old West reenactment of The Legends of Texas Gunfighters on weekends at the Fort Worth Stockyards. It’s free to watch, and they are for hire for events!!
Billy Bob’s Texas
Grab your boots and head to the largest honky tonk in the world. Billy Bob’s Texas is a legendary country music establishment that entertains the whole family. The kids go home or to the hotel at night, and the adults come out for a round of Fort Worth shuffle and two-step dancing to live music.
During the day with the family, grab lunch or dinner, ride the mechanical bull, take photos, and shop for Western souvenirs are a few things you can do inside.
If you’re around on a Saturday night, famous country-western bands may be performing, but check the schedule line-up before making plans. I remember seeing a few famous singers there, like Sara Evans, Willie Nelson, and Pat Green.
In front of the Cowtown Coliseum Box Office during the pandemic days.
Head To The Rodeo At The Coliseum
After buying your western wear and feeling like a cowboy or cowgirl, you’ll need an authentic cowboy experience! For this, head to the historic Cowtown Coliseum to catch a real live championship rodeo. Every Friday and Saturday, starting at 8 p.m., some of the best rodeo athletes from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming come out to compete for championship titles, trophies, and money. Bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and many other daredevil events are just a few action-packed activities to watch. It’s lots of fun for the whole family to watch!
Shopping In The Fort Worth Stockyards
Shopping is all up and down Exchange Street from one end to the other. Be sure to wear your walking shoes. Antiques, Texas souvenir shops, clothing stores, specialty shops with high-end jewelry, cowboy hats, etc. – you name it, it’s there. A must-see is M.L. Leddy – famous for their boots and the General Store that has been on the corner of Main and W. Exchange Ave—providing Texas souvenirs for as long as I can remember.
Ride The Stockyards Train
Several train excursions leave out of the Stockyards for a family fun time. Check the Grapevine Vintage Railroad for tours and times offered.
If time allows, one excursion is to the small town of Grapevine and back. Grapevine, Texas, is another fun town to visit with its own family fun.
Things To Do In Fort Worth Stockyards This Weekend
Depending on your level of fun, you can walk around on E. Exchange Street and grab a bite to eat. There are plenty of restaurants right on the street. Maybe hit a bar or two on Main Street or see a band play at Billy Bob’s.
Where To Eat In The Fort Worth Stockyards
H3 Ranch
A taste of Texas is waiting for you at H3 Ranch. The prices are on the higher side, and the atmosphere is contagious. Find it on the corner near the Stockyards Hotel.
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse
A restaurant to go to at least once in your life. Cattlemen’s Steakhouse is a proud steak restaurant in the Stockyards forever. It’s worth it to see it.
Riscky’s BBQ
Texas legend barbeque at Risky’s BBQ.
There are other eateries up and down Exchange Street and on every corner. My favorite Mexican food restaurant is Los Vaqueros at 2629 North Main Street, across from Billy Bob’s.
Lonesome Dove Western Bistro
Fort Worth Hotels In The Fort Worth Stockyards
Hotel Drover Autograph Collection
The Fort Worth Stockyards’ newest hotel is at the end of Mule Alley. The Drover is a Marriott Hotel.
Stockyards Hotel
Stockyards Hotel is a 3-star hotel pet-friendly hotel right in the mix of things next door to the H3 Restaurant on E. Exchange Ave. You can walk out the front door and be in the Stockyards. Now, that’s a location!
Miss Molly’s Bed And Breakfast
Book a stay at Miss Molly’s Bed and Breakfast on W. Exchange Ave., especially if you like haunted places. It’s said to be haunted.
Hyatt Place Fort Worth
Hyatt Place has a great location on E. Exchange Ave with many amenities.
For more information on your Fort Worth Stockyards Family-Fun vacation – head to the FW Stockyards website.
And, if you want to know “most” everything to do in the city – see our In-depth Fort Worth Travel Guide.
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It looks like you had an amazing time, like I did!
I was so pleased with my visit and had always wanted to visit the Texas I had in my mind… And I was not let down!
Amazing entertainment to keep everyone happy!
I hope to return one day!
Always a fun time in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Do hope you come back!!