Fort Worth Stockyards Family Fun Round-Up

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.

Where To Park At The Fort Worth Stockyards

Parking used to be free in Mule Alley if you could find a spot, but I believe it’s for valet purposes only. Parking is free along the streets, but paid parking is available at the end of E. Exchange Ave and Main Street if you can’t find a spot. Also, paid parking is on the north side of E. Exchange Ave. For the most part, you have to pay for parking unless you want to walk a long way.

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)
• John Wayne Museum
• And much more!

John Wayne Museum

John Wayne: An American Experience is a fantastic 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.

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 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 fascinating.

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. When traffic stops, everyone moves to the sidewalks to let the herd come through. It still amazes us locals, and we 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, which 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.

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. It’s lots of fun for the whole family to watch!

Shops In The Fort Worth Stockyards

Shopping is available along 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 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 depart from the Stockyards for a fun-filled family 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.

More 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.

The Cowtown Winery In Mule Alley

Next stop – Cowtown Winery. If it weren’t so early, I would have had a glass! They offer wine by the glass, wine tastings, and wine to-go. Check out the walking ghost tour through the Stockyards that meets here.

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 seeing it.

Riscky’s Steakhouse

Texas legend barbeque at Risky’s BBQ.

There are other eateries along Exchange Street and on every corner. My favorite Mexican food restaurant is Los Vaqueros at 2629 North Main Street, across from Billy Bob’s.

The Biscuit Bar (Mule Alley)

Everything is served on from-scratch savory biscuits …and it’s enormous!

Hotels In The Fort Worth Stockyards

If you’re looking to stay for the night in the stockyards, the Stockyards Hotel is next door to the H3 Ranch Restaurant, or you can stay at the hotel in Mule Alley called Hotel Drover. Either way, you can expect a fun time.

Extra Tip: If you still want to see more of Fort Worth, head for downtown and hang out in Fort Worth Sundance Square. There’s plenty of shopping there as well.

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, pet-friendly hotel 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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