What to do at the Fort Worth Stockyards

fort worth stockyards what to do
by Anisa // 50 Comments

The Old West is not just something that Hollywood created, it existed.  The cowboy lifestyle helps give Texas a bit of mystique and is a big part of the state’s culture.  I recently visited the Fort Worth Stockyards with my mom so we could learn more about what that way of life was like.   

There is plenty to see, do, and of course, eat.  It was a fun day.  If you are planning a visit,  I thought would share some suggestions for what to do at the Fort Worth Stockyards along with a little history.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  Please see disclosure below for more details.

The cattle drive happens twice a day on Exchange Ave. -
The cattle drive happens twice a day on Exchange Ave.

What is the Fort Worth Stockyards?

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic area (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) that is located just north of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.  It used to be an important livestock center.   Cattle, sheep, and hogs were bought, sold, and slaughtered.

Now, the Stockyards have become a very popular tourist attraction that celebrates its heritage and capitalizes on the “Cowtown” image of Fort Worth.  In addition to being a historical area, it’s an entertainment and shopping district with plenty of fun things to do for all ages.

 

 

Fort Worth Stockyards History

The Fort Worth Stockyards have an interesting history.  At the end of the American Civil War, cattle were everywhere in Texas and no one had money to pay for them.  People realized they could get a lot of money for the cattle if they could just get them up north.  

Moving cattle 800 miles was not easy back then.  The Fort Worth Stockyards developed as the place to rest before heading north.

Years later, businessmen realized that it would be more efficient if the meat packing plants came to Fort Worth instead of transporting the cattle up North.  So in 1903, two large meat processing plants, Swift and Armour opened.  The Stockyards were thriving.

Anisa inside the Visitors Center. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Anisa inside the Visitors Center.

After World War II, the trucking industry developed. Transporting livestock by road quickly became more flexible and cost-efficient than the railroad. This meant the market favored the shipper, not the meat packer, and smaller operations were taking business away from central locations like the Stockyards.

Both Armour and Swift had huge plants that were outdated and expensive, making it impossible to compete.  Armour closed their Fort Worth plant in 1962, while Swift survived until 1971.  In 1976, the North Fort Worth Historical Society was founded to preserve Fort Worth’s livestock heritage.  The area was important to the Texas Cattle Industry and, as I learned on our tour, a place that impacted society as we know it today.

If you want to learn more about the history and culture of Texas, you should also visit these small Texas towns.

Anisa is ready for her walking tour of the Stockyards. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Anisa is ready for her walking tour of the Stockyards.

Fort Worth Stockyards Guided Tour

To learn about the history of the area, you should take the 90-minute guided walking tour of the Stockyards. Tours leave from the Visitors Center at 130 East Exchange Avenue three times a day.  Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for children.  Before leaving on our tour, we watched the “Spirit of The West” video to get a little historical background.

After the short film, we met our tour guide, Ed Brown.  Ed lived his whole life in Fort Worth and was born only a few miles away.  He had a personality as big as the state of Texas and was a great storyteller.  He told us stories about what the Stockyards were like when he was growing up and throughout its history.  You could tell that the preservation of the history of the Stockyards was important to him.

Inside Stockyard Station you can still find feed bins (reddish box on the left wall) - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Inside Stockyard Station you can still find feed bins for the livestock (reddish box on the left wall)

Fort Worth Stockyards Station

Ed took us to the Stockyards Station.  This was where all the trains came in and millions of cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs passed through.  Much of the building is still original and some of the feed bins are still in place.  

We saw the tunnels called “the pig subway” that would lead the pigs to the meat packing plants.  Animals no longer transit through the pig subway and some of the building has now been turned into cute shops and restaurants.

The pig and sheep subway - tunnels that would lead the animals to the meat packing plants. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
The pig and sheep subway – tunnels that led the animals to the meat packing plants.

Livestock Exchange Building

The next stop on Ed’s tour was the “Wall Street of the West” also known as the Livestock Exchange Building.  It was built in 1902 as an office for cattle traders.  Superior Livestock Auctions, located on the ground floor, still conducts satellite auctions every Friday.  

Inside the Livestock Exchange Building. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Inside the Livestock Exchange Building.

Inside the building, you will also find the Stockyards Museum which is run by the North Fort Worth Historical Society.  Since our tour guide, Ed, also volunteers at the museum he took us inside quickly to show us a light bulb.  Not just any light bulb but the one that is set to break the Guinness World Record – it’s been burning since September 21, 1908.  On September 21, 2017, it will break the world record!  Admission to the museum is $2 and kids 12 and under are free.

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This lightbulb is trying to get in the Guinness Book of World Records! - - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
This lightbulb is trying to get in the Guinness Book of World Records!

We exited the Livestock Exchange Building through the back door which led to the area where the Longhorn cattle were kept.  It was interesting to hear that these animals were once close to extinction, thank goodness that is no longer the case.  I may be a little biased because I went to the University of Texas and our mascot was the Longhorn, but I enjoyed watching these impressive animals.

Cowtown Coliseum

The last stop on our tour was the Cowtown Coliseum, which was the first indoor coliseum in the United States.  The building was refurbished in 1986 so it now has air conditioning and heating.

In 1918, they hosted the world’s first indoor rodeo and they still have the Fort Worth Stockyards Rodeo every Friday and Saturday night.  During the week, the building is used for all kinds of Fort Worth Stockyards events.  When we were there, they were getting ready to host the circus.  

Cowtown Coliseum, where the first indoor rodeo was held. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Cowtown Coliseum, where the first indoor rodeo was held.

Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive

Twice a day, at 11:30 and 4 pm, there is a cattle drive through the stockyards that you can watch for free.  A handful of cowboys lead a herd of Texas Longhorn cattle down East Exchange Avenue.  Ed got everyone ready for the big event and warned us it was not going to be the running of the bulls but instead the walking of the Longhorns.

I loved watching the longhorns in the Stockyards. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
I loved watching the longhorns in the Stockyards.

The staff asked everyone to stay on the sidewalk and told us that the Longhorns would be coming close enough.  Of course, there were a couple crazy people that dashed across the road right before the cattle drive.  The Fort Worth Stockyards cattle drive only lasts a few minutes, not sure why they couldn’t just wait.

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It was interesting seeing the animals so close without any restraints.  The cattle walked very calmly down the street without any incident.  It looked like a well-oiled machine.  I’m sure cattle drives weren’t like that in the Old West! Cowboys had to work very hard to move the cattle so far.  

Check out the short video we made during the cattle drive to get a better feel for what it was like.

Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame

After lunch, we decided to take in the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame which is located just west of the Visitors Center.  Yes, there is a Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame and they do induct new members each year.  They choose “individuals who have shown excellence in competition, business and support of rodeo and the western lifestyle in Texas.”

One of the rows dedicated to the members of the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
One of the rows dedicated to the members of the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame.

While the majority of Hall of Fame members are rodeo cowboys, there were also players from the Dallas Cowboys football team, musicians, a doctor, and a rodeo clown.  Each member of the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame gets a booth to display their personal memorabilia.  There was quite the collection!

Some of my favorite members were Jay Novacek (Dallas Cowboys), Willie Nelson (musician), Pat Green (musician), Nolan Ryan (baseball player) and Lane Frost (bull rider).  You may remember the movie “8 Seconds” where Luke Perry played Lane Frost?

Nolan Ryan memorabilia displayed in the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Nolan Ryan memorabilia displayed in the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame.

I should also note that they did not leave cowgirls out of the Hall of Fame, there were several barrel racers that got inducted.  Barrel racing is a rodeo event where the horse and rider attempt to complete a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time.

Other Attractions at the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame

The Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame is home to more than just the booths that honor the members.

The Sterquell Wagon Collection is huge – you can’t miss it! It includes more than 60 wagons, buggies and sleighs.  The collection was very diverse and included a doctor’s buggy, milk delivery wagons, a photographer’s wagon with a dark room, and of course an “Amish Wagon” to name a few.  In the back corner of the museum, there is a chuck wagon setup like it would be for a trail ride with cowboys (mannequins) sitting around a campfire.

Display showing a few cowboys around a campfire during a cattle drive. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Display showing a few cowboys around a campfire during a cattle drive.

Next to the trail ride display, you will find the Applewhite-Clark exhibit, which features artifacts from such legendary figures as Santa Anna, Comanche chief Quanah Parker, and Texas Rangers John Coffee Hays and Samuel Walker.  I wasn’t quite sure how General Santa Anna de Lopez fit into the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame since he led the Mexican forces against the Texas Army!  Still, it was pretty neat to see one of his military uniforms and his wooden leg.

Admission to the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame is $6 for Adults, $5 for seniors or those with a Student ID and $3 for children ages 5 – 12.

One of the milk delivery wagons on display inside the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
One milk delivery wagon on display inside the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame.

Fort Worth Stockyards Restaurants

As part of our tour, we learned that Riscky’s BBQ in Stockyards Station had been around over 75 years as part of our tour so it seemed like a good choice.  We were there on a Wednesday so we both got the brisket platter which was on special.  The brisket was good and their sauce had a nice kick to it. I am always happy when they have fried okra as a side!

As well as Riscky’s BBQ, you can also find nice steakhouses, good burgers, Mexican food and more along Exchange Avenue.  Don’t worry, you will not go hungry, there is a Stockyards restaurant for every taste!

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My brisket plate at Riscky's BBQ. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
My brisket plate at Riscky’s BBQ.

Fort Worth Stockyards Bars

The Stockyards is a great area for nightlife, especially if you are looking for a country bar. The most famous of the Stockyards bars is Billy Bob’s, the “World’s Largest Honky Tonk”. This bar has live bull riding every Friday and Saturday night and lots of big-name concerts.  Although it is a traditional western activity, I recognize that not everyone will approve of bull riding.  If you would prefer to give this a miss, Billy Bob’s is large enough to avoid the arena.  

Alternatively, there are several other country bars on Exchange Ave including the Rodeo Exchange, White Elephant Saloon, and Lil’ Red’s Longhorn Saloon that also have live country music.  

Lots of restaurants and bars line Exchange Avenue. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Lots of restaurants and bars line Exchange Avenue.

Other Stockyard Attractions

Cowtown Cattle Pen Maze:  You can compete against your friends and family, the clock, or just have fun trying to locate multiple checkpoints and finish the maze.   The maze covers over 5,400 square feet and they are always changing up the wooden pathways (cattle pens of the old west) so it is always a challenge.  Adults tickets are $6 and children are $5.  Read reviews of the maze on Tripadvisor here.

Grapevine Vintage Railroad: During most weekends, you can take a beautifully restored 1920’s Victorian coach from Grapevine, a suburb, to the Fort Worth Stockyards.  Alternatively, you can take the hour-long Stockyards Trinity River Ride which begins and ends at Stockyards Station.  Check their schedule for more details and be sure to check out the many themed weekends they have throughout the year.  Read reviews of the railroad on Tripadvisor here.

Fort Worth Stockyards FAQs

What is the best way to get to the Fort Worth Stockyards?

The Stockyards are located just a few miles north of downtown Fort Worth.  

For driving directions, I would recommend inputting the address of the Visitors Center, 130 E. Exchange Avenue.  Fort Worth Stockyards parking is available across the street from the Visitors Center for $7 a day.  Street parking, if you can find it, is free.

To get to the Stockyards using public transportation, take the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) and get off at Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center (ITC) Station, then take the 12, 14 or 15 bus and get off at Main and Exchange.

What are the hours for the Stockyards?

The operating hours depend on the individual attraction, restaurant, store, or bar.  In general, Stockyards Station stores are open 10 am to 7 pm, restaurants are open 11 am to 10 pm, and bars are open until 2 a.m. on the weekend.  The Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Stockyards Station is now full of shops, restaurants, and event space, but still stays true to its history. - "Fort Worth Stockyards: Learn About the Old West" - Two Traveling Texans
Stockyards Station is now full of shops, restaurants, and event space, but still stays true to its history.

Are the Stockyards a good place to take kids?

Yes, many of the attractions are kid-friendly and they will enjoy seeing the animals.  Kids can learn more about the livestock and the history of Texas.

How long does it take to see the Stockyards?

It depends on what you want to see.  You can easy spend a full day (or more) seeing all the attractions in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  If you have less time, then you will need to pick and choose what to do.  

Are there places to stay near the Stockyards?

You might want to extend your visit to the Stockyards especially if you plan on staying out late at one of the bars.  Lucky for you, there are a few hotels near the Stockyards that you can choose from. You can stay at the legendary Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel on Exchange Avenue (click to read the reviews on Tripadvisor) which has been welcoming guests for over 100 years.  We peeked inside the lobby and it is beautifully decorated in elegant western style.

Check current rates and availability for the Fort Worth Stockyards Hotel here

If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option, you can also stay at the Hyatt Place Fort Worth Stockyards (click to read the reviews on Tripadvisor), located right behind the Visitors Center. 

Check current rates and availability for the Hyatt Place Fort Worth Stockyards here.

Of course, if you prefer, you could also stay in Downtown Fort Worth.


Booking.com

My Day at the Stockyards

I enjoyed my day at the Fort Worth Stockyards and it was interesting to learn more about the historical significance of the area.  Hopefully, I can go back and check out more of the restaurants and bars, maybe even go to the Fort Worth Texas Rodeo one night.  I would also love to ride the historic train.   I can see why the Stockyards are such a popular tourist attraction.  Have you been to the Stockyards? Did you know about all the history?

-Anisa

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scenes from the Fort Worth Stockyards

Expert Tips for What to Do at the Fort Worth Stockyards

  • With all there is to see in the Stockyards, I would recommend spending a whole day.
  • Don’t miss watching the Fort Worth Stockyards Cattle Drive which happens at 11:30 pm and 4 pm each day.
  • There are plenty of bars in the Fort Worth Stockyards to keep you entertained in the evening.
  • Learning the history of the Stockyards will definitely help you appreciate it more!

Disclosure: No financial compensation was received.  I received two complimentary walking tours and admissions to the Texas Cowboys Hall of Fame, so that we could share our experience with our readers.   As always, opinions expressed here are my own.

This post also contains affiliate links. This means we will receive a small commission for some purchases made using links in our blog with no additional cost to you.  Please be assured we would not promote any product unless we believe that our readers will also benefit.  The commission does not influence the editorial content of this site.

Last Updated on July 27, 2023

About the Author

Anisa is an experienced international traveler with extra pages in her passport and stamps from 41 different countries across 5 continents (and counting). She was born and raised in Texas. After a 13 year stint in NYC, she moved to England to live with her husband.

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