Witness the Old West with the Fort Worth Cattle Drive

With the nickname of “Cowtown,” one would expect Fort Worth to have plenty to offer to those who want to experience the life of the American Cowboy. As one of the homes to the Texas Longhorn, Fort Worth still carries on the tradition of the cattle drives that have been taking place since the late 19^th century. If you want to be a part of this experience, you will be happy to know that the Old West still comes to life twice per day during the Fort Worth Herd’s cattle drives.

Witnessing the Herd

Twice per day, genuine Texas cowhands drive a herd of Texas longhorns down Exchange Avenue, which is located in the Stockyards National Historic District. During this cattle drive, every aspect of a genuine drive is preserved. As such, even the saddles, chaps, boots and hats worn by the cowhands are authentic and historically true.

Originally created as part of the Fort Worth sesquicentennial celebration on June 12, 1999, the Fort Worth Herd consists of 15 Texas Longhorns. The original herd, which was driven in front of 15,000 spectators, included 15 longhorns in order to represent every decade of the city’s past. Today, the herd has expanded to 20 Texas longhorns with trading cards available representing each one. The cards can be obtained at the Stockyards National Historic District.

While the trail boss leading the cattle drive has changed over the years, Kristin Jaworski has served as the trail boss since 2002. In addition to managing the twice-daily cattle drive, Kristin is responsible for expanding educational programs and maintaining media relations. Kristin, who was raised in the livestock industry, has a life-long interest in horses and ranching. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and a Master’s in Management and Leadership from Tarleton University.

Drovers, which are the men and women who actually drive the cattle forward, can be seen before and after each cattle drive. Spectators are invited to talk to the drovers to learn more about life on the trail and to take pictures.

The History of the Stockyards National Historic District

The Stockyards Historic District was once home to one of the largest cattle markets in the world. As such, cattle drives took place through the region on a regular basis. Texas longhorns were selected as the ideal cattle for these long drives because they are able to swim rivers, travel long distances, survive the Texas heat and fend for themselves. Today, the Stockyards National Historic District boasts Western-themed shops, saloons and a number of attractions, including the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

The Fort Worth Herd Cattle Drive takes place every day at 11:30 am and 4:00 pm. To see it for yourself, visit the Stockyards Station at 130 E. Exchange Avenue.

The Stockyards National Historic District and its cattle drive are among the many attractions that North Texas has to offer. To learn more about area attractions and to explore Dallas/Fort Worth real estate opportunities, contact our team of knowledgeable real estate experts today.

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