Bandera attracts visitors as the "Cowboy Capital"
In the late 1800s, the Texas town of Bandera was a stop on the Great Western Cattle Trail, a rugged route for cowboys and cattle driving. Today, Bandera claims the title of Cowboy Capital of the World, with Western-themed stores and saloons to match. Visitors often flood the town to play cowpoke for a few days, and fewer than 1,000 residents live there full-time. “It’s a big weekend place. They come to the bars, they come to the events,” says Shawn Morrison, a Realtor with Cross Texas Real Estate who has lived and worked in Bandera for over three decades. “Some people go, ‘Oh, it’s a really cute little town and the people are nice — I want to buy here.’ But not overwhelmingly.” Those who do buy in Bandera find popular events and plenty of recreation within commuting distance of the San Antonio metro area.
Ranch-style homes in town, and larger properties in the Hill Country
Ranch-style homes line the wide, gridded streets in town, with tangled live oaks and evergreens often shading front yards. Outside of town, larger properties sit on winding roads among the brush and rolling landscape of Texas Hill Country. Smaller properties sell for $110,000 to $220,000, while larger, newer builds can sell for $220,000 to $420,000. Manufactured homes can also be found, often closer to the Medina River. The CAP Index Crime Score for Bandera is 2 out of 10, lower than the national figure of 4.
Western shops and saloons along Main Street
Old West-style storefronts line Main Street through town, featuring earth-toned facades and tin roofs. Some buildings date back to the early 20th century, and newer additions tend to fit the theme. The Old Spanish Trail Restaurant has served steaks and Southwestern specialties since 1921, while the Bandera General Store across the street has a retro soda counter. Country music fans venture down the stairs from the General Store to Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar Saloon, a true-blue honky tonk open since the 1930s. Lowe’s Market is the community grocery store for day-to-day needs, and a CVS is down the street. More shopping can be found in nearby cities, including a Walmart and an H-E-B in Boerne, 25 miles away. “We all love our H-E-Bs, and we’re 30 minutes from five or six H-E-Bs, so you’ll just go to H-E-B unless you have to get something in town,” Morrison says.
Visitors descend on Bandera for events like Cowboy Mardi Gras
Events in the community reflect its Western heritage, with rodeos every week over the summer at the Mansfield Park Rodeo Area. August brings the Bandera Round-Up Longhorn Cattle Drive & Parade, where cowboys herd Texas Longhorns through town. Cowboy Mardi Gras — the area’s biggest festival — celebrates the crossover of cowboy and Cajun cultures. The event features live country and zydeco music, a gumbo cookoff and a parade. “People come for the parades and then they party all day,” Morrison says. “It’s kind of crazy, but that’s what they do. Us locals don’t even go to town on the weekend. It’s not even that big of a town, so it backs up the whole Main Street.”
River recreation, horseback riding and a nearby golf course
Bandera City Park runs alongside the Medina River. Residents can fish in the river, while horse trails follow the riverbank. Up on the shore, the park has grills and picnic areas, plus a baseball field and a disc golf course. The park is free for residents, but visitors must pay an entrance fee on weekends and holidays between Easter and Labor Day. Just outside Bandera, the Flying L Ranch Resort has a golf course, open to the public. The Hill Country State Natural Area is 11 miles from the town, with hiking and horseback riding trails and campsites.
Education at Bandera ISD schools, including Bandera High
The Bandera Independent School District serves the community and receives a C-plus overall grade from Niche. Students can attend Alkek Elementary, followed by Bandera Middle and Bandera High. All three schools get a C-plus rating. Bandera High offers Career and Technical Education programs in agriculture, construction and food service.
Commuting distance to San Antonio, 50 miles away
Bandera is roughly 50 miles northwest of San Antonio. Texas highways 16 and 173 are the major highways through the town, and Interstate 10 is 25 miles away. While most residents own cars, the Alamo Regional Transit system serves the community with on-demand transportation. While Bandera has several medical clinics, the nearest emergency room is at the Peterson Regional Medical Center, 25 miles north in Kerrville . The closest commercial flights are at San Antonio International Airport.
Droughts increasingly affect Bandera and surrounding areas
Droughts in Bandera have intensified in recent years. According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, parts of the county have reached "exceptional drought" levels several times since 2022. “Normal everyday people that just live in a house, it doesn’t affect them,” Morrison says. “But those of us that have acreage and livestock, it affects us greatly.”
