Though Bandera was originally settled by Polish immigrants who made cypress shingles for a living, the town became a staging area for cattle drives shortly after the Civil War, and has been known as a cattle town ever since. As cattle drives became a thing of the past, Bandera turned to dude ranches for income. Today, tourism is a major industry, and Bandera bills itself as the "Cowboy Capital of the World."

It's not just hype; you can feel the difference as soon as you get there. The architecture, the attitude and the decor are all authentic "cowboy." Bandera has produced a disproportionate number of rodeo stars over the years, and the person you meet on the street is apt to be a "real" cowboy. Just to make sure, the Chamber of Commerce has enlisted cowboys to wander the streets on weekends in full regalia, visiting with passers-by and playing cowboy songs.

Bandera turned 150 years old last year, and town leaders organized a cattle drive starting downtown to "Celebrate Bandera." This year, they've taken things a big step further. Organizing as "Friends of the Western Trail," they have joined hands with like-minded folks as far north as Dodge City, Kansas, to re-open the Western Trail made famous by Larry McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove."

A 48-day cattle drive, starting at Bandera September 6, is open to all who would like to help preserve the cowboy heritage. This will be a genuinely historic event. (If you are interested, please call Genie Strickland at 830-796-4447 or visit www.celebratebandera.com)

Of course, Bandera is not only "cowboy." If you read this magazine before May 15, you'll still have time to help Bandera kick off summer at RiverFest. And they do enjoy good music in Bandera. The four members of the "Almost Patsy Cline Band" are the town's official goodwill ambassadors. And the storytelling family are town favorites as well.

So come and visit the unique western town of Bandera. You'll want to come back again and again.

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