The Fort Worth Stockyards are a major tourist attraction, and it's free, so we wanted to go check it out. There is not much I can tell you about the Stockyards themselves, that you can't click on the links and read. . .but, I was very pleased to find that the history has been preserved, and the buildings have been maintained superbly. . .
This is the Live Stock Exchange Building. . .if you are interested in the history of the stockyards, I highly recommend a stop by the visitor center to rent an audio tour. We paid $12, and were furnished with a device that looked like a childs' handheld Nintendo game. It had video clips, and commentary, and was triggered by remote sensors at different areas that we visited. I think without it, we would have missed several out of the way areas, that we found fascinating.
For example, this is Chisholm, whom we discovered in the stables, where we were directed to go on our tour. . .this stable was filled with all different types of animals, which any child would find fascinating. . .so it would be a shame for them to miss it.
If we had missed the stables, we would only have seen Chisholm when they brought him out for his photo op. . .for $3 each you were allowed to climb into the saddle and have your picture taken by a friend or family member. . .kids were lined up. . .he was beautiful.
The next area we would have missed without the audio tour was the Cattlemen's Walk, and all of the holding pens. . .I was amazed to find that the holding pens were lined with bricks just like the streets in an effort to keep down the dust, and keep the cattle clean. . .
The turnstiles to the holding pens are still in place.
This was the place the broker's conducted business. The buyers made their decisions, and signed their paperwork from this overlook. . .
These brick lined pens would be filled with hundreds, even thousands of head of cattle.
The longhorns are held here in preparation for the Longhorn Trail Drive held daily at 11:30 and 4:00. . .
Billy Bob's Texas was the next stop on the tour, but we were running late for the Cattle Drive, so we bypassed the Wall of Fame, and gift shop. . .I am sure we would have enjoyed it. . .just no time.
These horns do look like a lethal weapon. ..don't you agree?
The following shots are all of the Longhorn Cattle Drive, we took individual shots because each animal seemed to have it's own personality. . .it was a intriguing to watch, and to try to imagine how they moved hundreds of these animals at a time up the Chisholm trail five hundred miles.
I must admit the "mailman" in me saw the mail truck, and thought, "so there is something to keep him from his appointed rounds". . .the concern only lasted for a second. . .
Another one of those easily missed spots, the creek where the drovers watered the herds.
If you are a shopper, across the street, where the train tracks enter the building, is the place for you. Originally, the hog and sheep barn, it is now filled with unique shops, museums, and restaurants for your browsing pleasure. . .I am sure anyone who is a shopper could spend hours in there looking at all the offerings. . .
I hope you have enjoyed our trip to the Fort Worth StockYards. . .if I can answer any questions, don't hesitate to email me at JaniceLEvans1015@gmail.com
Until next time. . .
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