Down Home {Getaways}

Dixie Dude Ranch

Words by Sommer Brugal Photos by Eric Morales

Clay Conoly is a seventh generation Texan and the fourth generation of his family to manage Dixie Dude Ranch. The original owners purchased the 1,440 acres of raw ranch located in Bandera County in 1901, but it wasn’t until 1937 that the ranch transformed into a unique lodging experience for visitors. Today, the 752-acre ranch not only welcomes visitors but also raises horses, longhorn cattle, and Spanish/Boer goats. After more than 100 years in business, Dixie Dude Ranch continues to be a cherished destination for visitors. 

“God has blessed us with both repeat and new customers,” says Conoly. “But one thing we see is that we’re getting people from all over the world [coming] to see what Texan culture and a working ranch is all about.” During the day, guests can follow trail maps to venture out on the ranch, experience catch and release fishing, go swimming in the pool, or travel the ranch on horseback. While the latter is a big draw for visitors, Conoly says most people come back for the food, which is like eating from grandma’s kitchen.

Sticking to traditional Texas influences, the ranch serves three meals a day. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, guests can expect barbecue, with two different meats offered; on Sundays, chicken fried steak is served. Perhaps the subtler treat, however, is breakfast. On weather-permitting mornings, a traditional cowboy breakfast is served on top of the hill.

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Bandera
Known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, Bandera is home to exactly what you’d expect to find in cowboy country: a small town feel with southern hospitality, homestyle cooking, seasonal rodeos, honkytonks with live music and dancing, outdoor attractions, and saloons. Some of Conoly’s favorites include Arkey Blue’s Silver Dollar, Bandera Saloon, Longhorn Saloon, and 11th Street Cowboy Bar.

In recent years, Bandera and other neighboring towns like La Cantera have become a popular destination for shopping and sightseeing. In Bandera, Conoly says two museums have garnered positive reviews: Frontier Times Museum, a museum devoted to Texan heritage, and Bandera Natural History Museum, which displays animals native to the area.

By the numbers
Bandera Population: 857
Guests per room: 2-6
Avg. cost per person: $60-$170
Rooms: 20 Guestrooms & Cabins
Distance from Austin: 127 miles
Address: 833 Dixie Dude Ranch Road,
Bandera, Texas
Website: dixieduderanch.com