Lonely PlanetJul 10, 2026
Missing the Calgary Stampede this year? Here are the 12 best towns to experience cowboy core
Whatever your vision of the ideal cowboy core experience, channel your inner John Wayne or Annie Oakley in one of these frontier towns.
20 things in this story
- Brewery FolliesRestaurantCatch a cabaret show.
- Fairweather InnHotelAllegedly haunted lodging.
- Alder Gulch Shortline RailroadSightTravels to Nevada City, a living history museum.
- Nevada CityNeighborhoodGhost town turned living history museum.
- Elsewhere
- The Cowboy StorePlaceBandera, United StatesWestern shop on Main Street.
- Arkey Blue’s Silver DollarNightclubBandera, United StatesClaims to be the oldest continuously operated honky-tonk in Texas.
- OSTRestaurantBandera, United StatesBYOB restaurant with a John Wayne Room.
- Mayan RanchHotelBandera, United StatesWorking dude ranch with chuckwagon breakfasts and trail rides.
- 11th Street Cowboy BarBarBandera, United StatesHosts legendary steak nights.
- Million Dollar Cowboy BarPubJackson, United StatesLocal icon with saddle barstools and nightly live music.
- Darwin RanchHotelJackson, United StatesMost remote guest ranch in the Lower 48.
- Rusty Parrot Lodge & SpaMotelJackson, United StatesOffers Cowboy Concierge for private trail rides.
- BannackParkDillon, United StatesOne of the country’s best-preserved ghost towns.
- The Cedar RoomRestaurantNorth Platte, United StatesServes prime Nebraska beef.
- North 40 ChophouseRestaurantNorth Platte, United StatesPolished ranch vibe with cocktails.
- Saguaro TheaterSightWickenburg, United StatesScreening old Westerns since 1948.
- Kay El BarHotelWickenburg, United StatesDude ranch with trail rides in century-old adobe buildings.
- Bandera General StorePlaceBandera, United States
- Heart SixHotelJackson, United States
- Triangle XHotelJackson, United States