A blending of Indian, Mexican, Polish and Western cultures gives Bandera a unique ambiance not found elsewhere in Texas.

Many bloody battles between Apache and Comanche Indians and the Spanish Conquistadors took place in Bandera Pass (12 miles north of Bandera on Hwy 173). Legend has it that, for years afterwards, a red “bandera” (Spanish for banner or flag) was flown at the site to define the boundary between Spanish and Indian hunting grounds.

The cypress trees that outline the course of the Medina River brought the first permanent settlers to Bandera. A mill that sawed cypress shingles was established here in 1853. In 1855 sixteen Polish families immigrated to Bandera to work at the mill. The Polish heritage is evident in much of the town’s architecture. A fine example is the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, second oldest Polish Catholic Church in the U.S.

Bandera’s title, “Cowboy Capital of the World” originated when it became a staging area for the last great cattle drives of the late 1800’s. Confirming Bandera as the “Cowboy Capital of the World”, a bronze monument honoring the many National Rodeo Champions who call Bandera home, stands on the Courthouse lawn.

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Bandera is nestled in the rugged Texas Hill Country less than an hour from San Antonio. When you see the hitching posts around town, you may think you have walked onto a movie set. But make no mistake, it is not. It’s common to see horses tied to hitching posts at local watering holes with motorcycles parked beside them or a horse-drawn wagon blending with Main Street traffic. Bandera is a small town by any standard, with a population of less than 1,000, but with a cowboy spirit of independence and individualism as large as you will find anywhere.