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NTRWA'S 2004 NATIONAL
CONFERENCE
WILD WEST EXCURSION
story and pictures by Juliet Burns
On Tuesday, July 27th, just before the 2004 RWA®
National Conference kicked off, 30 writers interested in the history of
the old west took off for a grand adventure to the historic stockyard
district in downtown Fort Worth. We met in the Adam’s Mark Hotel lobby and our first stop was
the famous Mexican restaurant Joe T Garcia’s. We strolled through lush
vegetation and exquisite fountains of splashing water to a private room.
The service was fast and courteous, and the fajitas and enchiladas were
delicious!
The bus picked us up and took us to Exchange Street just in time to catch the
Texas Longhorn Cattle being driven right in front of us by real cowboys
on horseback. After that, we walked down the sidewalk to the Texas Cowboy
Hall of Fame Museum where over fifty authentic wagons and carriages are
displayed in The Sterquell Wagon Collection. The oldest wagon was Italian
and dated back to the 17th century and covered in the original
hand-painted designs. The museum also featured the John Justin Trail of
Fame and displays of famous Rodeo Champions.
After shopping for souvenirs and ambling down Main Street looking through the shops,
we made our way over to Billy Bob’s, Texas, World’s Largest Honky Tonk.
The drinks were cold and the dance floor was hot as we learned the
Cotton-Eyed Joe with NT member and Radio entertainment reporter, Candy
Havens. But the piece de résistance for the evening was the arrival of
Don Rogers, President of the Texas Cowboy Association, who brought in 3
tables full of authentic western, and Civil War clothing, guns, and
swords. Don told the true story of one of only two actual recorded
gunfights in the old west that took place on the streets of Fort Worth.
A special thanks to Candy and Don for giving their time and talent to
make our wild west excursion such a great success.
The
NTRWA National Conference Excursion Packages were hugely successful. All
those attending had a great time.
NT
is planning more excursions when the National Conference
returns to Dallas in 2007. Send us an email
if you'd like to be notified.
A Day of Fun
-- NT's WILD WEST EXCURSION
LONGHORN CATTLE DRIVE DOWN EXCHANGE
STREET
COWBOYS during the LONGHORN CATTLE
DRIVE
LUNCH AT JOE T GARCIA'S
DON ROGERS AT BILLIE BOB'S TEXAS
LINE DANCING AT BILLY BOB'S
 More Ft.
Worth interests
Billy Bob's
Cowtown Coliseum
Cowtown
Opry
Ft. Worth Stockyards
Fort
Worth Visitors Center
National
Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame
Stockyards Rodeo
Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame
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