How to Hachie: What the Cowboys Do

Written by Laurie Mosley

I’ve been told by the old-timers that a cowboy would ride all day to spend 1 night in Waxahachie, Texas because it was the go-to place for a good time!

Even though cowboys aren’t riding their horses to downtown, flash forward 125 years, it is still the heart of the city and center of activity with traces of cowboy history around every corner.

• Farmers and ranchers would gather around the courthouse square to buy and sell goods, but the real focal point of the transaction was the Ellis County Courthouse. Built in 1895 and standing nine stories tall, it is one of the 100 most photographed structures in Texas. Located at 101 W. Main St.

• We’ve upgraded the shopping experience from the 1800s to include 50+ boutiques, antiques, specialty shops, galleries and more. Giddy up for a shopping rodeo!

• Cowboys won’t have to search hard for a good watering hole because downtown Waxahachie has plenty to choose from with the College Street Pub, Railport Brewing Company, Big Al’s Down the Hatch, Southern Roots Brewing Company, Cork House Winery, Texas Art & Pour, Atkins Seafood, El Mexicano Grill & Cantina and the Texas Theater.

• There’s also 25 other restaurants to choose from offering all of your favorites – Mexican, American, Italian, desserts and everything in between. Local tip: The playlist at Farm Luck Soda Fountain is cowboy legit approved.

• Strolling thru our historic downtown district, you can see remnants of the famed Shawnee Trail, one of the main routes by which Texas longhorn cattle were taken afoot to railheads to the north. From this trail, the M-K-T Railroad was born.

• Stop in the restored M-K-T Depot and travel back in time with a fresh cup of coffee, tea or pastry at FRESH Market Coffee.

• If you’ve spent a lifetime “Looking for Love” like most urban cowboys, we have examples of love throughout the city with 21 painted hearts for you to snap a selfie with AND a love lock fence where you can hang your locket. For a map of the hearts, visit www.hachieheartstrail.com.

• For more cowboy fun, the Annual Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo is held each March offering a PRCA ProRodeo sanctioned event with bulls, barrel racing, team roping and breakaway roping. Following the rodeo is the week long livestock show where the youth of Ellis County compete with broilers, rabbits, swine, lambs, goats, steers and heifers at the Ellis County Expo Center. Click here for more information.

Last but not least, mark your calendars for the annual Waxahachie Cowboy Gathering taking place each April in downtown Waxahachie. Hosted by Waxahachie Cowboy Poet and a real expert on the history of the cowboy in Ellis County, David Smith, you'll enjoy cowboy music and poetry from performers from all around the United States. Plus, participating businesses in downtown Waxahachie hosts a "Whiskey Stroll" in honor of the historic beverage chosen by cowboys across the world. For more information, visit www.waxahachiecowboy.com.

For lodging information and much more, visit our website. Happy trails to you until we meet again!

Bonus Tips: When you ride out of town, see a life-size bronze statue of “The Bronco Buster” by Frederic Remington outside Interbank located at 300 N. Highway 77.