One of Texas’ oldest and most beloved restaurants, Bandera’s iconic Old Spanish Trail (OST), has officially changed hands
OST has been sold to Frank and Karen Hicks and Diana Walters, owners of the business next door, The First National Ice Haus in the First National Bank of Bandera building at 317 Main Street.
“We’re honored to take the reins of such an historic and beloved place. OST means a great deal to this community and as such, our goal is to preserve and grow that legacy with its soul intact for the next generation,” the new owners said in a prepared release.
The new owners continued, “We are grateful the for opportunity to serve Bandera and have enormous respect for Gwen Janes and what she has accomplished in 47 years. Gwen and her OST team have navigated many challenges over the years to create such a successful establishment. Our hope is that on the day after closing our customers will walk in and everything will be the same.”
A landmark in the Cowboy Capital of the World, OST has served multiple generations of Bandera locals, Hill Country and Texas neighbors and travelers from various points of the globe with its Western charm and classic home-style comfort food.
The OST Restaurant has been serving Bandera since 1921, making it the second oldest continuously operated restaurant in the State of Texas.
Originally the Davenport Grocery Store, the space once held a corral where the John Wayne Room now exists. In the 1930s and ‘0s, the OST also hosted dance nights featuring famous singers and bands.
Known for its ranch-house atmosphere and long cypress tables meant for sharing and the community, the OST has become a favorite of cowboys, local and international travelers alike.
Featured in national travel magazines and guidebooks, OST is beloved for its hearty breakfasts, chicken-fried steak known as “The Duke,” TexMex dishes and its one-of-a-kind salad bar set in in an original Old West wagon.
The new team expressed a strong commitment to honoring OST’s history while preparing for the future. They remarked there are no plans “to change the existing menu or ever serve sushi."
OST is located at 311 Main Street in Bandera. For more info, visit OSTBandera.com.
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