Growing Up in Bandera

Back in the days of my early childhood traveling around the Bandera area the roads and sights along the roads were significantly different than what you see today.

As a youngster I knew which way to go and could give directions on how to get to the town of Medina. It was simple. You took the Medina highway and that is about all I knew because Highway 16 wasn’t a familiar name for me at the time. You could also go by way of Ridge Route but it was a dirt road with cattle guards back then so it was less favorable. Not much to see on that road of mostly pasture land with sheep and goats. It was nothing like the modern 3240 route today.

As you headed out of town on the Medina Highway you would pass Pillows Courts on the curve just before The Longhorn Steakhouse. Another half mile or so and you would be passing by The Trail Drive-in Theater on your left. Across the highway you would probably see kids from the Coby Jureczki and Willie Kalka clans running wild. All good people and childhood friends. Some of them still live in the area and I know most of them have settled down in their advanced age but a few still like to hoot and holler.

Heading into the next curve was the old rock entrance to Mansfield Park across from McGregor’s place. Mr. McGregor was the Pearl Beer distributor for many years in the area.

Just before reaching the Tarpley Highway turnoff you could see Bennie’s U-Bar Guest Ranch across the river. No, I didn’t know Tarpley Highway was Highway 470 at the time. To reach the ranch you had to turn onto the Tarpley Road and take a left immediately after crossing the river. There was an old horse racetrack running alongside the entry road. The Clark/Kindla families had bbq’s there on the river before the events grew so big we had to move to Mansfield Park.

Directly across the highway at the Tarpley turnoff next to Bandera Electric Co-op was the old barn where the early livestock shows were held. Back in those earliest Growing Up In Bandera years the annual stock shows alternated between Bandera and Medina.