When non-Texans think about the Lone Star State, the first thing that comes to mind is Cowboys, horses, and more cowboys. Enchanted Springs Ranch provides just that, an authentic Texas Old West Town with wagon rides and shows that will delight adults and children of all ages. This includes Pistol Packin’ Paula, the first female gun twirler, who started 18 years ago and is now a two-time World Champion.

Enchanted Springs Ranch, which Oprah named the fourth best family attraction in the U.S. on her website, is the perfect place to hold western themed birthday bashes where kids can dress up in their favorite cowboy or cowgirl gear and play in the miniature old west town. With a true Texas feel, the ranch draws in many large special events, including a recent one for Spurs Season Ticket holders which brought out 3,000 people and players from the team.

The 50 buildings in the Old West town has also become a popular destination for filming, and many movies, music videos, and documentaries have chosen Enchanted Springs Ranch as their location. Notable projects include The Legend of Hell’s Gate, Breakthrough with Tony Robbins, commercials with George Strait, and Palo Pinto Gold, which recently won best feature film at the Houston Film Festival.

Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, as the ranch provides hours of entertainment with puppet shows, live indoor shows, and learning the real history of the cowboy. After the ranch, take a tractor drawn covered wagon ride through the wild animal park featuring zebras, elk, deer, buffalo, longhorn cattle, and some of the few reindeer in the state of Texas.