Stockyards City Home to All Things Western

Established as a commercial district outside the Oklahoma National Stockyards in 1910, Stockyards City remains home to many of the iconic businesses it has housed for decades. As a result, it is a popular tourist spot and shopping mecca for people interested in anything western. People come here for everything from outfitting an entire ranch -- cattle included -- to buying custom handmade cowboy boots and hats, listening to country music or simply enjoying a great steak. The stockyards and meat packing plants located in this district were Oklahoma City’s first major industrial installations. It became the nation’s largest livestock handling market in 1973. Today it is the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market. Live cattle auctions take place every Monday at the Oklahoma National Stockyards and are open to the public. Famously visited by Presidents, music icons, movie stars, pro athletes, and other celebrities, Cattlemen’s Steakhouse is OKC’s oldest continually-operating restaurant and a Stockyards City staple. Open in time for a hardy breakfast seven days a week, Cattlemen’s remains such a popular destination that lines are common throughout the day. But that doesn’t deter people from stopping by at lunch or dinner for the ever-popular steaks, homemade yeast rolls, lamb fries or coconut cream pie. Langston’s Western Wear offers a vast selection of jeans, western shirts, pearl snaps and more. Multiple lines of custom handmade boots, as well as knives, clothing and even candles are available at Little Joe’s Boots. Known for measuring each custom client’s head, creating a personalized head block and hand crafting hats from top-quality beaver felt, Shorty’s Caboy Hattery also offers in-stock hats and other gear. At Stockyards Sarsaparilla you can select a cold drink from hundreds of soda pops, including more than 50 types of root beer and sarsaparilla and enjoy it at the 100-year-old soda bar. This is a spot where you can also shop for hard-to-find vintage candy or western-themed gifts, including made-in-Oklahoma jewelry and apparel. A broad spectrum of artwork from nearly 70 well-known artists is available in the form of everything from horsehair pottery to sculpture, paintings and jewelry at Oklahoma Native Art & Jewelry, one of OKC’s premier Indian gallery shops. Saturday evenings, family-friendly live music and entertainment awaits country music fans at the Rodeo Opry, located on Exchange Avenue. Over the years such well-known Oklahoma headliners as Reba McEntire, Bryan White, Wanda Jackson, and many others have performed here at the state's official country music showcase.