Lil’ Red’s Longhorn Saloon

Specialties

Honky tonk bar serving beer, mixed beverages, and food. Live music most nights showcasing traditional country music. Large dance floor with private parties welcome, and we accept reservations. We take Visa, MasterCard, and Discover, and also have an ATM available.

History

Established in 1910.

In 1910, about 25 years after the birth of the thriving cattle industry in Fort Worth had begun, the Longhorn Saloon was up and runnin’. It sat in the heart of what was truly a city within a city and thrived until the mid 1960’s, when the meat packing plants closed due to the advent of trucking, local auction houses, and feedlots, nationwide. With the death of Swift and Armour, came the loss of jobs and the decline in retail merchants.

In the late ’70’s the building was purchased by Steve Murrin, and not much really happened until 1976 when Charlie and Sue McCafferty founded the North Fort Worth Historical Society. It was then that folks started paying attention to a part of the past that was slowly dissolving.

For the next few decades the Longhorn Saloon hosted many proprietors and with the exception of Leon Walters, none lasted any length of time. The old building sat vacant for a number of years until Craig Copeland and Jane Woods leased it in January of 2012.

Meet the Business Owner

Craig Copeland and Jane Woods.

Business Owner

Craig Copeland, and his soul partner Jane Woods, leased the building located at 121 West Exchange in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards in January of 2012. Hence, the birth of Lil’ Red’s Longhorn Saloon. Neither had ever owned, operated or even worked in a bar setting Craig stated, «But I had been in enough of them, during my many years of rodeoin’, to know what people liked».

«We cater to a crowd that likes traditional country music, cold beer, quality mixed drinks, dancing, and clean ladies restrooms. We don’t allow no arguin’ and damn sure don’t tolerate no fightin’ in our honky tonk.»

Lil’ Reds Longhorn Saloon also houses Craig’s «museum»: a large collection of vintage beer, tobacco and rodeo memorabilia. Don’t be surprised when you walk in the front door if Lil’ Red himself doesn’t walk up, shake your hand and say, «Welcome home!»