The video above takes you on a full tour of Stephenville, TX — a small town of about 20,000 people located roughly an hour and twenty minutes southwest of Fort Worth. What you'll find here is a place with deep cowboy roots, a walkable town square with real character, and a live music scene that's more active than you might expect for a town this size. David Bridwell came through Stephenville for a gig and ended up discovering a lot more than he anticipated.
Stephenville's Cowboy Culture and Town Square
Stephenville calls itself the Cowboy Capital of the World, and it backs that up. The town has the Cowboy Capital Walk of Fame, featuring the names of famous cowboys and cowgirls, and the Lone Star Arena where rodeo events go down regularly. Right near the arena you'll find Moola, a cow statue honoring the area's dairy heritage, which ties into Moola Fest — a local celebration that runs alongside rodeos, football games, and other community events. The town square itself sits at the center of everything and is worth a walk around. The buildings have a distinctly West Texas feel, and several of the best spots to eat and drink are right off the square, including Ruby's Texas Beastro, where the tacos were genuinely excellent and the service from a server named Ricky was friendly and full of local tips. A couple of songs have even been written about this town — Kyle Park has one called "Leaving Stephenville," and Jewel recorded a track called "Stephenville Texas."
What Live Music Venues Are in Stephenville, TX?
Stephenville has a handful of solid spots for catching live music, especially for a town its size:
- Twisted J Live — A popular live music venue in Stephenville that draws real crowds. On the night captured in the video, Colby Cooper was performing to a packed house. He's only a few years out of high school but already big on country streaming platforms, and the audience knew every word.
- Hea'y Wine Bar — A wine bar located just off the town square with a good selection of wines and draft beers. There's a nice outdoor area with a covered patio, and they host live music regularly. David Bridwell played a set here to a supportive crowd during his visit.
Worth the Drive from Fort Worth
If you're in the DFW area and looking for something different on a weekend, Stephenville is a straightforward drive down Highway 377. It's not trying to be Austin or Fort Worth — it's doing its own thing. Between the rodeo culture, the town square, solid food at places like Ruby's Texas Beastro, and real live music at spots like Twisted J Live and Hea'y Wine Bar, there's enough going on to make the trip worthwhile. The whole town has a laid-back, Western feel that hits different once you get past the suburban sprawl of the Metroplex.