OH NO! Breakfast in Bandera Will Never Be The Same...

[SHANEA]

TRAGEDY!

I always looked forward to having breakfast at the OST.  

Aug. 28, 2007, 8:06AM
Bandera fire damages landmark restaurant, burns businesses
Associated Press

BANDERA — A fire destroyed two Main Street buildings and heavily damaged a landmark restaurant in this Hill Country town that calls itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World."

There were no reports of injuries in the Monday evening fire, which started in the back alley of a row of limestone and wooden structures.

The blaze consumed the Shoe Biz and the not-yet-opened Down on Main Street Emporium, fire and business officials said. It then burned the Old Spanish Trail Restaurant, a popular tourist destination known for its massive John Wayne photo collection and saddles for bar stools.

"We were worried about just this very thing because these are all conjoined buildings that share a roof," Bandera County Fire Marshal Ralph Dresser said. He said called the state fire marshal's office for help investigating the cause of the fire.

Dan Wise, a member of the Bandera Community Foundation, said "this is the heart of Bandera and the (Old Spanish Trail) is the icon of Bandera."

Norman Butler, of the Pipe Creek Fire Department, said the shoe store and the emporium were destroyed by flames, but the Old Spanish Trail was protected by a firewall and mainly sustained smoke and water damage.

Firefighters from several area departments responded to the fire. They relied on cherry-picker trucks from the Bandera Electrical Co-op to hoist firefighters above the flames, because they didn't have a ladder track.

Jessica Browning, a waitress at the Old Spanish Trail, said about 35 people were in the restaurant when the fire started.

"It's just one of those places you have to see when you come to Bandera," she said. "It's a really old place."

The Bandera County Convention and Visitor's Bureau scheduled a meeting for this morning to discuss their plans for moving forward.

Estimates of the cost of the damages were not available.

 

[Undertaker]

Shane saw that last night, from photos, could not tell if Blue Note was involved, but don't think so.

[SHANEA]

Pics...

[Boojum1]

OST had smoke and water damage, firewall prevented more damage.  Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar lives on in velvet paintings, sawdusted dance floor, and darkness of a cool basement across the street.

[BigBendHiker]

We were going to head up to Bandera this weekend to visit the area, having moved up to Helotes, with plans to eat at that restaurant that suffered the smoke damage.  That is such a neat area...sad to see what happened, although I guess it could have been much worse.

BBH

[randell]

I never ate at the OST but when passing nearby a few weeks ago, in Johnson City, we discovered that the Cabaret dance hall in Bandera was for sale.  I frequented that place in the early 90s.  Many cloudy, but fond, memories of that place.  Hope they don't change it.

[SHANEA]

We were going to head up to Bandera

Be sure and stop by and see Fred Collins @ the Workshop outside of town - seems like it is between Bandera and Medina on the Medina River.  He rents canoes.  Good Joe.  Tell him ShaneA said howdy - if he doesn't remember, remind him that I'm the one that bent the gunnel's on his brand new never been in the water before gray Old Town Discovery canoe and a friend of mine wrapped another canoe around a tree on the Frio.  Also, keep an eye out for Ben Nolan as he lives there too - he's the one that wrote the seminal book, the bell weather, the gold standard on canoing in Texas - "Texas Rivers and Rapids" with Bob Narrimore of High Trails Canoes up in Garland.  

If you get time, be sure to check out the water - it's generally really cool and refreshing.  They have good day long canoe and tube trips.

[Hoodoo]

Many cloudy, but fond, memories of that place.

Speaking of cloudy memories, I haven’t been to Bandera since 1981. :!:

We stayed at the Twin Elm Guest Ranch, looks like the Anderwalds have sold it, but glad to see it is still in business.

http://www.twinelmranch.com/home.asp

Had a great time tubing the Medina river, horse back riding, and jumping off the roof into the pool  :-$ (Probably shouldn’t have done that one)