Great Picture Michael

A picture taken recently looking from the main house toward the pony pen. The kids enjoy going there to pet the two ponies Jellybean and Brownie.

"Happy New Year"

New Years Eve

Here at the ranch 7:00pm wagon rides, 8:00pm campfire, smore's and fireworks at 9:00pm.

Give the ranch a call the day before if you would like reservations for a room or would like to have dinner with us.

I hope everyone has a great year.

World Champion Comming

Friday at three Kevin Fitzpatrick world champion trick roper will perform here at the Flying L Guest Ranch. Let me know if you need any information about this event.

World Champion trick roper.

World Champion trick roper.

World Champion trick roper.

"Merry Christmas"

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you can stop by during the Holidays.

Lots of activities and memories to be made.

Remember the reason for the season.

God Bless guys.

"Guess Who's Coming"

I have heard on Christmas eve Santa and Mrs. Clause will be stopping by the ranch just before dinner. You might want to bring a camera and a list. I wonder if Santa has any guitars for old cowboys?

"Miracles Still Happen"

http://www.rodeoattitude.com/spur/features/behindthechutes/gail-6853.shtml
You will want to read this amazing story. Just click on the link above.

Come Out With Your Hands Up

"Duke Davis"

For five years I have been sittin' around a campfire listnin' to great cowboy music. What a great time to just sit back think about the old days when you could ride a horse all day, look back and still see last nights smoke in the distance. One of the greatest story tellin', cowboy singin' cowboys I have ever heard Duke Davis will be here at the ranch Christmas day at 7:30.

I hope you can come out for this great event.

For more information you can call the ranch at 800-292-5134.

See you soon,

Buck

"Radio Free Texas"

The Flying L has hooked up with Radio Free Texas. We are excited to bring Texas country music around the campfire. Call today for reservations and come on out for a great experience here at the ranch.

1-800-292-5134

Check out www.flyingl.com for all the information.

"Catch Those Fish"

I hope you enjoyed fishin' while you were here. The San Julian creek has been running all summer. We feed the fish a couple times a week and everyone has a great time watching them jump out of the water.

"First Photo"

We recently started our photo contest. This photo from Chuck is a good sample of what it is like around the campfire at dusk. Thanks Chuck, I hope you had a great time.

"Top Fall Foliage Travel Destination"

One of the top fall foliage destinations in Texas is about a forty minute drive from the Flying L Guest Ranch here in Bandera. Lost Maples Natural Area is a beautiful drive from the ranch and you can check out the trees on their web page to see the best time to come. You may want to stay with us a couple of days to take in the water park, horseback riding, and evening entertainment.

"Flying L Photo Contest"

We are getting ready for a photo contest here at the ranch. If you have any great pictures you would like to enter you can send them to photos@flyingl.com . Check the http://www.flyingl.com/ page for details.

Maybe some like these.

"Wrangler Recognized By The State Of Texas"

If you have ever been on a horseback ride here at the ranch you probably met up with Joe Bob.

He'll saddle up the horse that is just right for you and then it is time to ride. But don't think you are just going for a ride, it is an experience that you probably will never forget. If he starts tellin' a story hold on to your saddle horn because it will probably be a Texas tall tale that will be hard to believe. Joe Bob has been doing that as long as anyone can remember and I think that is why State Representive, Doug Miller, recently sent a letter of recognition and a Texas Flag that flew over the State Capitol for his service. When a group from China came to the ranch and had such a great time on Joe Bob's ride they just had to tell someone and that was the State Of Texas.

"Busy Summer"

I hope everyone that has come to the ranch has had a great time. We have been very busy this summer and the weather has been great. I think come September you might find me under the big oak taking a nap.

"Lacota Indians"

We have been getting some visits from the Lacota Indians here on the ranch. They do a couple of dances. One dance is called the friendship dance. It is a great experience and brings everyone together.

Come on out and check it out.

"Radio Show"

I did a radio show sometime back about the ranch and some of the things we do. Here is a link to the show. I hope it is helpful.
Thanks for stoppin' by.
Buck Shannon
http://www.wsradio.com/wsradio-player.cfm/type/windows/show/Wende-Across-America/segment/27219.html

"Good Times"

We really do have a good time here at the ranch.

Right Guys!

"Flying L Wranglers"

Ever met these guys? Dennis, Tawni and Joe Bob.

"John Wayne"

Back around 1960 they filmed the movie "The Alamo" in Bracketville, Texas. On the days they were not filming, John Wayne and some of the other actors would come to the Flying L and hang out.
The landing strip at the ranch made it an easy flight from Bracketville.

"Lonestar Lagoon"

I just came in from the water park and it was busy, everyone was having a time gettin' out of the heat for a while. Tonight I ask Makin' Dust to stop by and sing a few of his old cowboy songs for everyone. The sun goes down, the fire gets going, we might as well have a great time.

See you soon.

Mr. Buck

"Nice Catch"

Dustin caught this nice bass at Creek Side. I told you there were some fish there.

With the rains we had this last winter it has been great for fishing.

"July 4 Celebration"

We will be having a big fourth of July celebration here at the ranch. Give me a call for details.

"Pistol Packin' Paula"

This Saturday night Pistol Packin' Paula will be stoppin' by the ranch. I hope you get a chance to come by for a great evening, just hangin' out.

"Let's Go Fishin'"

The creek is running and stocked with fish. Bring your pole and I will show you where they are at.

John, Justin, and Morgan showed up early this morning and had a great time catching some bass and perch.

"Happy Birthday"

When you turn five you should have a party, get up with Buck and sing.

"Happy Birthday Cowboy"

"Great Time At The Ranch"

I wanted to thank Jerry Goff and family for stopping by the ranch for a few days. I hope the kids had fun horseback riding, swimming, hiking, shooting bow and arrows, and just hangin' around the camp fire.
Jerry has a TV show and will be featuring the ranch soon. You can check it out at http://www.allsortsofresorts.com/

"Sites And Sounds Of The Past"

On a recent trek to the old hangar and pilot's lounge here on the Flying L Ranch I couldn't help but imagine hearing the sound of an old twin-engine airplane as it started up one of its engines. I could imagine seeing the exhaust as it disappeared into the morning air. I could see frost on the ground, the hills in the background and someone having a fresh cup of coffee to begin their day. It was September 1947 (the year I was born) when they had the grand opening of the Flying L Ranch. Life and Flying magazines were here to document the occasion. The day started with a little flying over the Texas hill country, an afternoon fashion show and, of course, some Texas music around a camp fire at night.

Every once in a while an old timer will stop by the ranch and talk about the time he spent the afternoon watching planes take off and land. So next time you are here at the ranch you may want to take a walk over to the old hangar and listen. Maybe you will hear the sound of that old twin-engine startin' up!

"Big Buck And Little Buck"

Well we just finished up a great week of spring break at the ranch. While hangin' out around the campfire one night I had the chance to meet Buck. He called me Big Buck so I thought Little Buck would be a good name for him. Little Buck I hope you had a great time here at the ranch.

"Spring Break"

It's that time.

We are filling the Lone Star Lagoon water park and getting ready for Spring. I hope you are ready to jump in the cold water.

Tawni is gettin' the horses ready and all the wranglers are just awaiting for you to show up.

Of course Joe Bob has some unbelievable stories to tell, and Dennis has a little magic, I still can't figure how he does those tricks. I am making sure the tractor has gas for those scary rides to Ghost Town and I am still seeing lots of deer, some nights over two hundred. My Guitar has been sick so I have been takin' it easy with some new songs.

I have been all over Bandera and I can't think of another place I'd rather hang my hat.

"The Cowboy The Music And His Story"

I wanted to thank Tom and Connie for stoppin' by last night to play a bunch of music.

After our time of playing there were a lot of questions and thoughts about stories and songs that were done. One of our guest from Virginia made a comment that it wasn't just music he experienced, it was the stories that went with the music, the campfire, and thoughts that takes a person back in time. When you sing a song about grandma bakin' sugar cookies and who wants to lick the spoon, you can't help going there for a minute. Tell a story about a camp fire and you just might remember a great time in days long past. We continue to make memories right here at the ranch. Like Tom our singer said "If I'da known I would have had this much fun in retirement I would have done it twenty five years ago." Ya'll head on out to the ranch and we'll make some memories.

Thanks,

Buck

"Wild Hog Explosion"

The Wild Hog Explosion is coming to Bandera March 2o at Mansfield Park. You can get all the information at http://www.wildhogexplosion.com/ .

Did you miss line dancin'?

When was the last time you were on a wagon ride?

"Mexico"

I don't guess I have ever seen him without a pair of spurs, hat, and faded starched jeans. Never questioned whether he had any cowboy in him, that's just the way it is. It's been sixty years now since Joe Bob first sat a saddle seat, and about four in the morning he crawls out of the bunk, heads out to feed the forty five head of horses here at the ranch. Lookin' out across all those horses is one that stands out from all the rest, black as my twenty year old black felt hat, a horse he calls Mexico. When he saddles Mexico crawls up in the saddle it's like one of those old cowboy pictures where the cowboy sits deep down in the seat just like he is a part of that old horse. That's old Mexico and the story of how he found him is just what you would expect out of a far fetched cowboy story.Since this is just a short blog I guess we'll have to finish this story another time.

"Mexico" Part Two
Mexico laid his head on Joe Bob's shoulder. Sometimes I wonder if he could remember the day Joe Bob saved him out of that river.The story is, Joe Bob was cowboyin' down on the Rio Grande. He looked over in the middle of the Rio from a long distance. It was early in the morning and you could see the water sparkle as the sun came up over the rise. Something jet black was standing on the far side of the river. They could hardly make out what it was. The closer they came they realized it was a horse stuck on the Mexico side of the river. Weak from being in the water so long, they didn't know if he would have enough energy to be pulled out. Joe Bob threw a rope around his neck and tried to pull him out, but it was too much for the horse. His head went under water and it looked like that was it. But the horse had heart and the cowboy didn't give up. Joe Bob jumped into the water, grabbed the horse's head, pulled it up out of the water and wouldn't let up. The other cowboys threw out their ropes and put them around the horse's neck. As they pulled he thrashed around and was finally pulled out of the water and mud. That's where his name came from, Mexico. No one ever claimed him. Mexico still follows Joe Bob everywhere he goes. It's like I said "He sits deep down in that saddle seat just like he's a part of that O'l horse".Joe Bob and Mexico still work here at the Flying L Guest Ranch.


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"Come on 2010"

Well, I hope everyone is ready for an exciting New Year. Here at the ranch we are gearing up saddling up and ready to go.

Lots of folks tell me that once they have been here they feel like family and make this their vacation spot every year. I really enjoy meeting people from all over the world. What a great place to hang out and have fun. I hope you can make it out.

"Old Photos Of The Ranch"

You can see some old photos of the ranch at http://www.life.com/search/?q0=flying+l+ranch&x=28&y=19 . Life magazine did a story on the ranch when it had it's grand opening in the mid forties. I do a history ride here on the ranch and if you ever want to go on one let me know.