Courtesy Crescent Hotel
Cowtown’s a welcoming place — there are no two ways about that. But somehow, with the following VIP spots serving as examples, Fort Worth manages to be inclusive and exclusive at the same time. After all, a city’s friendly nature doesn’t preclude a room or two (or three or four) from being cordoned off with velvet ropes and guarded by 6-foot-5 men in black tees. Such clubs are the city’s meccas for luxury and excitement, the spaces within places where bouncers request you keep that smartphone in your pocket for fear you might get trigger happy with the camera. If you have some innate desire to be where “it” is happening — whatever “it” might be — you’ll wanna get behind these velvet ropes.
La Loteria
Located on the mezzanine of Tannahill’s in the Stockyards, La Loteria is a private club of hand-selected individuals who, according to its website, “share a passion for the best things in life.” In other words, not everyone with a millionaire’s line of credit can get in; you gotta have some swagger to back up that bank account. The bougie high-end club is a relaxed lounge environment with Tim Love catering and tippy-top-of-the-shelf liquors. Other member perks include fingerprint access and priority seating to all shows at Tannahill’s. We can’t tell you much more.
122 E. Exchange Ave., Ste. 280 | laloteriaftx.com
Ralph’s
The previous owner of the land where the Crescent Hotel sits, oil tycoon and philanthropist Mary Ralph Lowe, had one stipulation before she sold to developer John Goff: Somewhere in that hotel, there has to be a Ralph’s Bar. Given its undemanding name, one might be surprised by the private bar’s exclusivity, high-end choice of liquors, sweeping views of the city, and lush and elegant interior that includes camel-emblazoned barstools — an ode to a 1967 event when Lowe bought her mom a camel to lift her spirits after the passing of her husband — Lowe’s father, Ralph Lowe. It’s the perfect mix of comfort and class. After all, in Goff, it has the golden touch of a billionaire.
3300 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Reliant Club, Dickies Arena
Where were you on Bulls’ Night Out? Like the bulls, every Fort Worthian with alligator boots happens to visit Dickies Arena on this iconic night of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. While we won’t conjecture where you were, we can tell you where you wanted to be: Reliant Club. On the south end of the stadium — where the rough stock play dirty — this exclusive, two-story bar, lounge, and eatery is where the who’s who of Cowtown mingle and occasionally glance at the jumbotron. Open to all suite, loge box, rodeo box, and club seat holders, the Reliant Club is a far tamer version of Will Rogers’ Backstage Club (see below).
1911 Montgomery St.
Cattlemen’s Club (Coming Soon)
The days of Cattlemen’s being known as the best spot in town for mediocre steaks and decently battered calf fries are likely in the rearview. Sporting a new ownership group that includes cowboy filmmaker Taylor Sheridan, news recently broke of a planned overhaul, which includes an updated interior, better beef, and a private club — Cattlemen’s Club. The 130-person-capacity space will include a private elevator and an atmosphere that indulges in the American West.
2458 N. Main St.
Remembering the Backstage Club at Will Rogers
Dare we say the most iconic and infamous VIP room west of the Mississippi?
If the walls of the Backstage Club could talk, we reckon their revelations would make the Nixon White House tapes seem tame by comparison. Soon after the members-only bar and restaurant opened on the west end of the Will Rogers Coliseum in the 1950s, it became a rodeo retreat for high rollers and cowboys alike. The result, supposedly, was a debaucherous swell of boozy brawling and other highly questionable behavior. In 1958, the then-director of the Southern Baptist Convention, Paul M. Stevens, shared his thoughts on the club and referred to it as “a subterfuge of the most obvious sort.”
In late 2019, coinciding with the Stock Show and Rodeo’s move to Dickies Arena, the Backstage Club said adios to exclusivity and serving alcohol and transformed into one of the Reata’s service venues for the annual event.
A Word on Cowtown Class
In Fort Worth, true elegance is defined by humility and charity.
By Tiffany Blackmon
Fort Worth is more than a city; it’s a community bound by tradition, resilience, and a spirit of generosity that runs deep in our veins. I have witnessed firsthand the unique blend of grit and grace that defines what I call “Cowtown Class.” This isn’t about fancy labels, extravagant displays, or glamorous lifestyles — it’s about embodying humility and charity in everyday life, values that make our city truly shine.
Cowtown Class is rooted in the legacy of Fort Worth’s rich history, from the vibrant neighborhoods where families gather and support one another to the world-famous Stockyards. It’s in the way we celebrate our culture while extending a helping hand to those in need. Whether it’s participating in the Cowtown Marathon benefiting the C.A.L.F. (Children’s Activities for Life & Fitness) Program or joining the Cowtown Great American Cleanup to beautify our city, these acts of service are the threads that weave our community closer together.
Humility is the cornerstone of Cowtown Class. In Fort Worth, we recognize that regardless of accomplishments, hardships, or economic circumstances, we are all connected and have a responsibility to uplift and support others. In my journey I’ve learned that true influence comes not from ego, but from kindness, courtesy, and a willingness to listen and serve. Business is business, but life is about relationships and impact. This mindset has guided me to embrace challenges with grace and to always give back to the communities that have given us all so much.
Charity in Fort Worth goes beyond donations; it’s about active involvement and genuine care. Organizations like the National Charity League exemplify this spirit by fostering mother-daughter bonds through community service and leadership development. Its commitment to serving together and learning from one another inspires me (and my daughter) deeply, reminding us that charity is a shared journey that enriches both giver and receiver.
As a mom and wife, I strive to instill the values of Cowtown Class in my family — teaching my daughter, Kennedy, and our grandchildren the importance of humility and the joy found in giving. Fort Worth’s culture of generosity is a legacy worth passing down, ensuring that Cowtown Class continues to thrive in future generations.
In a world that often celebrates self-promotion, Fort Worth stands apart with its quiet strength and genuine heart. Cowtown Class is about showing up with humility, offering charity without expectation, and embracing the community with open arms. It’s about living a life that reflects the true spirit of Fort Worth — where kindness is currency, and every act of giving is a step toward a better tomorrow.
To be a part of this community is a privilege and a responsibility. I invite you to join me in celebrating Cowtown Class by living with humility, giving generously, and cherishing the connections that make Fort Worth home.
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