Rawhide Western Town & Steakhouse

"The noisier, the better"

We visited Rawhide Western Town on a pleasant night in April. Our kids are 5 and 9 and this was the perfect activity for their age range.  We arrived by boat from the Wild Horse Pass Resort -- which was a special treat in itself.  I saw families with kids of all ages.

Upon arriving at Rawhide, most visitors walk from the parking lot past a pioneer wagon and saguaro to the town’s entrance past a sign stating: “Visitors from over 90 countries cross over this covered bridge to visit Rawhide each year.”  The music hit us first: Rawhide by Frankie Laine.  A greeter met us and directed us to the Ticket Booth at the end of town and highlighted the shows for the evening.

What we saw before us was a Wild West Town right out of the movies. We heard claps of gunfire and saw cowboys shootin’ it out in the street. After the entertainment was over, the small team of Arizona Roughriders roamed the street and talked to kids about gun safety and life in the Old West.  Then they headed into the Six Gun Theater for a number of gun fight / stunt performances. Their stories are framed around a historic Old West figure, like Wild Bill Hickok, and bring them to life in a humorous, action-packed show. It was definitely the highlight of our visit. The audience was prompted to be interactive and say “Yee-haw!”  We didn’t have to shush the kids here!  There are three shows scheduled every night and each show is different.

I’d highly suggest letting your little ones dress up in Western attire. Lots of kids were in costume on our visit and they fit right in with the spirit of the place. When we go again, I’m thinking we’ll make very early dinner reservations at the Steakhouse - right when they open for the evening. We’ll start with food and move on to playing around town.  I think the best plan would be to order at the restaurant and then send one adult ahead to purchase attraction tickets while waiting for the food to arrive. The ticket booth is at the opposite end of the street and it’s where you can get a Town Pass (wristband) for the kids at $15 each. If you want to see multiple shows and/or take a stagecoach ride, the Town Pass makes sense for adults, too. Otherwise, individual attractions require a $5 Attraction Card.

The Town Pass wristband paid for our kids to enjoy: a burro ride, train ride, stagecoach ride, gold panning, a rock climbing wall, and mechanical bull.  It allowed for them to experience the rides multiple times.  There was a height requirement for some rides. We did plenty for free, too.  The highlights of free attractions are: walking around town, playing at the school house, visiting the Rawhide City Jail, and browsing the Western Museum.  We especially liked our talk with the blacksmith in his warm and inviting shop. I'd just caution those with toddlers about the fire pits scattered around the property at night. They are awesome for setting the mood, but just keep those little guys away.

After savoring some homemade fudge at Sweet Sally’s Confections, my son gave Rawhide Western Town the highest compliment a 9 year old can give: “I want to come back here for my birthday.”

This review is based on a complimentary visit to Rawhide. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view.