The Buckhorn Saloon & Museum
Bar · Downtown
318 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Highlights
Museum with taxidermy, Texas Rangers, oddities & saloon
Buckhorn Saloon and Museum – San Antonio, Texas - Gastro Obscura
"Drink a beer whilst you admire stuffed cougars and shrunken heads. Albert Friedrich was just a 17-year-old bellhop in 1881 when he purchased the building across the street from the hotel he worked at and opened a saloon. In what could have been an ill-advised business move, he began accepting antlers, horns, pelts, and other game trophies as payment for drinks. A skilled furniture maker, Albert would craft the trophies into chairs and tables, which were sought after by the likes of Kaiser Wilhelm. These went on to decorate the ceiling and walls of the bar, eventually coating it entirely. His wife, Emile, got in on this action as well; she would accept jars of rattlesnake rattles and then use them in decorative works of folk art. The Prohibition era could have proved disastrous for the Buckhorn Saloon, but the Friedrichs stayed afloat by charging admission to their ever-growing collection of curios. When alcohol was legal again, they doubled their income by officially opening as a twofold saloon and museum. Through several changes of ownership and one massive move to a more central location, the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum has remained a fixture of San Antonio’s tourism industry. It won’t be difficult to spot The Buckhorn from San Antonio’s riverwalk: The building is adorned with giant plaster heads of longhorn cattle, elk, and buffalo. Though it is billed as a museum of wildlife, the Buckhorn’s museum sports some impressive specimens, including a 10,000-year-old prehistoric elk. But the museum also sports a robust collection of oddities. There is a hall of taxidermy fakes, or gaffs, which boasts a “Manboon” and a Feejee mermaid that is equal parts monkey and fish. Other non-wildlife related items reside in the Texas Ranger Museum, part of the Buckhorn. Part of the exhibit includes a replica of San Antonio at the turn of the century, which contains a model of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow’s car, complete with bullet holes. The wax figure exhibit portrays important events in Texan history, with a little bit of dramatic flair. In one, a Comanche Native American scalps a pioneer while the man’s wife and child look on in horror. None" - Toriaroscuro, S SemiruralYeti, michaelamiller, RHyzer, notoriousFIG, Michael Barera, Molly McBride Jacobson, michelle
Stella Hilario
Google
Had some family come into town and we were look for different things to check out downtown and this saloon came up. To be honest we didn’t know what to expect but we really did enjoy ourselves. The food/burgers was really good, the staff were friendly and helpful when purchasing our museum tickets. We took our time walking through the museums (about and hour and half) and made sure to grab a magnet to remember it by when we left. Their gift shop has some really nice Texas inspired merchandise, don’t skip it. We will go back, at least for the burgers.
Tim VZ
Google
This is simply one of the "Gotta Go" places when in the area. There is simply so much to take in, from the decor, to the museum, to the great little gift shop, to the historic significance, to, last, but certainly not least... the oft overlooked deliciousness of the menu.
This is simply an ideal spot to duck into for a quick refresher at the bar for your parched throat after a nice walk, or for a tasty bit of grub at lunch or for a mid-day snack.
Service is impeccable all the way around. Smiles and enjoyment seem to be the order of the day for the staff, and it is infectious. You won't find much unpleasantness here... so step in, kick back, and enjoy the Buckhorn.
Martin Loehr
Google
Had a solo-day exploring San Antonio from out of state, and I entered this place on a whim. $25 dollars for just one, which I thought was a little steep at first, but after finishing the museum, it was worth the price of admission.
I’m surprised on how much I enjoyed the museum, ESPECIALLY all the unique taxidermy they had.
The fact the you can order a beer or a cocktail at the start of the museum, and enjoy it while you are exploring the exhibits was a fantastic touch, and I enjoyed my experience more because of it because they allowed me to have a Blue Moon in hand (I’m hind sight, I should have ordered one of their many beers on draft)
You have the chance to get up close and personal (without touching of course) to animals you’ve never known to have existed, and the plaques are to the point, and not a chore to read.
They had a small exhibit that involved the circus which was a neat surprise, and the Texas Ranger museum was really something, but me not knowing their history, I couldn’t give or take that portion (sorry to all the Texas Ranger historians out there…)
Finished the museum by having a late lunch. I ordered the “Cowboy Quesadilla.” Which was good.
Rahul Yadav
Google
One of a kind cowboy spot to check it out. The place is filled with look around objects and great for stop. We didn’t really eat here but took a drink at bar and the hostess was nice. But it’s a good spot to check it out if you are a tourist and in the area.
grebrikful
Google
It's the coolest tavern on the river. I my food rating is low just because I wouldn't call this a fine dining establishment. But if I could double the atmosphere stars it sure deserves them. Great place to chill and gaze.
Brian Schuster
Google
The restaurant and bar area are great. If you enjoy looking at mounted animal heads, you hit the jack-pot ! I would skip the " museum " Most of it is corny jersey sideshow fare. ( think 2 headed calfs in a jar. etc. ) The real museum is at the end of this shenanigan and has thoughtful displays and stories of real Texas Rangers. But not worth the ticket price in my opinion.
Renee Reed
Google
Nice spot to grab lunch and explore the animals and oddities upstairs, and the Texas Rangers exhibit downstairs.
Melissa Larsen
Google
We didn’t eat here, but thoroughly enjoyed the museum. It’s self guided and mostly upstairs. Great display of animals and exhibits. The Texas Rangers museum is well done, too.
Gift shop is fun to explore.
Close enough to walk to the Alamo afterwards.
Glen N.
Yelp
Although it looks like a dusty, over-the-top tourist trap, this 146-year-old saloon is full of legends. Allegedly this saloon is where Teddy Roosevelt recruited his Rough Riders here, Pancho Villa planned the Mexican Revolution, and Alamo Commander Bowie wrote "Let's Dance".
Roadside America calls the second-story "Five Museums in One" a "treasure-filled freak show" thanks to things like a cathedral made of 50,000 matchsticks and an 8-legged, 3-eared lamb. Not baaad.
The Buckhorn Museum has 520 species of mounted wildlife, the highlights being a Brady Buck with record-setting antlers that are revered for their size, symmetry, spread measurement, and 78 prongs, not to be confused with the Tom Brady Buck which has deflated balls. More highlights include a world-record holding 1056-lb marlin, a longhorn with an 8-foot spread, and the first gorilla ever on public display that scared San Antonio native Carol Burnett as a child.
The Texas Ranger Museum features authentic artifacts, a recreation of San Antonio partying like it's 1899, and a replica of Bonnie & Clyde's getaway car, complete with bullet holes.
Lively atmosphere, it's worth peeking in, and a fun place to consider a meal. If you are too cheap, at least check out the cool shooting gallery, with a range so short you might poke the targets with your rifle. Just go past the funhouse mirrors, which are great for a photo op. One mirror made my arms look three feet long. I need one of these for my bedroom.
Whitney O.
Yelp
The saloon was neat to see. I can't imagine the place filled with hundreds of cowboys, but it was at one time. The Texas Ranger museum wasn't half bad. I learned a lot while touring it.
David R.
Yelp
Not having been to the historical locations in San Antonio since that middle-school Texas history trip we all did in our childhood, this past weekend we had a great opportunity to check these places out again.
I was happy to see that the Buckhorn Saloon was still there. I don't remember much from that initial trip except for all the mounts on the walls. We popped in after our visit to the Alamo and had the place to ourselves.
Other than perhaps updating the store and the museum entrance, this place is untouched by time and that is a good thing! The taxidermy collection, as well as their other displays on oddities and historical items, help to serve as time capsules when the buckhorn was in its heyday, where collections such as this were one of the few ways to view exotic creatures around the world.
After perusing the museums we all sat and enjoyed a drink at the splendid original bar, where so many have had a drink before. Root beer on tap for the little guy and I enjoyed one of my favorite summer beers on tap, Shiner's prickly pear.
So I don't think a visit to the Alamo/Riverwalk area can be complete without checking out the Buckhorn Saloon. Take a break from sightseeing and stop in for a drink, like so many before you.
Jessica W.
Yelp
What: 3 in 1 museum: Texas Ranger Museum, taxidermy museum (all were once live animals) and a weird side show area (freaks of nature).
We're visiting San Antonio for a few days and this is a fun, educational, weird thing to do with your kid. Little ones might be scared of the side show area though.
Cost: $22.95 per adult. Look online for a $3 off coupon. Definitely get the coupon.
Ken S.
Yelp
A nice place with a lot of history in it and some memorabilia to go with it. They do have a dining area but I have never dined in. They do have a good assortment of souvenirs to take for loved ones.
Stevie W.
Yelp
Okay, I know- it's campy as hell... but we came in from California and got dragged here by part of our group, and I gotta say I'm glad I went. I am admittedly into taxidermy and the strange oddity type stuff thought, so I was just amazed by the conjoined animals and cyclops sheep. My boyfriend and I had a lot of fun here, and were able to get drinks after. Would recommend if you're in the area as a fun and inexpensive thing to do.
Michael M.
Yelp
This place is awesome. It has been there forever and is now one of the few things left down by the Alamo. You get quite a bit for your money--three museums in one. LOTS to see and do. They even have a topsy turvy house from the 60's hidden in there. Spectacular time, every time. Nice restaurant/saloon on the first floor as well.
Truly a diamond near the Alamo!
Marcos D.
Yelp
I went here as part of a pub crawl and this was one of the nicer stops. It has a nice western ambiance and the crowd is varied by age and chill.
Maria-Elena T.
Yelp
Went to a conference where they rented the whole museum out for the whole place for a social event. Wow. So very well done and the museum was cool too. Lots to see! A downstairs saloon and upstairs museum with a big party room. Many animal heads. But each room was themed and the write-ups were interesting. There was an aquatic room, and room on the circus shows, and other things. I included directions on how to make a shrunken head, just in case you need to know!
The event was well done- service incredible. I the room fit a live band, a few food stations, a dance floor, and tables and chairs. I highly recommend this as a party venue and as an interesting stop.
Ilene S.
Yelp
I'm not the best person to rate museums as I tend to go thru them quickly. It was interesting to read a little about the Texas ranger history. The upstairs was more a a hodgepodge of wide life, marine life and oddities.
Morgan S.
Yelp
Very fun museum! Bit expensive for bringing the whole family. Texas Ranger exhibit is an also must visit!
Amanda W.
Yelp
Very pricey for what it is, and I know it's a glorified trademark with some history and what not, but maybe go just to split and app for a cheap round of beers.
They have a gift shop as well and a museum of sorts (we skipped that part so no comments there).
The service was terrific though and can sit at the bar or at a table. It seems one giant TV is the solo act.
A lot of natural light and very huge inside!
Taryn C.
Yelp
This place was a BLAST!!! For $25, we spent nearly two hours exploring this place which is deceivingly large.
We have the saloon and museum, which includes the taxidermy stuff, Texas ranger museum and a fun house!! It was a great way to get in from the heat. We couldn't stop talking about this once we got done.
Michael M.
Yelp
Pretty cool museum place. If you want to see a lot of stuffed animals and Texas ranger history this place is for you. The food was pretty good also! Well worth the time!
jenny a.
Yelp
While we didn't dine here we did visit the museum! It is a hidden gem!! We spent about 2 hours here and if we would have had more time on our hands we could have spent way more. Lady at the front desk really sold it because we only came by for tea. No regrets! Worth every penny.
Paul L.
Yelp
I have to be honest I was only there for the museum so I feel I like I'm not giving a FULL review so take this at face value.
I can say NOTHING about the saloon. I repeat, I can say NOTHING about the saloon.
I received a free admission to the museum with my 3 day hop on hop off bus tour... that's a whole other review.....
Ok... here goes.... My two cents on the museum.....
I'm glad I didn't pay money to see it.....
While there is an amazing amount taxidermy displays... that's all it is... and while they are impressive. That's all it is. Maybe it's just me but.... Umm no thank you. It's just not what I want to see room after room of stuffed bears and lions and snakes.
As I said just my opinion, not my thing, but the taxidermy was impressive.
Jeanette W.
Yelp
We had lunch at the Buckhorn Saloon on 6/28 in San Antonio, TX. They were easily able to accommodate our family group of 12 at a large table. The food was good but the service was extremely slow. There were a lot of taxidermy animals heads on the walls, so if you don't like that sort of stuff, don't go there. Other than the slow service, I would recommend this place to everyone that visits the San Antonio area!
We visited the Texas Ranger museum on 6/28 in San Antonio, TX. We loved the fact that they had a self-service photographer doing group photos before we went into the museum itself. It was well worth it to purchase the photos. The Texas Ranger museum was very interesting. It was primarily the first floor of the museum. The second floor was primarily taxidermy animals and fun-house type exhibits. I would recommend this place to everyone that visits the San Antonio area!
Mathew L.
Yelp
Unfortunately not a place I would go again. I liked the building, it was just to tourist oriented to me. I was hoping for more of a saloon vibe. It would be nicer if they served food on proper plates with silverware and served drinks in glassware.
It just felt like being in a Elks lodge.
Linda M.
Yelp
The animal display at the museum was fantastic !My husband liked the Ranger display more.
The lady that was working the ticket booth was helpful and friendly. We really did enjoy the gift shop also, something for everyone.
Kalvin K.
Yelp
Stopped here for a work event! The company who invited us reserved the entire museum! I must say this place is quite large. I really enjoyed the history of the Texas rangers. The food they served here was also very good. It's kinda touristy but I would recommend stopping by.
Amber H.
Yelp
I visited April 2 with a 6 year old. We initially came and ate lunch after getting off the Hop off Hop on bus tour. You have to order food at the counter and then find a spot. The food was descent. I had BBQ Brisket which I really enjoyed and my son had a burger which he did not eat. But, it didn't look bad. The restaurant area has a ton of charm, a lot of history and a cool long bar. Bathrooms in the back with some arcade games and good old fashion shooting game.
We were not certain about doing the museum as I did not think my son would like it if it was a bunch of stuffed dead animals. I asked the guy the guy that worked at the restaurant and he said a lot of kids liked it, so why not? We were there. It was a bit pricey, but ended up being worth the cost. It was a pretty large place and doesn't even appear to be that big from the outside. We spent a ton of time inside and didn't even really see anyone else.
They do have a LOT of dead stuffed animals lol. But they also have a lot of interesting historical items such as furniture, guns, etc. It is actually two levels too. Our favorite area was this area of "show freaks" as they had shrunken heads, mermaid fish, two headed animals, fleas with clothes, etc. I'm pretty sure one of those shrunken heads looked like my ex-husband, or at least in my dreams it did. It was really fun. They also have some interactive type exhibits that you can walk in, like tilted rooms. Interesting stuff.
Kelley S.
Yelp
Museum: Check in on Yelp when you get there and you save $3 on admission.
Restaurant: just walk inside to order at the counter (inside to the left). They'll give you a number. Take that to any table (or seat at the bar) and they'll bring you the food in about 10-15 minutes. You have a lot of eyes watching you and if you're not into hunting & taxidermy, you should probably go find a vegan restaurant down the street. Awesome atmosphere, friendly staff, great music and tasty food. Couldn't ask for a better experience!
Shelley S.
Yelp
The atmosphere was unique but the food was mediocre at best. We ordered a burger and fries and it took 45 minutes to be ready and we were literally the first people to order on a weekday.
Melia H.
Yelp
Oh man! It was 100 degrees outside. We were thirsty and hungry for something small to eat before dinner later in the evening. Although we were not seeking out this establishment, it was the perfect recovery spot. Great selection of Texas craft beers and the Jack-elope bites were pretty satisfying!
Our bartender was awesome and very attentive. Although we wanted to try a variety of places during our visit, I kept thinking about the Buckhorn saloon. Beer was spot-on.
Jason K.
Yelp
My wife and I were on vacation for a long weekend in San Antonio and we had a pass for The Buckhorn.
There is a big bar here, but it was pretty early and we headed to the museum right of the bat.
There are like 1,000 stuffed taxidermy animals here. It was crazy, but pretty cool I don't know if I would be happy if I paid more than $10 here, but they also have a place of circus freaks and some fun circus oddities, like ledges you can stand on, while they look like they are on diagonal planes, you can still stand straight on them.
Fun little place to spend a half hour walking through and pretty close to the Alamo.
Missy T.
Yelp
History, historical and safari. Very neat to tour and see all the animals. Texas Rangers included.
Frank C.
Yelp
A must stop while in San Antonio, it's like stepping back in time. Try the museum In side the saloon incredibly interesting facts. Highly recommend . Bartender was very pleasant and friendly.
Summer T.
Yelp
Amazing service , food , drinks and music . I wish I didn't live on the other side of the country because this would be a monthly trip .
Fotee A.
Yelp
Neat place located near Alamo. The greeter is in character and makes you feel invited. The museum is really slick-lots of Rangers paraphernalia and amazing firearms. The wildlife "exhibit" is huge. Seems like one or more of everything is stuffed or mounted here.
The food was great with huge portions in a nice setting.
Ta'Brechi H.
Yelp
2019 Yelp 120 Challenge - #100
On our Hop on Hop off tour the Buckhorn Saloon was one of the stops. It said that shortly after opening The Buckhorn Saloon, Albert learned that many folks traveling off the dusty trail didn't have much money. The owner Albert had the great idea to accept horns and antlers in exchange for a free beer or a shot of whiskey from his saloon.
Now the Buckhorn collection has grew to become one of the world's most unique and largest collections of horns and antlers. The impressive horn and antler collection lined every wall and ceiling, which is why it is known as the Buckhorn Hall of Horns. Now different antlers are hung above the entry way to different exhibits.
Cost:
You will receive $3 off with a Yelp check-in.
Each ticket is roughly $20 each and you get two exhibits for the price of one.
My husband and I opted out of going into the exhibits and grabbed to cold beers from the bar. It would have been cool if they still accepted antlers or horns in exchange for a local drink from the bar.
Marlon T.
Yelp
I was staying at a hotel close by and while walking by this place, I could not help but look inside since the entrance is wide open. Stepping inside, you're immediately welcomed by a huge high-ceiling room with walls covered in taxidermy. As a hunter myself, I thought it was very awesome to see that collection. I couldn't not sit at the bar and grab a delicious local brew (lots of options) while I admired the art. I didn't go into the actually museum but it looked worthwhile.
Yes, the big elephant (which seems to be the centerpiece) is real and is from the 1960's.
Yelena J.
Yelp
Stopped in for a drink and check out the museum. The museum was closing in 30 minutes though and cost $24 a person, so we passed. I got a tequila drink that the bartender suggested that had orange juice and burned cinnamon. The
Steve K.
Yelp
Didn't eat there, just drinks. Went to go to the museum and SO glad I did...AMAZING! One of the best I've been to. The animal exhibit great & the Texas Ranger Museum was so much great information and so well done. Was there for 21/2 hours and would have stayed longer but it was closing!
But I love history & read everything! Hats off to the Buckhorn!!
Gloria S.
Yelp
All the animal heads everywhere, and I mean everywhere... were disturbing to a city gal like me. Def not my thing.
Very Texas, very touristy, expected in the tourist area next to River walk. Cute little gift shop attached.
Check in with Yelp for discount off ticket for museum which I refused to go to
Just not my style but looked adequate and clean for others. Plenty of beer and food at the eatery. Large spacious room to sit and spend $
Parking is non Existent unless you do garage which one asked for $12 for first hour . We were lucky another charged $15 for rest of day , it was afternoon
Sabrina L.
Yelp
This review is only for the food and not the museum. A friend came here to eat a month ago and took pictures which looked amazing so I was excited to give it a try. I didn't realize you had to order your food at a counter and have the food brought to you. I was on vacation with my family and inlaws and thought it was a full service restaurant. I asked if they wanted to eat somewhere else but they said it was fine. The lady at the counter, Rebecca, was very friendly and funny. The kind of employee that makes your customers feel welcomed. We ordered our food and found a table to sit. My husband ordered a drink from the bar. We did not go into the museum but the dining area was amazing. Food was pretty good. Our burgers was very moist and tasty. The fries and sweet potatoes fries was excellent. My daughter liked the coconut shrimps. Only disappointment was the calamari. There was more deep fried breading and small amount of calamari inside. We did complain and was immediately given a refund, which is great business. If you don't mind having to order at a counter, I would recommend coming door lunch here and check it out.
Michael B.
Yelp
TLDR: Yes, this is a tourist trap of the first order, but it's a darned good one and worth visiting if you've already seen the Alamo and the Riverwalk. :-)
Buckhorn's is a triple-threat of a tourist trap, part old-timey saloon, part arcade, and part historical museum. According to the website, it started out as a saloon where hunters and trappers could trade in their catch for booze. (I'm guessing that 'Buckhorn' must have sounded better than 'Antlers for Alcohol'.)
Service was fast and friendly in the saloon, which serves pretty standard American fare. Happy hour does provide some nice bargains for alcohol, whether or not you brought any antlers in. There's also a surprisingly good (if overpriced) gift shop that will tempt you to open your wallet.
The heart of the place are the two museums, which come as a package deal with the tickets. Second floor is taxidermy central, which actually serves as a decent natural history section. IMO, the best part is on the ground floor with the Texas Rangers museum, which has heroic Western music on tap along with some great exhibits on early Texas history, Colt revolvers, and even a mock-up of Bonnie and Clyde's getaway car!
Definitely a family-friendly kind of place and a lot of fun. Be aware that there are stuffed animal heads up all over so if that creeps you out, just skip it or visit the gift shop.
Pro Tip #1: Tickets can be pricey. Go to their website to get a coupon.
Pro Tip #2: The 111 Jefferson lot across the street is convenient but very crowded, I'd skip it. Go park at the Houston Street Garage 1 block away, entrance is on Navarro and College Street.
Rachel G.
Yelp
This was an experience...
The animal heads everywhere was a bit much. All the death. I honestly had a panic attack at one point.
I did appreciate the facts and info, but it was a lot to take in.
Yes I knew what it was before going, but we mainly wanted to do the Texas Ranger Museum which was great!! Love all the history and information!
There is a yelp discount l, but the lady on the corner was cheaper and you got a discount if you ate at the cafe...
We did eat at the cafe- the burgers were good.
The cookies they are are DELICIOUS!
Lili S.
Yelp
It was a beautiful museum with a very helpful staff. The art, the diorama of the Alamo, the saddles, artifacts, the list goes on and on. Didn't get to see the whole museum, so hoping to be back in San Antonio soon to see it again.
Shannon C.
Yelp
Stopped in for a frosty cold beverage at the bar. The bartender was less than welcoming. Asked what the taps were which seemed to irritate him... (white guy, black hair, black stache, black rimmed bcg's). Definitely one & done.
Gary H.
Yelp
A nice afternoon in the museum, very interesting but pricey at $25 per person. Texas Bob greets you who is a very nice man along with The Bartender however the people back by the resterant inside are not so friendly. However the food is surprisingly pretty good, I had the Chicken fried chicken which was served with gravey and 2 sides. The chicken was flavorful and very juicy and they have the sweetest fruit ever.
Robert M.
Yelp
Came for a corporate function. All the staff was top knotch, drinks were good and the snacks were pretty good for a catered function.
The museum was good and quirky. I enjoyed it enough that I will certainly come back and pay to see it again with my kids.
Christie M.
Yelp
We came for the museum, and absolutely loved it. There is so much to see and it is laid out well and easy to follow. We did not eat there, but it was beautiful inside. The gift shop is also very nice.
Malori B.
Yelp
Actually really fun. We went there to entertain the kids but the adults had a good time too. Thought it was a bit pricey for food and bar so that's the deducted star, but the chicken sandwich was surprisingly good. Extra dollar for the parm fries wasn't quite worth it but I didn't have high expectations for the food based on it primarily being a museum.staff were all very nice and friendly. And this Louisiana family loved being able to grab a drink and walk around with it. Texas Ranger exhibit was interesting to look at and the saloon was fun to "play" in. The upstairs oddities exhibit was our group's favorite. We laughed and laughed. Definitely recommend.
Bud P.
Yelp
some interesting stuff not worth ticket price and woman at front tried to bully us into taking pictures for a price.
Chanele R.
Yelp
My review is for the bar only, as we didn't attend the museum. The first thing we saw when we walked up was a menu, but there were no prices, so we asked. The bartender was extra annoyed to have to do this and after my friend ordered one of the drinks off the menu, he told her that no one ever orders them so he doesn't know how to make them. He told us that people come there for beer. Fine, but why do you have drink menus?
My husband and I ordered beers ($7 each for a 20 oz. Shiner) and my friend stood there until she realized the bartender simply was not going to make the drink, so she ordered a beer.
Overpriced, not friendly, but the gift shop was ok so I will avoid 1 star.
Mark W.
Yelp
At in the restaurant. If you are doing the tour get tickets 1st then you get 10% off food. Bbq plate was good. Museum is a little on the high side but really unique and interesting. We took our time and made it through in about 80 minutes
Garrett O.
Yelp
Enjoyed our first visit to Buckhorn on a recent trip to San Antonio. The staff was very friendly and accommodating with our group (we had a traveling 18-month old with us)!
Tickets to the two museums (Animal Exhibit and Texas Ranger) were ~$20/person, and we had a beer along the self-paced walking tours. Everything was kid friendly, and it was nice to bring out-of-town guests to learn a bit about Texas history and wildlife.
Lunch in the saloon was a great idea in between museums, and that ran ~$10/person for simple bar type burgers and fare. FYI- You get a discount on lunch if you've paid for tickets!
Jennifer M.
Yelp
We stopped in here while waiting for our dinner reservations across the street. There was a blues band setting up while we were resting and the little bit we heard was quite enjoyable. The beer was $9 but I guess that is riverwalk prices.
As hunters, it was cool to check out all the different mounts as well as all the antlers.
Rain W.
Yelp
Last time we only went to the restaurant so we couldn't comment on the museum. This time however we did both. The food was great and you will get a discount on the museum if you eat there. The museum has two main sections. The first part shows all the taxidermied animals, a circus show and mystery town exhibit. The lower level shows the Texas Ranger museum with a mini replica of a town. I personally liked the first part a bit more but both were good. Parking can be hard finding a paid lot so be aware.
Meagan T.
Yelp
This is a total tourist trap. 80% of the musuem is just gross taxidermy. That's literally it. The rest is gimmicky things like a "real human mermaid mummy" or a "three headed cow skull". There's one medium sized section about Texas rangers and that's it. This is super stupid. I can't stress enough DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE!!