About Fort Worth

This is the first SAF National Convention held in the Lone Star State of Texas! Fort Worth, Texas, the 20th largest city in the United States, radiates pure Texas heritage. Many authentic western attractions call Fort Worth home and the city boasts of having some of the best barbecue, chicken fried steak, and Mexican food around.

Many a true cowboy, brave frontiersman, and even villain outlaw passed through this frontier town and gateway to the west. Today, Fort Worth maintains the look and feel of it's western heritage, and has added a new convention center; cultural centers, including the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and shopping and restaurants, all accessible by complimentary bus that runs in the "Downtown Free Zone."

Check out the action at Billy Bob's Texas, the world's largest "honky-tonk" hotspot located in the Historic Stockyards area. Here you can get your photo taken on a mechanical bull or wait and see the real thing as you witness authentic Texas longhorn cattle meandering down Fort Worth's main avenue, originally the Chisholm Trail. Stroll through the revitalized downtown area of Sundance Square, filled with museums, galleries, shops and restaurants or put on your cowboy boots and a hat and take in a rodeo.

Fort Worth is centrally located for easy travel from either coast. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport offers direct connections to nearly 200 cities. Downtown Fort Worth is only 17.5 miles from the airport.

Texas has more than 12 million acres of commercial forestland, concentrated in 43 counties in the eastern part of the state. This acreage consists of pine and pine-hardwood forests characterized by loblolly, shortleaf, and longleaf pine intermixed with bottomland hardwoods such as oak, pecan, and hickory trees. These healthy forests provide recreational and hunting opportunities as well manufacturing jobs for 91,000 Texans.

Forests in the central and western portions of the state include post-oak savannas, grasslands, asche-juniper, and a variety of other mixed oak combinations. These forests offer many wildlife viewing and eco-tourism opportunities, support more than 23,000 jobs, and between equipment and travel related expenses have a combined economic effect of $2.7 billion to the state of Texas.