‘Lonesome Dove’ & Stockyards’ future

The trail to the American West leads to Fort Worth this spring, and it could not come at a more ideal time for a city that cherishes its Cowtown past.

A 25th anniversary celebration for the CBS miniseries Lonesome Dove will begin Jan. 15 along with the Stock Show, and it will continue into June at the city’s art and history museums, schools and event sites.

The first event is a Western art exhibit at the Sid Richardson Museum in Sundance Square, on streets where cattle were actually driven by real-life cowboys on the way to the Chisholm Trail.

On March 31, the Lonesome Dove Reunion and Trail will wind its way into the historic Stockyards, where actors Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones and others will pay tribute to writer Larry McMurtry of Archer City at a sold-out event benefiting the project’s archive at Texas State University in San Marcos.

By then, city leaders may be closer to resolving questions about the complicated but welcome development plan for private property nearby in the Stockyards.

Hickman Properties and Los Angeles-based Majestic Realty have announced a $175 million, 70-acre project, bringing needed jobs to north Fort Worth and long-awaited economic growth for the central city.

But much of the Stockyards is in a 40-block National Register historic district, and city officials have begun hashing out ways to protect the most significant landmarks and require compatible new construction.

Already, officials have proposed protecting about 20 blocks of retail buildings and livestock barns along Exchange Avenue and Rodeo Plaza. But preservationists wish to keep more, particularly the handsome Swift & Co. double staircase on Northeast 23rd Street a block east of where Lonesome Dove stars will gather in March.

Mostly, the City Council has stayed out of planners’ way and awaited new rules and construction standards. The Zoning Commission considers new design standards next week, with a council vote scheduled Feb. 2.

Along with the anniversary of pop culture’s most famous cattle drive comes the reminder that Fort Worth is where the world comes to see cowboys and the American West.

We hold that history dear, and we want to carefully protect our greatest keepsakes. But we also want to respect private landowners’ commitment to the Stockyards and welcome new business, growth and success.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "‘Lonesome Dove’ & Stockyards’ future."