Nocona

Leathergoods Center

Nocona offers a wide variety of tourism opportunities from its Indian heritage, including its namesake -- the Comanche warrior Chief Peta Nocona -- to the famed Chisholm Trail, which passed through Nocona to nearby Red River Station. Supplying cowboys with goods like boots, belts, saddles and other leather goods spawned Nocona's reputation as the "leather goods center of the southwest." The leather heritage remains strong with the Cavender's signature "Larry Mahan" cowboy boot by Montague Boot Company in Nocona and Nocona Athletic Goods, which makes the professional Nokona baseball glove. Nearby Lake Nocona, two 18-hole golf courses, a local artist center and the Crosstimbers Wine Trail make Nocona a wonderful getaway destination.

The City of Nocona, www.nocona.org.

A. Stack W Ranch, 1616 FM 1956, is focused on the Quarter Horse with an emphasis in the cutting horse discipline. Owners, Wanda and Wayne Wood are lifetime members of both NCHA and AQHA, and have been raising quarter horses for over 35 years. The ranch offers interactive events for all age groups, from getting to know a horse to brushing, grooming, saddling to trail rides. Contact the Nocona Chamber of Commerce- 940/825-3526 or the ranch at 940/987-3113.

B. Bronc Willoughby Ranch, 3947 FM 1806, is home to Quarter Horses excelling in Cutting -- a passion for owner, Bronc Willoughby. Bronc and his wife, Patti, have created a family business along with their daughter, Cassie, with their first-class Cutting Horse training facility. Bronc became a lifetime member of the NCHA in 1977, and has been involved in all aspects of the NCHA ever since. He is a trainer, owner, breeder and member of the NCHA Riders Hall of Fame. Visitors welcome. www.broncwilloughbyranch.com, 940 894-2120.

C. Kutie Performance Horses, 5892 Applegate Rd., is located near Bowie. Steve Kutie started his career in dressage and is a 3-time International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association National Champion. Today, Steve is an accomplished trainer of top winning Quarter Horses and Paint Horses in the discipline of reining and working cowhorses. Visitors welcome. www.stevekutie.com, 940 841-0885.

D. Jim Willoughby Livestock Co., 2886 Hwy 59 South, is owned by the last rider of the very famous Quarter Horse Poco Bueno. Mr. Willoughby was instrumental in setting up guidelines for reining patterns, point systems and performance qualifications for the National Reining Horse Association. He has in excess of 34 AQHA and NRHA Futurity champions. He was the only man to take a National Pleasure Futurity Champion, Dupli-Katie, and win another National Championship Futurity in a different discipline -- reining. 940/872-6510.