The King Ranch saddle shop, located in historic downtown Kingsville, is a
hub of novelties of the old ranching days that used to encompass south Texas,
mixed with some current styles of the modern era. It is a store that really has
it all when it comes to leather crafts. They sport everything from furniture to
boots to clothes and even guns. Everything in the saddle shop is priced at a
price worthy of the “Running W” brand, which if you ever get the opportunity to
visit you will notice has been incorporated onto everything they sell. The
history of the ship is simply that it began as a place where cowboys would come to have their boots and saddles repaired by a skilled craftsman. Today this shop still sells customs saddles and boots, but it is more of a souvenir shop
that caters to tourists visiting the Ranch or the university.
The saddle shop was opened in 1909 and for 70 years stood as the most
preeminent department store south of San Antonio. The current employees are
fourth and fifth generation Kineros, which means the people of the King Ranch.
The way that the leather work is done however, has not changed in over 100 years and can still be witnessed in the shop being made by hand.
to make a living. Between the sun, prickly vegetation, the animals themselves,
and the humidity all the odds are against you. A rancher or cowboy is hard on
gear and he can’t sport gear that can’t even carry its own weight. His clothing
and tack has to be the highest quality and the best made or it is useless. The
King Ranch is one of the largest ranches in the world, and employs hundreds of
ranch hands and they have to have the best gear and they have to have gear that is complete with the brand that they ride for.
ranching community knows about but it continues to grow in popularity and the
items offered there will continue to grow and change with the times. Even as
technology changes, the saddle shop will continue to hand craft every item that
goes out the door and every item will sport the coveted “Running W’ brand that
has become a staple in the ranching world as the symbol of the King
Ranch.
http://www.krsaddleshop.com/default.asp