The Horizon Yachts 2025 Owner Rendezvous was “Knot Your Normal Rendezvous” for Horizon Yachts owners as they journeyed to Fort Worth, Texas to experience “Where the West Begins.”
Fort Worth is also known as the Museum Capital of the Southwest. With the combination of luxury, history and Western Culture, this historical city provided a perfect backdrop that blended the sophistication of Horizon Yachts with the charm of Texas heritage. This vibrant city has carved out its own identity by seamlessly blending its rich history with modern culture and a diverse culinary landscape.
Guests arrived in Fort Worth on Sunday at the Auberge Resorts Collection Bowie House Hotel, a luxe new hotel that is owned by Horizon owner, Jo Ellard, who is an avid art collector and championship horse breeder. Guests were greeted warmly by Bowie House staff and offered Smoked Old Fashions as they checked in. The unique and inviting spaces of the hotel and nearly 500 art masterpieces on display provided guests with many places to relax and unwind while admiring the art and décor.
Sunday evening, Rendezvous festivities began with a cocktail party in the Bowie House Arcade room, where guests arrived wearing Fort Worth Cocktail Attire and were gifted with leather duffel bags as welcoming gifts that included personalized scarves and western belt buckles engraved with each owner’s Horizon Yachts boat name. Guests began mingling and reconnecting with other owners as they made their way into the Silverton North Room, where they enjoyed a gourmet plated dinner with choices of a Corn Risotto, Chilean Sea Bass or Roasted Beef Filet.
Although Horizon Yachts Director, Roger Sowerbutts, had lost his voice, he was able to present his welcoming speech with the help of Horizon Yachts Sales Consultant, Eric Scott. Danett Utecht, Horizon Yachts Events Coordinator, welcomed guests and shared the itinerary for the week and the exciting excursions planned.
As guests finished dinner, they were entertained by a Western Style Fashion Show, with Bowie House employees as models. The show highlighted one-of-a-kind creations and upcycled items from Chieffalo, the clothing boutique located inside the Bowie Hotel. Models showcased suede fringe jackets, “wild rags” and cowboy boots from independent makers to inspire Horizon owners to embrace their own western style. After the show, guests were soon on their feet, dancing to a Western band and learning the Texas two-step.
Monday morning, guests loaded buses to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR), where they attended a cutting horse demonstration at the historic Will Rogers Memorial Center and learned about the history of the cutting horse. Guests were amazed at the horses’ athleticism and how the horse and rider worked together to impress the judges during the competition.
After the demonstration, guests ventured across the street to the National Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame, the only museum in the world dedicated to the women of the West. Museum staff served a delicious lunch in the domed rotunda and guests explored the interactive exhibits and galleries that displayed the extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit of the trailblazing women of the West.
After lunch, the FWSSR tour continued to the Dickie’s Arena, a state-of-the-art venue for sports, concerts, community events and the FWSSR performances. Designed in an Art Deco style to pay homage to the historic Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum, guests admired the architectural details, murals and sculptures depicting the culture and history of Fort Worth and the American West.
After an eventful day learning about the FWSSR and the historic grounds of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, guests headed back to the hotel to don their cowboy hats and boots. The guests then returned to Dickie’s Arena for a lively experience at the FWSSR, where they watched the rodeo from VIP Party Suites as cowboys and cowgirls competed in events that included bareback riding, team roping and bull riding.
The theme for this evening at the rodeo was Military Appreciation Day that paid tribute to the servicemen and women who have served in America’s armed forces. Highlights from the evening included a 99-year-old veteran who sang the National Anthem as well as the swearing in of Fort Worth military recruits.
After the rodeo, guests made their way to the after-party tents and danced the night away to songs from a local bluegrass band.
Tuesday was Excursion Day and guests chose between attending curated tours of the Modern and Kimbell Art Museums, an Owner’s Experience VIP Guided Tour of the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium or exploring Fort Worth on their own and enjoying the amenities at the Bowie House.
The museum tours included a curated VIP Vault Tour of the Modern Art Museum, a gourmet lunch at Don Artemio’s Mexican Heritage Restaurant, and then a private, curated tour of the Kimbell Art Museum. These world-class museums displayed artworks spanning thousands of years as well as more modern art from influential artists like Pablo Picasso and Philip Guston.
Guests who chose the Owner’s Experience VIP Guided Tour at the AT&T stadium enjoyed a delicious lunch in the private club, toured the private suite of Dallas Cowboy owner, Jerry Jones, stepped onto the field at the 50-yard line to toss the football and kick field goals, and visited some of the most exclusive areas inside the stadium that is also knows as the largest dome structure in the world.
After an eventful day, guests arrived back at the Bowie House for cocktails and an elaborate, buffet-style dinner with live music and dancing in the hotel bar by a local R&B artist.
Wednesday morning, guests gathered in the hotel lobby to board the bus for an exclusive lunch at the legendary Joe T. Garcia’s where they were welcomed with a Mariachi band and an elaborate buffet of authentic Mexican dishes. The lush gardens, beautiful décor and welcoming atmosphere was the perfect setting for drinking margaritas and enjoying original, authentic Tex-mex cuisine.
After lunch, guests ventured down to the Stockyards National Historic District where the Old West came to life with a longhorn cattle drive, demonstrating what life was like on the cattle trail. The historic district is home to famous boot-making companies, western-themed stores, museums, bars and dance halls and guests enjoyed walking the weathered-brick roads and shopping for their own Western getup.
After the historic cattle drive, guests returned to the Bowie House where they quickly changed into their Rugged Western attire for the Rendezvous Grand Finale, a Fort Worth Farewell. Upon entering the Silverton North Room, they were immediately transported back in time to experience what life was like on a Texas Cattle Ranch. Jo Ellard had outdone herself, the room was elaborately decorated with covered wagons, teepees, campfires and a backdrop simulating the Texas landscape.
Dinner was served buffet style in covered wagons and sitting at each round table were storytellers from professional Texas Ranchers and experts in the Texas Cattle Industry. Each owner could choose their own storyteller, and the stories and experiences they shared from their lives raising livestock and working on the ranch created an unforgettable evening that celebrated both the past and present of Texas ranching culture.
The night ended with a Western band as guests danced and started saying their goodbyes. Although this Rendezvous location brought the owners inland, the friendships and connections that were made this year brought the owners closer and allowed for deeper relationships that will last for years to come.
The dedication and planning that took place to coordinate this event, including the seamless planning of Horizon Owner Jo Ellard and her staff at the Bowie House, alongside Danett and the Horizon Yachts team, ensured that this year’s, “Knot Your Normal Rendezvous,” made for a truly unique and immersive experience, blending luxury, adventure and Texas culture.
The question now is “Where to next year?”…
Learn More About the Event: https://bit.ly/4iN2i1K
