Fort Worth's Ultimate Bucket List

by William Wise

Do you have a travel bucket list?

Either one you’ve written down or one that just resides in your head. Maybe you’re a planner and have a spreadsheet with separate tabs, timelines, and packing lists for each bucket list item. Or maybe you’re more of a daydreamer, and the things you’d like to do before you kick it foat serenely by like clouds, changing shape as they go.

Maybe you dream of going on an African safari, or taking a dip in the Ganges, or kissing your signifcant other in front of the Eiffel Tower. Those are all wonderful ideas, but for most of us, far-fung adventures are relatively few and often too far between. Regardless of what’s on your bucket list, many items likely fall into the “Some Day” category, so we suggest you consider expanding that list to include some local list items that you may not have considered. You need is a local bucket list.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die is essentially that: a Fort Worth bucket list. Written by well-known local writer and third-generation Fort Worthian, Celestina Blok, and published by Reedy Press as part of a nationwide series, 100 Things To Do In Fort Worth Before You Die may just be the defnitive guide to exploring our fair burg. At the very least, it is an enlightening collection of activities to satisfy your peripatetic longings. Of course, there are things in the

Eric Marion: Our Jerky making journey began from receiving a gift from my brother Ron… the recipe for the original beef jerky favor. It began as a hobby, and friends and family loved the fnished product.

MW: What made you decide to start making jerky as a business?

Made in Fort Worth: Uncle Ron's Beef Jerky

For our travel issue, we thought we would feature a company that makes the original travel snack – beef jerky. The process of seasoning and drying meat not only prevents meat from spoiling, it makes it supremely portable. And delicious!

We spoke with Darlene and Eric Marion, the owners of Uncle Ron’s Beef Jerky. You may have come across the Marions at various farmers markets around the area, or you may have stopped at their brick-and-mortar location on Westcreek Drive. If so, you know that their jerky makes the perfect travel snack, full of favor and protein to keep you going all day long.

Madeworthy: How did your jerky-making journey begin? Was it a hobby frst?

EM: I was a member of Corporate America for many years. After my position with the company ended, I found myself in need of work… I knew I had to pivot my career. I had this recipe for beef jerky that everyone loved. My wife and I decided to start this journey. I quickly adapted new recipes and favors to provide a variety of options available for all.

book that you’ve already done. I mean who hasn’t had a margarita on Joe T’s patio? Many of us have done that this week, some of you twice. Or thrice.

While you will certainly recognize a good number of the Things, there will be several surprises and perhaps even a few headscratchers. For instance, did you know Fort Worth is home to the second-longest-burning light bulb on Earth? Now you do! (You’re welcome.) You’ll have to read the book to discover where to track down this marvel of notso-modern science.

Did you know when you’re the frst in line at the beautifully renovated Isis Theater in the Stockyards, you get to choose the movie everyone will watch? No pressure. When was the last time you took the family bowling at Cowtown Bowl on River Oaks Boulevard? Or spent a day swimming and picnicking at Burger’s Lake, home to the most professional roster of lifeguards west of the Pacifc Ocean? Have you ever counted alligators at the Fort Worth Nature Center or taken a fight in a WWIIera warbird? You can do all that and about 93 other things without ever crossing I-820.

100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die crosses generations. It will entertain you, your parents, your kids, and your grandkids for years. When outof-town guests begin to verge on wearing out their welcome, hand them the book and challenge blood pockets are removed by hand. Once that’s done, it’s hand sliced into strips and dropped into marinade. [After marinating], it’s then loaded in the dehydrator piece by piece… them to spend a day knocking as many things off the list as they can while you go drink margaritas at Joe T’s. While you may not set out to do any or all of the things every week, month, or even year, you will be inspired to see, learn, and do things in our fascinating city you never even knew existed.

Once it’s fully cooked to perfection, it’s then bagged, labeled, and sealed for sale. The difference between Uncle Ron’s beef jerky and others is ours is 100% beef that is sliced by hand across the grain [for easy eating] and perfectly marinated to have favor in every bite.

MW: You have a lot of favors, 18 by my count. Which are your most popular?

EM: The most popular favors are Coarse Black Pepper, Regular, Smokehouse, Original Peppered, Spicy Garlic, and Sweet & Spicy.

MW: Do you source your beef locally or where does it come from?

EM: Our beef is sourced from our local meat market. We found them to be a consistent source to keep up with the demand of the business.

MW: Do you make jerky from other meats?

While you can fnd 100 Things to Do in Fort Worth Before You Die for purchase in the travel book section of that online retailer, we suggest buying locally at Monkey & Dog Books, Jabo’s Ace Hardware, or if you must, at Barnes & Nobel and Walgreen’s stores.

However, the best way to get your hands on one is to buy a signed copy directly from Celestina Blok on her Instagram page, @100thingsfortworth, and it won’t cost you a dime more. Be sure to follow Celestina on Instagram so she can remind you about recurring and time-sensitive items on the list, like Angelo’s annual anniversary celebration on St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer and barbecue, yeehaw!

Your bucket list doesn’t have to be a repository of only diffcult to attain “someday” dreams. Keep it local and pursue some of those things that are easy to cross off the list. After all, isn’t that what lists are for? You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment and have a truckload of fun.

By the way, I take mine frozen with salt.

EM: Besides jerky, we sell a variety of trail mixes. We also offer chocolatecovered walnuts, pecans, and almonds… T-Shirts and gift packages are also available.

MW: How is the jerky made? Smoked? Dried? Both? Other? What is the difference?

EM: Our jerky starts as a slab of beef. It is then cut into half, and from there it is cut into steaks. Then all fat and

EM: We currently only make beef jerky. However, we have considered other products such as turkey, deer, and mushroom jerky.

MW: What makes your jerky better than others out there?

EM: What makes my jerky better than others out there is the fact that there is favor in every bite because we hand slice and marinate. Also, there are no artifcial fllers; it’s 100% Angus beef.

MW: Besides jerky, what other products do you make and sell?

MW: Where can Fort Worthians buy Uncle Ron’s Jerky?

EM: You can purchase our beef jerky at our shop at 5677 Westcreek Drive, Suite C, or at uncleronsbeefjerky.com. We’re at the Clearfork Market every Saturday and the Benbrook Farmers Market.

MW: For those who don’t live here or if folks want to send your jerky as a gift, do you offer shipping?

EM: You can send a gift or order online. You will receive a free gift with all purchases made online. This will be a free bag of our beef jerky of a favor you did not order. If you choose to send our jerky as a gift, we will pass your free gift along to the recipient and include a note stating that this is a gift from you.