I walked onto Rodeo Austin’s fairgrounds so early that the carnival barkers were still pinning oversized prizes to their tents. Food stands had just started heating up fryers for another day of funnel cakes and blooming onions. The fairground held a liminal stillness pregnant with merriment yet to come, like the hours right before Christmas morning. It was just another day for the workers blowing up balloons and lining up darts. They’ve been hustling tickets since March 14 and will be until the rodeo closes on Saturday night.
But I wasn’t there for the games or teetering rides. I came to the rodeo to get Ram’d— visit Ram Truck Territory that is. Save a horse, ride a monster truck, or however that song goes.
My tango with the ten-foot-tall Raminator
I lived the childhood dream of riding a monster truck. Endearingly, her name was The Raminator. She easily put average lifted trucks to shame. The diameter of her wheels were taller than me and I had to climb a ladder just to mount the beast. The scruffy driver, who looked no older than 25, gave me the go ahead to sit shotgun. Big mistake. The front cabin felt like a metal death trap, lined with twisting wires, switches and gauges. I crouched into the plastic passenger seat and strapped on the thick lap belt with titanium metal clamps. The engine revved up like sound of a lawn mower.
One inch of clear fiberglass beneath my boots (and a couple yards of wheel clearance) separated me from the hardened terrain. Even the slightest turn jostled me around like a rag doll. No worries, I put complete trust in the guy driving with one hand on the wheel to my left. A few short minutes and three bruises later, I was descending the steps, a little queasy with a stupid grin plastered on my face.
Test driving a $100,000 leather-lined war tank
Ram Truck Territory installed a 40,000 square foot course self-described as an “adrenaline-pumping ride experience” at Rodeo Austin. Included were “rolling hills” to demonstrate the new Ram models’ suspension capabilities, “staggered logs” to show off ground clearance and a “rock bed” to maneuver uneven terrain. What greeted me was a spread of dirt obstacles and a semi-daunting 18-foot hill climb with 35-degree slopes.
This new line of trucks are no joke. Riding one felt like being in a war tank lined in leather and tricked out with top of the line features. The Ram galloped up the incline like nothing. The upward tilt was so steep that all I could see out the windshield was blue sky. The driver hit the breaks mid-descent and we paused at a downward facing tilt, thankfully with no slippage.
The truck traversed the dirt piles with ease, at one point balancing with one wheel suspended in the air. The crew kept goading me to get behind the wheel of one of Ram’s new behemoths, but I wasn’t about to roll that dice—I drive a Jetta. If you’re a rancher looking for a vehicular beast with acrobatic off-roading capabilities or a suburban dad eager to assert your dominance on the block, you’re in luck. You can overdose on testosterone for a mere $110,000.
What is Rodeo Austin?
Rodeo Austin started as a small stock show in 1938, but officially became a nonprofit charity supporting educational programs across Texas in the early 1980s. They provide scholarships to partnering colleges and universities who review applications and award a group of students with funding towards their higher education. Since 1981, Rodeo Austin’s Scholarship Program has awarded over $8 million to 2,428 students. In 2024, 31 student recipients were awarded a total of $307,000 in scholarships. The nonprofit promotes agricultural education at all levels with 7,000 schoolchildren touring the fairgrounds annually and 20 college student selected for internships every year.
Only a few days left, how to attend Rodeo Austin
Rodeo Austin continues through Saturday, but the Ram Truck Territory closes on Friday. You don’t need to buy a separate tickets for the Ram experience, but you will have to sign a waiver. Daily admission to the fairgrounds is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-12. A one-day unlimited ride wristband for the carnival will run you $45.
When: Weather permitting, your last chances to get Ram’d are Thursday and Friday. The Ram Truck Territory is open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. and you can ride “The Raminator” monster truck from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Rodeo Austin Fairgrounds at 9100 Decker Lake Road.
Info: rodeoaustin.com