Cowboy Dinner and Show at Superstition Manor in Mesa

Giddy on up to The Barn for a cowboy dinner and show at Superstition Manor in Mesa on Tuesday nights this summer! Get back in the saddle again with Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers as they take you down memory lane by showcasing some of the best dancing and music the old west has to offer. 

You’ll enjoy a delicious dinner of all you can eat  pulled pork barbeque cornbread sandwiches, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and corn on the cob. For the kiddos, it’s mac ‘n cheese with chicken nuggets. Everything was really good, and the portion sizes were very generous. My kids especially  loved the chicken nuggets. Dessert was peach cobbler with whipped cream.

When we first arrived, the kids were excited to see lawn games set out in front of the barn. A huge jenga set, cornhole, and tic tac toe were a few of the options. It was too hot to play for long, but it was a nice way to keep the kids busy before the doors opened. 

Cowboy Dinner and Show at Superstition Manor in Mesa

After scanning the QR code tickets on my phone, we walked in and were told to pick any table we wanted. The theming and decorations on the tables and around the room were very attractive and helped set that old west cowboy mood. There was a bar on the right side of the room in the back that had drinks for purchase, or soft drinks for free. A refillable lemonade and water station was also available. 

Each table had a card on it with a different picture instead of a table number. We sat at the spur table. Others included a coyote, a snake, a cowboy boot, a guitar, and a harmonica. Instead of just calling your table up to the line, you were asked a trivia question and had to get it correct to get in the buffet line. The questions were mostly easy, but a few really had people stumped. This was a creative way to keep people entertained while waiting their turn. Note: the meal service has since switched from buffet style to plated served dinner to better serve the guests.

After the guests were all fed and enjoying peach cobbler, Pioneer Pepper and his band got things rolling with a bugle call, and a rousing rendition of “Back in the Saddle Again.” After a few songs, the chorus girls went on stage and did some fancy western Cancan style dancing. The dancing brought so much life and energy to the show. Every time I saw my kid’s eyes start to glaze over, the dancers came back and engaged the audience spectacularly. The rest of the evening was just sitting back and relaxing, and enjoying the music.

Some highlights of the night were the cast members chatting with the guests at our tables, a prayer before dinner, a stick-up, a lightsaber battle during the stick-up, the energetic dance numbers, nostalgic music of the old west, and definitely toasting marshmallow s’mores over a fire pit at the end. 

One brave audience member (and very good sport) was called up on stage, made an honorary cowboy, and given a bull whip to crack while he swayed along to the song. He did great, and the Pioneers made that an experience he will never forget!

Cowboy Dinner and Show at Superstition Manor in Mesa

You really do need to arrive at 5:30 to get a good seat. We had a party of six, and all sat together at a table near the center of the room. Other guests that arrived closer to dinner time had to separate because there were no tables left with enough seats to accommodate their entire party. So arrive at 5:30, get in line by the door, and just be prepared to sit and wait an hour (or more) for dinner. 

The fun of this event, while very family friendly and engaging, was a bit lost on the kids because they’ve never heard of Roy Rogers or Dale Evans. The person that enjoyed the show in our group the most was Gramma, because these were the songs that were popular when she was growing up. I had fun too because I used to listen to them with her, and I watched a lot of old westerns with my dad. My kids were like, what is going on? But I’m happy we went, and they at least got exposed to this fun genre of music, and some education about this nostalgic old west cowboy culture. 

The part that really had my kids laughing was the stick-up. After a few songs, a cowboy named Ace ran up on stage and told Pepper that he and the boys needed to go save the town from a stampede. After they rushed out,  Ace told the audience to put our hands in the air and turn out our pockets! Little did he know that he wasn’t the only low-down bad guy in this here one-pony town. There was some comic smack talk, a throw down (maybe involving lightsabers), some re-thinking of life choices, and a partnership. Then, Pioneer Pepper rode back in and saved the day. 

At the end of the show, you can purchase a s’mores kit for $25. There’s enough supplies in the kit to feed a family of four. Roasting marshmallows by the firepit after the show was the most fun part of the experience for at least one of my kids. It was refreshing being outside socializing with guests and meeting other kids. Some of the cast members came out to the fire, and were kind enough to take pictures with us. 

This show really gave our family a lovely evening out, which I think is exactly what they want to give people: wholesome, old fashioned family fun. Dinner was delicious, the setting was very pretty, the lawn games outside helped pass the time, and the show was a lot of fun. I love the old west nostalgia, and it’s good to see that it’s alive and well here in Arizona, where so much of our famous cowboy history took place. It’s a great way to make new and unique  family memories. 

Pioneer Pepper, the band, the dancers, and Ace all put on a unique and entertaining night. The show is planned to go on every Tuesday for the rest of July and August (with the exception of July 4th). I definitely recommend planning a night to spend with Pioneer Pepper and the Sunset Pioneers for a relaxing and entertaining evening. Until then, happy trails to you.  

For more information visit the Superstition Manor website. 

More great things to do in Mesa can be found here!