The rich aroma of leather welcomes you the moment you mosey through the doors of Burns Cowboy Shop (363 Main St, 435.529.7484). Like a scene straight out of the Wild West, the store is stocked with all manner of cowboy finery: custom, handcrafted boots and hats; solid sterling silver and gold buckles and bolo ties; and luxe leather jackets, belts, and handbags. It’s no wonder the store is a must-stop destination for true cowboys and cowgirls, as well as city folk, tourists, and destination brides and grooms who want to add a dose of Western flair to their wardrobes. “We sell the spirit of the West,” says Braydan Shaw, Burns’s sixth-generation owner.

While the cowboy boutique could easily be mistaken for a relic from the town’s mining past—it’s missing only horses and a hitching post—Burns Cowboy Shop has been open in Park City only since 2008. But the Utah history behind the Burns name and business dates back to 1876, when Miles Lamonie Burns, a cowboy, blacksmith, and leather craftsman, founded Burns Saddlery and began manufacturing harnesses. Today, the Burnses’ fifth- and sixth-generation family members, including Shaw, continue the Burns legacy at their manufacturing headquarters in Salina, Utah. There, hand-tooled, benchmade saddles and the ruggedly handsome hats, belts, and buckles sold at the Main Street outpost are all made by seasoned craftsmen.

For Shaw, carrying on the tradition of those skilled hands is his passion—he offers young ranch kids in Salina the opportunity to apprentice at Burns. “I want to help these kids learn, grow, and develop a trade,” he says. “Many of the craftsmen are in their twilight, and we don’t want to lose the art.”

Cowboy Up

Spend your buckaroos on these signature Burns items. 

Get fitted for a pair of Burns boots.

“Our boots are a little more roomy than traditional boots, so they’re easier to walk in,” says Shaw. “Style is really important, too. We use clean, simple designs and do a lot of inlays and overlays, as well as floral motifs for the ladies.”

Belly up to the custom hat bar.

All of the hats are handmade, one at a time, from rabbit and beaver hair. “Our hats are wearable and don’t sit quite as high on the head,” Shaw explains. Accent yours with a leather, sterling silver, or ribbon hatband—perfect for holding a feather or flower.

Buckle up with some serious hardware.

Burns’s shiny silver belt buckles feature traditional Western symbols like longhorns, which represent resilience, and bison, which represent the American West. Belts are made with alligator, hippo, and crocodile skins—the same high-quality leather used by high-fashion brand Hermès.