When guests drive up the tree-lined gravel road to Wayback Barn, visitors can spot a 100-year-old red barn on a four-acre property that also includes picnic tables and a variety of outdoor games nestled under Bois d’Arc trees.

McKinney residents and married couple Ryan and Laura O’Dowd opened Wayback Barn in 2023.

“We want it to be about connecting with your people through games and good conversation in a relaxed atmosphere,” Laura O’Dowd said of the business.

The set up

A variety of experiences are available at Wayback Barn. A $6 entry fee gives guests access to tables and outdoor games including cornhole, ping pong, foosball, tetherball, volleyball, horseshoes, gaga ball, nine square, football and soccer.


Mini golf can be added for another $6 as well as axe throwing for another $15.

“There's 18 holes of mini golf. It's all under the trees, so it's very shaded, which is great in the summer,” Laura O’Dowd said. “Sometimes you hit the ball around trees.”

What else?

Situated within the barn is Hayloft Bar & Grill, which serves mainly finger foods including a Texas-shaped charcuterie board, pizza grilled cheese, panko fried shrimp and more. Old-fashioned sodas, made with cane sugar and served in glass bottles, are also available and a popular choice, the business owners said. The bar program offers a rotating whiskey selection, various cocktails, beer and wine.


“We’re primarily a gathering place that offers food versus a restaurant that offers a play area,” Laura O’Dowd said.

Who its for

The O’Dowds said the top three reasons guests visit Wayback Barn are parties, family outings and dates. Because of the diversity of activities, people of all ages enjoy the experience, the couple said.

“We see down-to-earth people—they’re looking for stuff that isn’t bougie,” Ryan O’Dowd said. “The biggest thing is to relax and not feel the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”


The background

Following a vacation to Colorado, where the O’Dowds’ family of five enjoyed filling their time with outdoor activities, they returned to their McKinney home and sought to duplicate the fun but instead found a void.

“We wondered if McKinney would be really grateful if we did something like this,” Laura O’Dowd said. “If there are other people looking for something outside, kind of that old-fashioned fun.”

The O’Dowds said prior to purchasing the property, they had already fallen in love with the 100-year-old barn.


“Someone else might have bought this property and torn it down because it was pretty dilapidated,” Laura O’Dowd said. “But we ... brought it back to life.”

The renovation, which was an effort by the entire O’Dowd family and a few family friends, took two years to complete.

“We did all the work ourselves, literally, all but for the concrete on the bathrooms,” Laura O’Dowd said. “We ran electrical, put in toilets, installed plumbing, built the bathrooms, parking lot, mini golf course...”

Quote of note


Besides a small light in the bar, Wayback Barn is solely lit by thousands of string lights.

“I use the word ‘magical,’” Laura O’Dowd said. “I feel like at night, when the twinkle lights are on, it's really lovely and beautiful.”