Top 5 Dance Halls to "Boot-Scoot and Boogie" in Texas
Across the state of Texas, dance halls have somewhat become a novelty in recent years. Maybe it’s the atmosphere, the beer, and the talented musicians that draw the crowds but clearly Texas dance halls offer people a place where they can relax, enjoy the simplicity, and escape the stress of daily life. Here, a friend can be found simply because you wore the exact same boots, or because you were both from the same city. Each one of the following dance halls is just a “two-step” away!

Gruene Hall (Source: HolmFamilyCookBook.com)
Situated in the historical town of Gruene, Texas, Gruene Hall was built in 1878, by Richard Gruene, where it is known as “the oldest continually running dance hall in Texas.” Gruene, Texas became a ghost town in 1922 due to economic disasters (the boll weevil and the Great Depression). All of the businesses in Gruene closed down, except Gruene Hall which never closed its doors. In 1975, the town came alive again when Pat Molak and his friend Mary Jane Nalley purchased Gruene Hall and worked to preserve it with minor restorations. Gruene Hall was the starting point for many songwriters and musicians, such as George Strait, Lyle Lovett, and Robert Earl Keen. The latest up-and-coming performers, like Roger Creager, Wade Bowen, and Aaron Watson, also perform here. Gruene Hall has also been the set for a few movies and commercials. The hall’s tin roof, original 1930’s advertisement signs, open-air dancing, and floors covered in fresh cornmeal, enhance the vintage atmosphere putting Gruene, Texas on the map, and marking it as a popular tourist destination.

Luckenbach, Texas (Source: farm8.staticflickr.com)
Established in 1849, as a trading post between pioneers and Comanche Indians, Luckenbach, Texas, was founded by Reverend Engel. The town was accidentally named when Jacob Luckenbach, the town’s first settler, had a son who married Engel’s daughter. The pair went to apply for a post office to be established in their town and Engel’s daughter used her husband’s name, and the name stuck. In 1970, the Engel family put the town up for sale and a man named Hondo Crouch turned Luckenbach, Texas, into a make- believe old-west town. People were attracted to the town by the mysterious personality and antics of Hondo Crouch. He was a storyteller, whittler, philosopher, and was always accompanied by his guitar, as he sang Mexican and Cowboy songs.
The song, “Luckenbach, Texas”, released in 1977 and sung by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, became a huge hit in the world of country music, and brought Luckenbach up to its current worldwide fame. It would be a bad idea to show up here and not have this song memorized. Luckenbach, Texas hosts monthly dances, starring singers, such as, Pat Green and Billy Joe Shaver. So, get your dancing feet ready and stop off inside the town where “everybody is somebody.”
“We have discovered that Luckenbach, on the globe, is right in the middle of the world, and we figure that if God hadn’t intended for us to be the center of the world, He wouldn’t have put us here.”
-Hondo Crouch

Billy Bob's Texas (Source: tours.360ftworth.com)
Located in the Fort Worth Stockyards, the building known as Billy Bob’s Texas (BBT), built in 1910, went from being an open-air barn for the Fort Worth Stock Shows, to an airplane factory in WW2, then a department store, before it reached its current status as a dance hall.
BBT was opened on April 1, 1981, by Billy Bob Barnett, where it bills itself as, “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk”, with 127,000 square feet. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers were the dancehall’s very first performers, but other artists followed, such as Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Reba McEntire, and many others. A celebrity wall of concrete, handprint impressions, adorns the walls of BBT, featuring country legends, such as Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, and Dottie West. Every Friday and Saturday night BBT has live bull riding shows performed by up-and-coming riders. So, whether it’s for the beer, the dancing, or the bulls, there is something for everybody at Billy Bob’s if you just come as you are.

Joesmartonline.com
John T. Floore Country Store
Established in Helotes, Texas, in 1942, by John T. Floore and his wife, John T. Floore Country Store was not just a store, but a unique combination of different venues. The store offered a dancehall, bar, cafe, meat, groceries, and real estate. John T. Floore Country Store is also known as the birthplace of Willie Nelson, due to the commemoration of Mr. Floore, in his hit song, “Shotgun Willie”. Willie Nelson is still said to be seen regularly inside the store, stopping by to pay a visit or play a tune every once in a while. Legendary performers such as Ernest Tubb, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, and George Jones, have graced the stage as well as new artists, like Randy Rogers, Brandon Rhyder, and Reckless Kelly. This is definitely a place to embrace country music history, not to mention eat a giant helping of Mr. Floore’s world famous tamales and homemade bread.

Broken Spoke (Source: BorkenSpokeAustinTX.com)
The Broken Spoke, located in Austin, Texas, was opened in 1964, by James White. The hall got its name because James White simply liked a radio program called “The Broken Arrow”, and he liked wagon wheels. James White has booked many country music heroes like Bob Wills, Tex Ritter, Ray Price, Kitty Wells, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and George Strait, as well as new singers and songwriters, such as, the Derailers, Jesse Dayton, and Bobby Flores. James White is also a talented artist, and has joined performers on stage at the Broken Spoke. He has also created a room called “The Tourist Trap” which is dedicated to country music, filled with photos, cowboy hats, and other memorabilia. James White has ultimately captured the magic of country music and has made it tangible to all who walk through the doors of the Broken Spoke.
“When you walk underneath that big old oak tree out front, you throw that front door open on this red, rustic, old building, you’re at the Broken Spoke, the last of the true Texas dance halls.”
– Broken Spoke Legend
Dance halls are places where people from different walks of life interact creating a stimulating atmosphere that unites strangers. Just bring your personality and your best pair of dancing shoes, for what’s sure to be a good time. Don’t forget to leave all of your troubles at the front door