Oldest Dancehall in Texas: Gruene Hall
The historic German town of Gruene, pronounced “Green”, is located right outside of New Braunfels, Texas and 25 miles north of San Antonio in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Gruene Hall was built in 1878 by Henry (Heinrich) D. Gruene and is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall. By design, not much has physically changed since the Hall was first built. The 6,000 square foot dance hall with a high pitched tin roof still has the original layout with side flaps for open air dancing, a bar in the front, a small lighted stage in the back and a huge outdoor garden. Advertisement signs from the 1930s and 40s still hang in the old hall and around the stage.
Front of Gruene Hall
In the 1800s, Gruene Hall held weekly dances and played host to everything from traveling salesmen to high school graduations to badger fights. Today, the Hall has continued to be a center for the areas social and entertainment scene, and the activities are just as varied. In any given week, locals hold court in the front bar after work talking over their day’s activities, a friend’s passing, the weather or the state of the economy. Possibly at the same time, the filming of a movie or commercial or preparation for a festival, fundraiser or a major corporation’s private party may be taking place in the main hall or beer garden. The hall has also been featured in several books including Pat Green's Dancehalls & Dreamers, Gail Folkins' Texas Dance Halls: A Two Step Circuit, Vokac's The Great Towns of America and Schultz's 1000 Places to See Before You Die.
Front bar in Gruene Hall in the 1880's
Front bar in Gruene Hall in 2017
Gruene Hall has become internationally recognized as a destination tourist attraction and major music venue for up-and-coming as well as established artists. Since 1975, the Hall has played host to hundreds of celebrities whose pictures adorn the walls. Focused on booking singer-songwriters and artists who play original material has provided a fertile proving ground for many former “new talents” such as George Strait, Hal Ketchum, and Lyle Lovett.
Gruene Hall has also become a place where working songwriters, such as John Hiatt or Rodney Crowell, Kevin Welch, Jim Lauderdale and many more local and national artists can try out new material or just take a breather between tour dates; where music icons such as Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley, Merle Haggard or Kris Kristofferson can play in a more intimate venue; where former “up and comers” such as Garth Brooks, Chris Isaak or the Dixie Chicks can extend their tour; and where big names such as Willie Nelson and Aaron Neville have chosen to perform.
Texas Legend Willie Nelson at Gruene Hall
I have been lucky enough to have this amazing piece of Texas history 20 minutes from my home. Historic Gruene and the New Braunfels area are a must see if you are ever in Central Texas.
The main stage and dancefloor at Gruene Hall on "Two Ton Tuesday" with Texas rockabilly band Two Tons of Steel
Below is a list of the famous artists who have played in Gruene Hall over the years:
George Strait
Garth Brooks
The Dixie Chicks
Rodney Crowell
Bo Diddley
Lyle Lovett
Delbert McClinton
Jerry Jeff Walker
Asleep at the Wheel
Albert Collins
Ernest Tubb
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Steve Earle
Tracy Lawrence
Chris Isaak
John Prine
Arlo Guthrie
Texas Tornadoes
John Conlee
Guy Clark
Billy Joe Shaver
Merle Haggard
Johnny Bush
The Mavericks
Robert Earl Keen
Lisa Marie Presley
Gatemouth Brown
Joe Ely Leon Russell
Kris Kristofferson
Hal Ketchum
John Hiatt
Townes Van Zandt
Jim Lauderdale
Flaco Jiminez
Patsy Montana
Ray Price
Los Lobos
Buddy Guy
Little Feat
Radney Foster
Aaron Neville
Willie Nelson
Little Richard
Pat Green
Jerry Lee Lewis
Keb Mo
Todd Rundgren
Dennis Quaid & The Sharks
Lee Ann Womack
The Robert Cray Band
Raul Malo
Patty Griffin
BB King
Eli Young Band
Ryan Adams Poco
Pure Prairie League
Marty Stuart
Buddy Guy
Miranda Lambert
Dierks Bentley
Charlie Robison
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Jack Ingram
George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Taj Mahal
Shooter Jennings
Dr. John
Nickel Creek
Neal McCoy
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Tanya Tucker
The Marshall Tucker Band
Hootie & The Blowfish
Cross Canadian Ragweed
Reverend Horton Heat
Susan Tedeschi
Levon Helm
Lucinda Williams and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
Ziggy Marley
Koko Taylor
Loretta Lynn
"Y'all come back now...ya hear"!