Gruene Hall

Gruene Hall, built in 1878 by Henry (Heinrich) D. Gruene and located in the historical town of Gruene, Texas (now a part of New Braunfels), bills itself as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas". 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 1940s still hang in the old hall and around the stage.

Gruene Hall
Gruene Hall in 2017
LocationGruene, Texas
Coordinates29°44′18″N 98°6′16″W
Built1878 (1878)
Built byChristian Herry
ArchitectH.D. Gruene
Part ofGruene Historic District (ID75001962)
RTHL No.2296
Significant dates
Designated CPApril 21, 1975[1]
Designated RTHL1988

Under the current ownership, Gruene Hall has become internationally recognized as a destination tourist attraction and major music venue for up-and-coming as well as established artists. Gruene Hall has hosted such acts as Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Strait, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Hal Ketchum, and Gregg Allman. It was also used as a set for Michael, starring John Travolta. Tracie Ferguson, the booking agent of 30 years, is credited with starting the original music approach that has made Gruene Hall an iconic music venue, helping to jump-start the careers of Lovett, Townes Van Zandt, Ketchum, Bruce Robison, Nanci Griffith, Ryan Bingham, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Robert Earl Keen, Lucinda Williams and many others.

The hall has 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.

In 2019, ZZ Top did interviews, and played live music for many parts of the Documentary That Little ol' Band from Texas, at the famous dance hall. At the end of the documentary, they walk out to the front of the dancehall in Gruene, with clear view of some of the town, and drove off together into the horizon.

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
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