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Gruene Hall, built in 1878, is Texas’ oldest continually operating and most famous dance hall. It’s conveniently located between Austin and San Antonio along the banks of the Guadalupe River in what is now Gruene Historic District in New Braunfels. 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 1930's and 40’s still hang in the old hall and around the stage. In the 1800’s, Gruene Hall held its weekly dances and played host to everything from traveling salesmen to high school graduations to badger fights. Since 1975, the Hall has played host to many celebrities whose pictures adorn the walls. The owner’s booking direction has been focused on singer-songwriters and artists who play original material. This approach has provided a fertile proving ground for many former “new talents” such as George Strait, Hal Ketchum, Lyle Lovett; as a place where working songwriters, such as John Hiatt or Rodney Crowell, Kevin Welch, Bruce Robison or Jim Lauderdale, can try out new material or take a breather between tour dates; where music icons such as Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddly, Merle Haggard or Kris Kristofferson can play, and 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. As a result, the big winners have been the Hall’s patrons. One never knows if the artist they see at the Hall today will be a star tomorrow, but the quality of the music is always top notch. http://gruenehall.com |