Gruene Hall in New Braunfels was built in 1878 and calls itself Texas’s oldest continually operating dance hall. It is also one of the state’s most famous music venues.
A building that has barely changed
The hall is about 6,000 square feet with a high-pitched tin roof. It keeps its original layout: side flaps that open for outdoor air, a bar up front, a small lighted stage in the back and a large garden outside.
Famous names, small stage
Over the years the hall has hosted country, blues, Americana and rock performers. The venue lists George Strait, Willie Nelson and Lyle Lovett among the artists who have played there.
Know before you go
- Address: 1281 Gruene Rd., New Braunfels.
- Check the hall’s website for its calendar of shows and ticket information.
Gruene Hall is proof that a single room can keep a community’s music alive for nearly 150 years.
Featured photo: Gruene Hall by Carol M. Highsmith, Library of Congress, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.