Dance Venues in Central Texas*

Alert Gazette readers know that one of the reasons Debbie and I chose the Texas Hill Country for our retirement years is the accessibility and variety of live music, and to be more specific, live music in dance venues. We learned to dance while living in West Texas, and while Midland and Odessa provided a surprising multiplicity of opportunities, the area was not the hotbed of amazingly talented performers and supportive venues that radiates out from Austin.

We live in Horseshoe Bay, a small but rapidly growing community, and we have the opportunity to meet quite a few newcomers. One of the questions that often comes up, if and when the conversation turns to live music and dancing, is this: Where are some good places to go dancing around here?

I’ve touched on this subject previously, but it’s been a while and we’ve discovered some new venues (and some others are no longer in business). So I’ve compiled the following as a resource for folks who are seeking options that don’t require driving into Austin (if you’ve ever driven in Austin, you’ll understand that aversion).

At the risk of seeming overly egocentric, I drew a circle with a radius of approximately sixty miles around Horseshoe Bay, and all the venues listed below fall within that circle. Why sixty miles? That’s about an hour’s drive, and anything more than that gets close to requiring an overnight stay for nighttime events. Yeah, we’re old. Anyway, the mileage shown for each listing is the distance from Horseshoe Bay, according to Google Maps.

Debbie and I have visited and danced at each of these venues and our ratings are based on our admittedly subjective assessments of the experiences. Your mileage will likely vary, even though we’re always right. JK. Probably. But if your experiences with any of them are significantly different, feel free to leave an explanatory comment.

Listings are in alphabetical order. All parking is unpaved unless otherwise noted (might be important if rain is expected). Also, the address links will open a Google Map page or tab for that location, for your traveling convenience.

Albert Icehouse & Dance Hall
5435 Ranch to Market Rd 1623, Stonewall, TX 78671
43 miles
Website: https://alberttexas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alberttexas

Historic dance hall with a hardwood floor that can be a bit rough depending on how much gravel is tracked in from the unpaved parking lot and entrance. Many dances are free; some have a cover charge. Full bar. Heat but no air conditioning. Limited food selection via food truck. A few tables for seating groups of eight or so; more seating on stools on the perimeter of the hall. Restrooms are located in a separate building 100 yards from the dance hall.

Pro Tip: If driving from Johnson City, stop for dinner at the excellent Old 290 Brewery & Restaurant located at the Carter Creek Winery Resort.

Musicians of Note: Two Tons of Steel; Bob Appel Band

The Barrel House 
101 E Grayson St, Llano, TX 78643
26 miles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SippinTheGoodStuff

The Barrel House is a full-service restaurant with good food and a full bar. There’s indoor seating with air-conditioning but the live music takes place in a covered and partially enclosed area with ceiling fans but no a/c. The smooth dance floor is small. There’s generally no cover charge; reservations are available and recommended as seating fills up quickly on the weekends. Service can be very slow during the busy times. Paved parking on the street.

Musicians of Note: Chuck Wimer Band; Triple Bogey+

Bend General Store
115 County Rd 438, Bend, TX 76877
60 miles
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bendgeneralstore

This venue is at the very edge of our travel circle. It’s pretty much in the middle of nowhere, but that’s not a bad thing. It’s ramshackle and rustic and that also is not a bad thing. There’s a small concrete dance floor in front of the stage, which is indoors and is air-conditioned. There’s also outdoor seating for good weather. Beer, wine, and a limited variety of mixed drinks are available, and a menu that offers a range of food from catfish to burgers to (occasionally) steak. Indoor seating is very limited seating. There’s a cover charge for selected events but most music is free with live music every weekend. The restroom situation is a bit rustic also: a porta john for men but an indoor restroom for women. Look for Bret Cali, the owner; he’s got enough stories to fill an encyclopedia.

Musicians of Note: Los Texmaniacs; Derek Groves Band

Cadillac Dance Hall
1375 FM1855, Marble Falls, TX 78654
16 miles
Website: https://www.thedosconchasranch.com/cadillac-dance-hall
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dosconchasranch

This venue hosts a dance the last Saturday of each month, and occasionally for special events. It has a medium-sized hardwood dance floor and much more seating than the dance floor will accommodate. In other words, it can get extremely crowded. It’s non-smoking, air-conditioned, and usually has a nominal cover charge. A very limited food menu is offered from a connected kitchen. BYOB.

Musicians of Note: Eddie Shell & the Not Guilties (house band)

Crossroads Saloon & Steakhouse
57 miles
305 W Main St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
Website: https://crossroads-texas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossroadsfredericksburg/

Crossroads is a popular high-end restaurant with an attached bar offering live music five nights each week. Music spans a variety of genres from country to blues to “party” (however you define it. The dance floor is small, air-conditioned, and non-smoking. If you dine in the restaurant, there’s generally no cover charge to move into the bar afterwards to enjoy the music, but depending on the act, you may have to pay a cover to access the bar from the street. Street parking available.

Musicians of Note: Del Castillo; Jesse Stratton Band

Hondo’s On Main 
312 W Main St, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
57 miles
Website: https://www.hondosonmain.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hondosonmain

Located a block down and across the street from Crossroads, Hondo’s is a restaurant and bar (serving famously strong margaritas!) with indoor and outdoor dining. Weather permitting, the outdoor venue, with a pergola-based bandstand, is where dancing can take place on the small outdoor concrete dance floor, ringed with tables, and with a tree growing in the middle. Live music every weekend; no cover charge. Outdoor seating requires an early arrival as it quickly becomes standing room only, especially during the summer. Paved parking on the street or adjacent bank parking lot after hours.

Musicians of Note: John Arthur Martinez Band; Chuck Wimer Band

Lakeway Activity Center
105 Cross Creek, Lakeway, TX 78734
35 miles
Website (Big Band Bash): https://www.lakeway-tx.gov/1880/Big-Band-Bash
Website (house band): http://www.republicoftexasbigband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/republicoftexasbigband

This is the sole venue on this list devoted to ballroom dancing. Once a month, on the second Monday of the month (7:00-9:00 p.m.), music is provided by the 17-piece Republic of Texas Big Band and vocalist. The smooth vinyl planked dance floor is medium-sized. The venue is air-conditioned, dances are free (but tips for the orchestra are collected during the break), and the demographic skews to the older end. Paved parking. Note: Occasionally, a group of swing dancers from Austin will show up, and if you’re a stickler for ballroom dance etiquette, prepare to be unpleasantly surprised because they can dominate the floor with little or no regard to other dancers. Fortunately, there are open areas on either side of the bandstand that offer some relief to more sedate dancers.

Luckenbach Dance Hall 
412 Luckenbach Town Loop, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
51 miles
Website: https://www.luckenbachtexas.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuckenbachTexas

Who doesn’t know about Luckenbach? Possibly the most famous of the Texas historic dance halls (perhaps second only to Greune Hall). It offers a large, unairconditioned hardwood floor. Beer and wine available for purchase. LIve music almost every day/evening; dances are almost always on the weekends and most are free. Note: Don’t be led astray by the Fredericksburg address; it’s miles away from the town.

Musicians of Note: You name them; they’ve been there.

Mercer Dance Hall 
23490 Ranch Rd 12, Driftwood, TX 78619
49 miles
Website: https://www.mercerdancehall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MercerDanceHall

Large hardwood floor, air-conditioned, non-smoking with a full bar. Popcorn available but no other food. Offers reserved tables ($50 for a four-top; $100 for an 8-top). Also offers Sunday afternoon dances — 3:00-6:00 p.m. $10/person cover charge. Live music every Saturday and Sunday (Sunday dances are 3:00-6:00 p.m.). Dance lessons every Friday. Note: This dance hall was once located in downtown Dripping Springs, on Mercer Street, where it was called, oddly enough, Mercer Street Dance Hall. That venue lost its lease a few years ago, and a new venue was constructed a few miles to the south in Driftwood, but kept the Mercer name.

Musicians of Note: Bob Appel Band; the Pearl Snaps; People’s Choice Band

Pardners Nightclub 
15615 TX-29, Buchanan Dam, TX 78609
21 miles
Website: https://pardnersnightclub.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pardnersnc

This honky-tonk has a medium sized hardwood dance floor, nicely fenced-off from the tables and the bandstand that surround it. It offers live music every Wednesday, 6:00-10:00 p.m.; cover charge ($12 cash on Wednesdays; $4 other times), full bar, no reservations, non-smoking. Note: They now offer a limited food menu — cash only as of this writing.

Musicians of Note: Weldon Henson; Jody Proctor; Craig Howell

Twin Sisters Dance Hall 
6720 US-281, Blanco, TX 78606
46 miles
Website: https://www.twinsistersdancehall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwinSistersDanceHall

This is another historic dance hall (built in 1879) and is operated as a non-profit organization. It is un-airconditioned (but with numerous fans), and has a large hardwood floor. It’s non-smoking venue. Dances are held once a month, on the first Saturday, plus special fundraising events. Nominal cover charge; tables are available in advance by paid reservation; more are available on a first-come/first-served basis. Beer and wine available for purchase (no BYOB). A food truck offering barbecue is generally on-site.

Pro Tips: Try to arrive in Blanco around 6:00 p.m. and have dinner at the Redbud Cafe, across from the courthouse. At 6:30, Erik Hokkanen‘s trio plays, and you’ll be mesmerized by their musical talents.

Also, if you’re driving to the dance hall from Blanco, and it’s your first time to go to Twin Sisters, try to use your GPS or navigation aid of choice, especially after dark. You’ll come upon the entrance fairly suddenly over a hill, and you’ll have to make a left turn where there is not a turn lane and the traffic on US 281 can be heavy. At night, watch for the small lighted sign at the entrance; the dance hall itself is hidden back in the woods.

Musicians of Note: Jody Nix; Pauline Reese

Yee Haw Saloon 
3915 US-290, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
52 miles
Website: https://yeehawsaloon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084301504926

This venue has a small polished concrete dance floor and features Saturday afternoon dances (3:00-6:00) w/live music. Full bar, no cover, air-conditioned, non-smoking. Snacks available. Housed in the same building as the related (and quite large) western wear store. Will seat many more people than the dance floor will accommodate. Paved parking (if you can find any empty spaces)

Musicians of Note: Bob Appel Band; Scott Crofts Band

The following venues are either outside the 60-mile radius but highly recommended, or we have not visited them.

Sundown 
909 Bessemer Ave, Llano, TX 78643
27 miles
Website: https://www.sundownhonkytonk.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557809271527

This is a relatively new honkytonk, advertising a full bar, air-conditioning. It appears to have a medium-sized hardwood dance floor, and live music every weekend and an afternoon dance on the last Sunday of each month, 2:00-6:00 p.m. Paved parking. We’ve yet to visit Sundown.

Musicians of Note (advertised): Dale Watson

Gruene Hall 
1281 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130
76 miles
Website: https://www.greunehall.com
Facebook: https://www.facebookFacebookcom/gruenehalltx?

Advertised as the oldest continuously operating dance hall in Texas, Gruene Hall certainly looks the part. It has a large, well-worn hardwood dance floor, no air-conditioning, and very limited indoor seating (plenty of adjacent outdoor seating). Concerts by “big name” bands are generally standing room only. It offers a full bar, live music every day, afternoons and evenings, some of which is free and others are ticketed. Multiple excellent restaurants are within walking distance. Paved parking on the street.

Musicians of Note: As with Luckenbach, you name them; they’ve been there.