Day Trips

John T. was a hell of a man. (Photo By Gerald E. McLeod)

Dance halls in Central Texas are some of the most famous Saturday night palaces in the state. Maybe it's the family atmosphere or maybe it's the sweet Hill Country air that makes dancing the night away such a pleasure. Start your waltz across Texas at these dance halls:

Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon – The dance floor is small and crowded, but the bands play to enthusiastic crowds. Don't tell the regular patrons who shuffle across the sawdust-covered floor that this is more of a honky-tonk than a dance hall. Arkey still tends bar and gets on stage with his Blue Cowboys. Open daily with live music most Wednesday through Sunday nights. 308 Main St., Bandera, 830/796-8826.

Cabaret – On the list of the oldest continuously operated dance halls in Texas, the Cabaret was established in 1936. Although the music is usually Top 40 country, the atmosphere is rustic honky-tonk. Open Thursday through Sunday with live music every Saturday night and intermittently on other nights. 801 Main St., Bandera, 830/796-8166.

Cheatham Street Warehouse – A young George Strait used to play here even though it is more of a live-music venue than a dance hall. The nightly music leans toward the singer-songwriter and a songwriters' circle on Wednesday night has been going on since 1975. 119 Cheatham, San Marcos, 512/353-3777. www.cheathamstreet.com.

Club 21 – Started as part of a club for German farmers to get together to drink and sing and shoot their guns on the weekend. The bar and jukebox are open Tuesday through Sunday with live music on Saturday nights. Old Spanish Trail off of TX 21 between San Marcos and Lockhart in Uhland. 512/398-2901.

The Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall – The barbecue is served family-style, and the dance hall next door only sells longnecks. The building was constructed in 1910 and over the years has seen a number of businesses fill the space. 101 Hoxie, Coupland, about eight miles north of Elgin. Restaurant open Thursday, 5:30-9:30pm; Friday and Saturday, 5:30-10pm. Dance hall opens Friday, 7pm-12mid; Saturday, 7pm-1am. 512/856-2226. www.couplanddancehall.com.

John T. Floore's Country Store – Patio and outdoor dance hall added to the family-run store in 1942. John T. is most famous for being mentioned in a Willie Nelson song. A young Willie had a standing Saturday night gig at the honky-tonk. Live music on Friday and Saturday nights with a free family dance on most Sunday evenings. 14464 Old Bandera Rd., Helotes, 210/695-8827. www.liveatfloores.com.

Gruene Hall – Built in 1878; it is the oldest continuously used dance hall in Texas. This big barn of a dance hall has seen some of the biggest names in entertainment walk across the stage. To regulars it is just a great neighborhood bar, but to the rest of us it is the pinnacle of Texas dance halls. 1281 Gruene Rd., north of New Braunfels in the Gruene Historic District, 830/606-1281. www.gruenehall.com.

Luckenbach Dance Hall – Willie, Waylon, and the boys don't make it by much anymore, but the old dance hall and country store are still the mecca of redneck rock. The store is open daily 10am to 9pm with live music Wednesday through Sunday and special events on many weekends. East of Fredericksburg off of FM 1376. 830/997-3224 or 888/311-8990. www.luckenbachtexas.com.

Saengerhalle – Built in 1959 for German singing clubs and turned into a dance hall in 1996. Besides a large dance floor, the hall also has pool tables, foosball, shuffleboard, volleyball, horseshoes, and washers. Live music on the porch on Wednesday evenings, open mic on Thursday evenings, with shows on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 9pm. 255 Saengerhalle Rd., New Braunfels, 830/625-4255. www.saengerhalle.com.

Two Sisters Dance Hall – Hidden in the woods off U.S. 281 seven miles south of Blanco, this is a country dance hall that hasn't changed in decades. The dance hall has roots back to 1869, and the rustic building could easily be that old. Music on Saturday nights only. 830/833-4808.

The Walburg Restaurant – The restaurant offers authentic German food, and the band fills the tent-covered dance floor in the biergarten on most Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7:30pm. The band is nearly always the Walburg Boys, which includes one of the restaurant's yodeling owners. North of Georgetown off of I-35 at 3777 FM 972 in Walburg, 512/863-8440. www.walburgrestaurant.com.

718th in a series. Day Trips, Vol. 2, a book of Day Trips 101-200, is available for $8.95, plus $3.05 for shipping, handling, and tax. Mail to: Day Trips, PO Box 33284, South Austin, TX 78704.