Hill Country
Gruene
A cotton town that went broke, got skipped by the highway, and survived intact — including the oldest dance hall in Texas.
Gruene went under with the boll weevil and the Depression, and neglect turned out to be a preservation strategy. The buildings stayed because nobody had money to replace them.
Gruene Hall still has the original plank floor, side flaps instead of windows, and a stage that has hosted everyone from Townes Van Zandt to whoever is about to be famous.
Don't miss
- Gruene Hall, built 1878, no air conditioning on purpose
- Tubing the Guadalupe from the outfitters below the bluff
- Sunday afternoon shows that start at 1 p.m.
- The water tower that survived the bust
Nearby reading