The Broken Spoke: Austin's Last True Texas Dance Hall Since 1964

Right now in Austin: 62°F and sunny—perfect weather to arrive early, poke around the memorabilia, and ease into a night of two-stepping.

Why The Broken Spoke Matters

If you want to feel Old Austin under your boots, you go to The Broken Spoke. Open since 1964 on South Lamar, this low-slung honky-tonk has outlasted waves of change and the condo boom that sprang up around it. Founder James White built it as a home for real country music—no pretense, just a great wooden dance floor and a stage that's hosted Texas legends. Willie Nelson played here before the world knew him. George Strait cut his teeth here with the Ace in the Hole Band. Through the decades, the room has welcomed a long line of greats and local heroes—think Asleep at the Wheel, Dale Watson, The Derailers, and countless touring and Texas country acts. For a deeper dive into that legacy, the Texas State Historical Association’s Broken Spoke entry, the Wikipedia overview of the Broken Spoke, and the short documentary “Legend of The Broken Spoke” on YouTube are worth a look.

Today, The Broken Spoke remains family-run and fiercely itself: part dance hall, part roadhouse restaurant, and part living museum. It's not a nostalgia act; it's the tradition in motion, now cemented by its Texas historical marker recognition and chronicled in deeper dives like Texas State University’s Broken Spoke feature.

What Makes It Authentic Old Austin

• Family roots: Opened by James White in 1964; the family still stewards the place with the same spirit, which you can feel in the stories collected in this Texas Highways feature on its historic status and local perspectives like Edible Austin’s Broken Spoke article.
• A real dance floor: It's built for two-stepping, waltzes, and Western swing—smooth wood, great acoustics, lived-in feel. Architecture nerds will appreciate how it’s discussed in local guides to Austin’s vernacular roadhouse architecture and in preservation-focused writeups from the Texas Historical Commission’s landmark database.
• The menu: Chicken-fried steak that's a local rite of passage, cold longnecks, simple, satisfying roadhouse fare—check the current lineup on the official Broken Spoke menu.
• The rules (and vibe): Respect the dance floor, mind your manners, tip the band, and you'll be part of the community by the second song.
• The setting: A stubborn slice of Texas framed by modern Austin—neon sign out front, country music inside, history on the walls, and a footprint that often shows up in Austin architecture and urban-change writeups and cultural pieces from outlets like the Austin Chronicle music archives.

Insider Timing: How to Do a Broken Spoke Night Right

• Best nights: Thursdays are the sweet spot—great bands, fewer weekend crowds. Fridays and Saturdays are rowdy and fun, but pack in early. Early-week shows can offer roomier dance floors and more locals.
• When to arrive: If you're eating, aim for 6:30–7:00 pm. For lessons, be at the door by 7:30–7:45 pm. If you're skipping lessons, show up before 9:00 pm to avoid the line and snag a good table.
• Typical schedule: Two-step lessons usually start around 8:00 pm and last about an hour. The band hits around 9:00 pm and plays to midnight. Always check the venue calendar and hours or the Broken Spoke’s official schedule for exact times.

For more live-music ideas around the same nights, you can also skim our rotating picks in The Thursday Drop: Austin's Weekend Music Hit List, and you can cross-reference with current lineups via local Austin music listings.

Two-Step Dance Lessons: No Partner, No Problem

• What you'll learn: The Texas two-step basics and simple turns, plus Broken Spoke staples like the Cotton-Eyed Joe and sometimes the Schottische.
• Who it's for: All levels. No partner needed; you'll rotate and meet folks. Smooth-soled shoes or boots are best—rubber soles can stick to the floor, which is part of why the dance space shows up in design-focused pieces about the Broken Spoke’s floor and layout.
• Cost: Expect a small cash fee for lessons (and a separate cover for the live band). Plan for roughly $10–$15 for the lesson and $10–$20 for the show, depending on the night and headliner.
• Pro tip: Beginners do great on Wednesdays and Thursdays; weekends fill up fast and can feel advanced by the second set. Travel writers in pieces like “The Fenced-In Roadhouse” echo that midweek sweet spot if you like more room to learn.

If you end up hooked on the dance-night routine, you might also enjoy low-key hangs like The Butterfly Bar at The Vortex, another locals’ favorite with its own vibe.

The Tourist Trap Room: A Tiny Museum of Texas Country

• What it is: A pocket-size shrine to the people who've passed through—signed photos, hats, stage-worn gear, and decades of ephemera curated by the late James White. You can preview some of that memorabilia via the TSHA history entry and fan writeups like The Saloon UK’s Broken Spoke feature.
• Where to find it: Near the front bar/restaurant area. Ask a staff member to point you in the right direction.
• When to go: Right after you arrive or before the band starts—once the music's on, you'll want to be on the floor.

If you’re into browsing photos before you go, community-sourced Google Maps and Flickr photo tours give a nice preview of the walls and memorabilia.

Cash-Only Details (Don't Get Stuck at the Door)

• Cover charge: Traditionally cash-only at the door. There's an ATM on-site, but it's smart to bring bills so you're not stuck in line. Recent visitor notes in this family travel guide to the Broken Spoke back up the “cash is king” advice.
• Bar and food: Bring cash. Depending on the night, some transactions may accept cards, but don't count on it.
• Tips: Bands and bartenders appreciate cash. You'll be glad you brought extra.

If you’re planning a bigger weekend around town, it can pair nicely with other budget-aware nights, like using our free parking playbook for Thanksgiving weekend and transit intel from the City of Austin transportation page.

Food and Drink: Fuel for Dancing

• What to order: The chicken-fried steak is the classic—crispy crust, peppery cream gravy, and big enough to share. Burgers, sandwiches, and Tex-Mex plates round things out, and you can skim the current Broken Spoke food menu if you like to plan ahead.
• Drinks: Longneck beers, whiskey, and simple mixed drinks done right. Hydrate between songs—the dance floor is a workout.

For more eating-around-town inspiration before or after you dance, our Austin food & drink openings roundup and Yard Bar North Austin guide are good companion reads, and you can layer in broader city picks from Eater Austin’s restaurant maps.

Dance Floor Etiquette (How to Be a Good Partner and Neighbor)

• Move counterclockwise and keep traffic flowing; faster dancers on the outside, beginners toward the center.
• Don't stop on the floor—step to the edge to chat, adjust boots, or sip.
• No drinks on the dance floor. It keeps the floor safe and slick.
• Make eye contact, smile, and say thanks after a dance.
• Ask respectfully, accept gracefully—everyone's here to have fun.
• Tip the band and the sound folks. They set the tone for the whole night.

If you’re into building full “reset” days around nights like this—sweat, then recover—you might like our Austin contrast therapy crawl guide or a soak at the Fairmont Spa Austin, and you can round out your circuit with more options from our Austin recovery lounges reset guide.

Getting There and Practicals

• Address: 3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX.
• Parking: There's a small on-site lot that fills quickly. Rideshare is your friend on busy nights. For more logistics on public transit, parking, and nearby stays, the Visit Austin Broken Spoke listing is handy, and you can cross-check traveler intel via the Tripadvisor page for The Broken Spoke.
• All ages: Early evening is generally family-friendly, but check the venue's current policy before you bring the crew. 21+ to drink with a valid ID.
• Line length: On weekends, lines can form by 8:30–9:00 pm. Arrive early and you'll glide right in.

3201 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX

If you’re mapping out a whole family week in town, you can slot this between kid-friendly stops from our Thanksgiving Break Family Playbook or seasonal outings like Fortlandia at the Wildflower Center.

If You're Going Tonight (62°F and sunny)

• Grab an early table on this beautiful evening, wander the Tourist Trap Room, and join the 8:00 pm lesson. By the 9:00 pm downbeat, you'll feel right at home in the fast lane. If you want to see how other visitors pace their night, pieces like “The Fenced-In Roadhouse” on MyFamilyTravels offer a nice preview, and you can peek at current snapshots via The Broken Spoke’s official Instagram.

A Sample Night at The Broken Spoke

• 6:45 pm: Arrive, order chicken-fried steak and a longneck. Soak up the front room's easygoing roadhouse vibe.
• 7:30 pm: Stroll the Tourist Trap Room—spot the photos of Willie Nelson and George Strait, and thumb through the history on the walls, much of which is echoed in The Saloon UK’s writeup of legendary nights here.
• 8:00 pm: Two-step lesson. Learn the basics and a turn or two.
• 9:00 pm: Band kicks off. Dance a waltz, try the Cotton-Eyed Joe, and join the counterclockwise traffic like you were born to it.
• 11:30 pm: Last call for a slow dance. Tip the band, say thanks to your partners, and step out into the Austin night smiling.

If you’re hungry after, you can pivot to a late-night feast via our Austin barbecue guide or mix it up with South Indian comfort at Shallots Indian Cuisine.

Why You'll Remember It

The Broken Spoke isn't just "something to do in Austin." It's the feeling of old Texas carried forward—sawdust in the boards, neon in the windows, and a stage that still makes careers and memories. Legends have played here. Locals still do. And if you time it right, bring some cash, and lace up for a lesson, you'll be part of its living history before the first chorus ends. The TSHA history, official site, the Wikipedia entry, and the “Legend of The Broken Spoke” film all underline just how rare that combination is, as do cultural snapshots from KUT Austin’s coverage of the venue’s impact and profiles in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

Before You Go: Quick Checklist

• Cash for cover, lessons, drinks, and tips
• Smooth-soled shoes or boots
• Valid ID (21+ to drink)
• Rideshare on weekends or busy nights
• A glance at the online calendar for lesson and show times

See you under the neon sign.

For more Austin insider guides, check out our Austin barbecue guide and Austin food & drink openings, or build a whole downtown loop with our Visitor Center and Fareground insider playbook.