Recently I’ve found myself traveling more often to my home state of Texas and it’s always good to go back and visit. Each trip seems to feed my curiosity to go explore a new town so that I can get a pulse of the area. Gruene is a town that has been on my list so on my last trip I had some extra time and off we went! 

Located just North of San Antonio, near New Braunfels, this small and welcoming town was a great find. Now before I go on, I have to admit that it took me a minute and a few guesses to get the correct pronunciation of Gruene, which for the record sounds like the color “Green”.  There are a few more cities and counties around San Antonio who’s name are also of German origin and spelling, but pronounced differently than they are spelled but that’s another blog for another time. 

Following a two lane road and guided by the trees and banks of the Guadalupe River, you are directed into Gruene. Founded in 1878 by Henry D. Gurene, the town has gone through its fair share of good and challenging times. The town has stood the test of time with historical landmarks, like the Gruene dance hall, that still draws visitors nearly 150 years later.

Built in 1878 the Gruene Dance Hall is the oldest operating dance hall to date in the state of Texas. Modest in its design and layout, it has hosted and been visited by many famous artist and was the home base for George Strait before he achieved fame.  Even Hollywood came and sought out The Gruene Dance Hall to film the dance scene John Travolta performed in his movie “Michael”. Entering the hall through its old wood frame screen doors, (like the ones your aunt or grandmother might have had at their home), it sparks a sense of familiarity. The building welcomes you and soon you might find yourself at the bar getting a beer and then gravitating to the wood benches and picnic tables. Screen material line the walls in lieu of glass windows and serves its purpose to keep the hall ventilated on a warm summer day or cool when the dance floor is busy with people two stepping and twirling on the dance floor.   

The mercantile located across the street, is tall and proud. Built of red brick, it marks the main street corner in Gruene and has proven to be a mainstay of the town. Built in 1904, it bears the name of H.D. Gruene and still operates as a mercantile. The general store across the street is a mix of store and soda fountain bar. You could almost imagine people sitting on the silver based bar stools with bright red cushioning, now cracked with age, with their sodas or shakes on top of the dark wood counter.  Various types of candy and sweets are generously displayed on the counter and you have to wonder how many conversations have occurred at that counter.

Before we ended our visit, we decided to get some lunch and ended up at the Gristmill restaurant, which use to serve as a former cotton gin. Located next to the Gruene dance hall, the cotton gin had burned down in 1922 and was refurbished into an eatery in the 1970’s. With the Guadalupe River located within a few hundred yards, patrons can eat on the outdoor patios and enjoy the sounds and view or can dine in the open aired rooms that invite the outdoors inside while paying homage to its cotton gin origins. Several rooms within the restaurant have fireplaces and a few of them have some local decor on them, like “Lupe”,  the taxidermy long horned steered head mount (who you’ll see in the photos attached), who kept a watchful eye on us during lunch.  

Gruene did not disappoint and was a nice small county town to visit. So next time you happen to be near San Antonio or New Braunfels, and are going tubing on the Guadalupe river or want to stop by to see the oldest dance hall in Texas and meet some nice folks, consider stopping by Gruene. And don’t forget to go by and visit the Gristmill restaurant and make sure you say “hi” to Lupe for me.

Until next time, we’ll see what comes our way via El Camino Thru My Lens.