Dance halls are revered in Texas. There's just something about sliding across those worn down floorboards, sipping on an ice cold Lone Star and listening to classic honky tonk music.
While we could never replace our beloved Gruene Hall or John T. Floore's, we'd be lying if we said we'd never thought about what it would be like to have a classic dance hall all to ourselves for one night. Maybe one on wheels that we could have right in our front yards?
Well, it's no longer just a fantasy. Enter Hello Trouble Hall, the first and only traveling Texas dance hall and honky-tonk.
Hello trouble, come on in
Hello Trouble Hall is the brainchild of Chris March. Austinites may know March as the former owner the Mean Eyed Cat bar. The classic Austin haunt, known for its devotion to Johnny Cash, is a staple of Fifth Street. March sold Mean Eyed Cat in 2013 and spent the following three years developing another labor of love that honored classic country music while bringing joy to its patrons. The result was a one-of-a-kind Texas honky tonk on wheels.
Named after the Buck Owens song "Hello Trouble," the 20-foot long, 8-foot wide mobile dance hall is filled with classic country memorabilia. The apostles of country music, from Willie to Dolly, line the walls. The outside is emblazoned with country titles about the ramblin' life: Merle Haggard's "Ramblin' Fever" and Charlie Rich's "Rollin' With the Flow." Even the paint on the exterior — blue, white and red — is an homage to Buck Owens' guitar. Virtually every nook and cranny of the small juke joint features a nod to days of country past.
Like any good honky tonk, Hello Trouble Hall has a great jukebox. And while the dance floor is small, it hasn't stopped anyone from cutting a mean two-step.
Inside, you'll be served by bartenders decked out in pearl snaps shirts and western swing ties.
When it's not out on the road, Hello Trouble Hall resides in the Hill Country. The mini mobile honky tonk, which opened last year, has been used for birthday parties, wedding receptions and "just because" social gatherings.
To book Hello Trouble Hall, click here.
