Nearly 20 Years of Keeping Texas Dancing!
As we step into 2026, Texas Dance Hall Preservation is approaching an important milestone: nearly 20 years of statewide work dedicated to protecting the historic dance halls that anchor Texas communities. Founded in 2007, TDHP remains the only statewide organization focused exclusively on helping historic Texas dance halls survive and thrive—not just as buildings, but as living places where music, memory, and community come together.
Over the years, we’ve helped halls weather storms, closures, and changing times through preservation grants, technical assistance, research, and education. We’ve supported emergency relief during COVID, assisted with National Register listings, documented hundreds of halls across the state, and worked alongside musicians, scholars, and community leaders to elevate the cultural importance of these spaces. Along the way, we’ve also kept the music playing—hosting dances, tours, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the living tradition of Texas dance hall culture.
As we begin a new year and look toward our 20th anniversary, we’re proud of what has been accomplished—and even more committed to the work ahead. Texas dance halls are more than historic structures; they are places where generations connect. In 2026 and beyond, TDHP will continue standing with dance halls statewide, keeping Texas dancing.
Below: Festival of Texas Fiddling at Twin Sisters Dance Hall
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William Clark Green Films at Watterson Hall
Acclaimed Texas singer-songwriter William Clark Green recently filmed a music video at Watterson Hall in Red Rock, Texas, putting the spotlight on this historic dance hall.
The video is for the title track of his upcoming album, Watterson Hall, releasing March 6, 2026. The song, “Watterson Hall (Me & You),” is a love song written for his wife, inspired by nights spent dancing at her hometown hall. Green says it’s the first love song he felt ready to share—reflecting marriage, family, and life’s real moments. Listen to “Watterson Hall (Me & You)." Photo below by the Texas Dance Hall Show.
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Welcoming New Board Members: Andy Rhodes and Bill Arnold
Texas Dance Hall Preservation is pleased to welcome Andy Rhodes and Bill Arnold as new members of our Board of Directors. Both bring deep personal connections to Texas culture and valuable professional experience that will strengthen TDHP’s work statewide.
Andy Rhodes has lived in Texas since 1994 and has been visiting dance halls across the state ever since. Since 2002, he has served as editor of The Medallion, the Texas Historical Commission’s magazine, exploring Texas history in both major cities and small towns. Andy is the author of multiple Moon travel guidebooks, including Moon Texas and Moon Houston & the Texas Gulf Coast, and his writing has appeared in Texas Highways, American Cowboy, and other national publications. He and his wife, Paula, met at a Derailers and Gourds show in Austin and continue to share that love of music with their family.
Bill Arnold brings more than 45 years of experience in the HVACR and construction industry, including 32 years as a business owner. A lifelong dance hall enthusiast, Bill and his wife, Heather, have been dancing in historic halls for decades and are now passing that tradition on to their grandchildren. Bill is passionate about supporting dance hall owners, strengthening grant projects, and helping TDHP grow through creative fundraising.
We’re thrilled to have Andy and Bill join TDHP as we continue our work in 2026 and beyond. Pictured below (left: Andy Rhodes, right: Bill Arnold). |
Grant Deadline Near
Nonprofit dance halls in the LCRA service area may qualify for LCRA Community Grants of up to $50,000 (with one $100,000 award this cycle) to support building repairs, renovations, system upgrades, or equipment purchases that benefit the community.
The application deadline is January 31, 2026 — hurry!
Learn more and apply.
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Preservation Expertise at Peters–Hacienda Community Hall
Earlier this month, a team of historic preservation professionals from Stantec and partner firms visited Peters–Hacienda Community Hall to explore future restoration and rehabilitation needs for this historic Austin County landmark. TDHP Executive Director Jean Spivey was invited by Stantec to attend the site visit, which focused on identifying building issues and long-term preservation opportunities.
Built in 1900 for the Peters–Hacienda Schuetzenverein, the eight-sided hall reflects the area’s German immigrant roots and a long tradition of community dances and celebrations. For generations, the hall has served as a social center for families in the region, sustained by the dedication of local leaders and volunteers.
The preservation team included Steph McDougal—TDHP cofounder and now a historic preservationist with Stantec—along with David Bucek and Delaney Harris-Finch of Stern & Bucek Architects; Greg Tinkler, HVAC specialist with Page (now Stantec); Gordon Shepperd of Secretariat, structural engineer; and Amanda Fruge, senior consultant for Historic Tax Credits at Stantec. Working closely with hall president Mark Meloneck and board member Daniel Cano—who also leads the nonprofit C.H.A.M.P.—the group assessed the main hall with particular attention to the hall’s iconic cupola and long-term goals for conditioning and full restoration.
Peters–Hacienda Community Hall has previously received two preservation grants from Texas Dance Hall Preservation, and this collaborative site visit represents another important step toward a comprehensive plan that honors the hall’s history while supporting its future. Earlier, TDHP new board member Bill Arnold joined the same preservation team for site visits to Twin Sisters Dance Hall and Devil’s Backbone Tavern. Photos above & below. |
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