Fifty-Friendly Honky Tonks
July 17, 2011
BY BOBBY L. HICKMAN
Do you secretly harbor “Urban Cowboy” fantasies? Admit it: you’ve always wanted to two-step around the dance floor like John Travolta and Debra Winger. Maybe you want to cling to that mechanical bull – or throw back a few brews watching line dancers stomp out the beat of a rocking country band.
In order words, you need to go honky-tonking!
Long before Hollywood came calling, honky tonks and their disreputable cousins (roadhouses, juke joints and dive bars) were around for decades. Definitions vary, but a honky tonk is generally a place that offers alcoholic beverages, live music and room to dance. They were often smoke-filled, ramshackle buildings on the outskirts of town that provided discrete outlets for dancing, drinking and illicit diversions, far from the eyes of polite society and the law.
Those places still exist today — generally in rural areas of the South and West – where worrying about your safety and your health is certainly justified, and they just aren’t friendly to strangers. But there are also nightspots near metropolitan areas and tourist towns where the old honky tonks have been reinterpreted as bright, inviting nightclubs that also happen to play country music. Many are non-smoking venues with delicious restaurant menus and well-stocked bars. Most offer live music and/or deejays, free dance lessons, and roomy hardwood dance floors. Country music is the most popular musical genre in the United States, spanning all ages and demographics, so you’re sure to meet plenty of interesting folks at a honky tonk.
If you’re ready to channel your inner cowboy or cowgirl, check out these inviting honky tonks:
Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, Tenn. If Walt Disney had ever built a honky tonk, it would be the Wildhorse: spotlessly clean, well-lit, and smoke-free, with plenty of room to spread out. The venue is a former warehouse, offering three floors and 66,000 square feet of space for dancing, dining, concerts by major acts and television productions. The club’s owner, Gaylord Entertainment — which also operates the Opryland Hotel – reports the Wildhorse hosts 1.5 million visitors annually. But even on weekends with thousands of guests, it never seems crowded because there is so much room to spread out. The Wildhorse boasts the largest dance floor in Music City. With free line-dance lessons several times a day, it’s a great place to learn the latest steps. But before you go, check their schedule (www.wildhorsesaloon.com): Most nights are country, but they also host private events and national acts from all musical genres.
Gilley’s Dallas, Texas. The original Gilley’s near Houston that was featured in “Urban Cowboy” closed after a 1986 fire. The Dallas-Fort Worth club opened a few years later, providing a new home for “El Toro,” the mechanical bull featured in the movie.
Billy Bob’s Texas, Houston, Texas. When Gilley’s passed into the annals of Western folklore, Billy Bob’s stepped forward to take the limelight as the world’s largest honky tonk. The club is celebrating its 30thwww.billybobstexas.com). While they don’t have a mechanical bull, the club does feature live professional bull riding every weekend inside the massive complex. NOTE: Billy Bob’s does allow smoking, except at its concert venue during performances.
Wild Bill’s, Duluth, Ga. Located near a shopping mall in an upscale suburb of Atlanta, this honky tonk ranks with Wildhorse as the tidiest honky tonk you’ll ever see. Wild Bill’s (www.wildbillsatlanta.com) claims to be America’s largest dance club and concert hall at 70,000 square feet – including a 5,000-square-foot dance floor. The line-dance lessons on Wednesday nights are geared towards beginners and intermediates, so it’s a great way for novices to learn the ropes and veterans to brush up on their techniques. The line-up is heavy on local cover bands, with national touring acts and non-musical events common on the weekends. There is a dress code that prohibits torn jeans, caps and “biker attire,” so this is probably the best-dressed crowd you’ll ever see in a country music club!
Mavericks Rock ‘N Honky Tonk, Jacksonville, Fla. There’s not many clubs left outside of Texas with a mechanical bull, but you can still find one at Mavericks (www.mavericksatthelanding.com). The club spans two floors and 21,000 square feet, including a western-themed saloon, an oversized dance floor, and staircases and chandeliers leading upstairs to Miss Ellie’s Bordello. Live music is the big draw here, including top country, Southern rock, and crossover acts on the weekends. The weeknight patrons tend to be younger, but all ages turn out on weekends to share the dance floor and multiple bars.
“Honky Tonk Row,” Nashville, Tenn. If you like club-hopping, the variety in this section of Lower Broadway is sure to please. There’s history at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge (http://www.tootsies.net), where Willie Nelson was “discovered”, and where Hank Williams and Patsy Cline used to drink whiskey between sets at the Grand Ole Opry across the back alley. Memorabilia from country music’s past and present are a huge draw at The Stage on Broadway (www.thestageonbroadway.com). Shop for jeans and boots while listening to the band at Robert’s Western World (www.robertswesternworld.com). Nashville has such a depth of musical talent that you’ll find live performers everywhere, working for tips on Honky Tonk Row (www.honkytonkrow.com). Plus, since this is such a tourist destination, most clubs are open in the afternoon – a great time to compare bands and venues during the slower periods. Make no mistake: Popular attractions like historic Tootsie’s get crowded early, and even spacious venues like The Stages are packed on the weekends. Also, most clubs are non-smoking but there are a few exceptions, so beware the “Smokers Welcome” signs!
Bobby L. Hickman is an Atlanta-based freelance writer who writes mostly about music and travel. Visit his website at http://www.thehonkytonkbook.com.