Building being donated to welness foundation
COUPLAND — A legendary venue in the world of Texas country music will have its curtain call in October.
The Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall, 101 Hoxie St., will host its final act on Saturday, Oct. 11, with Kenny Orts headlining.
According to building owner Abbey Road, there are multiple factors in the popular venue’s closure.
“The cost of doing business, changes in the music business and the economy (were the main reasons),” Road said.
Road bought the establishment in 2017. The building, constructed in 1904, became a favored destination for music acts such as Pat Green, Kevin Fowler and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan – to name a few.
“I’ve been in the music business for many years, buying talent for legendary dance halls,” Road said. “(Former operators) Barbara and Tim Worthy did a fantastic job of operating the dance hall in the late 1980s and built a solid foundation there.”
According to Road, she met with the couple and bought the venue when they retired. She also said the COVID-19 pandemic hurt business.
“It’s very hard to work behind the scenes,” Road said. “Things were great at first, but then we had the pandemic. A major shift in the music business and people’s habits also had an impact.”
Once the dance hall closes, Road said the venue will be donated to Foundation Stone Wellness. The mental health and addiction rehabilitation center has a residential location in Elgin.
“(Foundation Stone) is working through their specific plans and they intend to be very community oriented and offer wellness programs and community events inside the building,” Road said. “They also will preserve the building and will be an asset to the city of Coupland and Williamson County.”
With music acts every Saturday until Oct. 11, Road is planning a proper “goodbye” for the historic venue.
“We will celebrate the legacy of this dance hall from the beginning of its time through Oct. 11,” she said.
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“Things were great at first, but then we had the pandemic.”
— Abbey Road, owner
