The Broken Spoke Officially Becomes a Historical Landmark
Much of old Austin and the music scene remains under threat. But one Austin institution has officially been set aside, and Lord willing, will be around for many years to come. It was a much-needed win for preservationists deep in the heart of Texas, and it came on Wednesday, April 12th, which also happened to be the birthday of the late founder James White.
Flanked by condo developments in one of Austin’s most sought after districts on South Lamar, The Broken Spoke is a relic of the past if there ever was one. Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff, Tex Ritter, and Kitty Wells all played there. Willie Nelson and George Strait started their careers there. Living legends like Dale Watson, Alvin Crow, and others play there on a weekly basis. And even though there was no intent to sell or any specific threat to the property, the City of Austin has taken steps to make sure it’s preserved into the future.
First drafting a resolution on October 28th 2022, and then approving it on November 3rd, the Austin City Council put The Broken Spoke on the path to being designated a Historic Landmark. Then on Wednesday afternoon (4-12), it was all made official by the unveiling of the Historical Landmark plaque from The State of Texas.
“We’re still holding strong right in the middle of a fast-growing Austin. And as James always said, ‘We ain’t fancy but we’re damn sure country.’ And that is why The Broken Spoke is so beloved all over the world,” said Ginny Peacock, the daughter of James White. “You’re looking at the real Texas right now. People make a pilgrimage just to come here because there isn’t anything like this where they live. This is why it is so important to save The Broken Spoke, because there’s not another one like it.”
Along with Ginny Peacock, First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott spoke, as did musician Monte Warden, Donna Marie Miller who wrote the book on The Broken Spoke (literally), as well as Travis County Historical Commissioner Bob Ward.
“There are other legacy businesses in Austin. But there are few that have transcended the category to become living legends. And The Broken Spoke is a living legend in Austin, TX,” Bob Ward said. “This Texas Historical Marker is our opportunity to recognize the importance of The Broken Spoke, and what it does for our community. Because the marker not only talks about the past. But it speak to educate and inform the future.”
Bob Ward continued, “The Broken Spoke is what you think of when you think about Texas. It has changed slightly. It used to be on the edge of town. But it’s always been a cultural landmark and tourist destination, a local hangout, and a symbol for Texas music and musicians. While other places have changed, The Broken Spoke has stayed the same. So if you want to experience Texas, you come to The Broken Spoke. It will always be deep in the heart of Austin, deep in the heart of Travis County, and deep in the heart of Texas.”
Alvin Crow played a few songs on the front porch of The Spoke as hundreds of folks gathered to see the historical marker unveiling, including a few on horseback. And then the moment came all folks had been working very hard at and waiting a long time for.
Congratulations to the Broken Spoke in Austin, TX, which just received it’s official Texas Historical Marker designation, and is well one the way to being preserved forevermore amid the encroaching growth of Austin. pic.twitter.com/i0mcXR4FWq
— Saving Country Music (@KyleCoroneos) April 12, 2023
The Broken Spoke was opened by Austin native James White and his stepfather Joe Baland in 1964 when James was 25-years-old and fresh out of the Army. White spotted a vacant property on South Lamar beautified with Austin’s signature oak trees, and had an idea. Short of money, he was still able to scrounge up enough to build the original front room that is now the restaurant, and named it The Broken Spoke.
A year later, they added the dancehall, with a ceiling so low some performers can’t stand straight up on the stage. Much of The Broken Spoke was built by volunteer labor and called-in favors. From the beginning, it was community coming together that made it run, with James White as the de facto Mayor, regularly working 16 hours a day at the start to keep it going, with his wife Annetta also helping to build the establishment into what it is today. When The Broken Spoke opened, beers were a nickel. They didn’t serve hard alcohol because they couldn’t afford a license until 1980. It was never fancy or nice, even when it was new. But it soon became iconic.
A big fan of country music, James White started booking anyone he could, from local names, to legends, to up-and-comers who would go on to help define country music as we know it. Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys played there in 1966. A clean cut Willie Nelson first played there in 1967. From 1975 to 1982, George Strait played The Broken Spoke once a month, speaking to how it became a significant stepping stone for many performers.
Garth Brooks famously played at The Broken Spoke in 2017 as part of a surprise SXSW show. in 2021 when The Rolling Stones were touring through Austin, Mick Jagger made sure to visit it as a premier Austin landmark.
James White passed away in January of 2021, but the business remains in operation and under the ownership of the family.
All photos by Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos
April 12, 2023 @ 7:30 pm
I love classic historical places and this is wonderful news to hear! So great that the Broken Spoke shall live on. Was able to make my first visit their last Fall, and it was everything I had hoped for including the country fried steak, two step lessons from Jame’s sassy daughter, great Country music, and just “the” place to visit while in Austin! James must be smiling from heaven!
April 12, 2023 @ 7:41 pm
As a history buff/historian and a country music fan, no place better than the Broken Spoke. Finally made it there a few weeks back, and had the best Chicken Fried Steak in all my years of traveling. Had a different venue that evening to see Tom Russell but hope to return again and catch a show at the Spoke. Such an honor to walk around the place and be where so many of my heroes have been. RIP and God Bless James White! Thank to the family for keeping it going strong!
April 12, 2023 @ 8:29 pm
Historical landmarks serve the same purpose as tombstones; to acknowledge what used be.
Trigger must be the only person alive who thinks erecting a tombstone for something is a sign of vibrancy.
April 12, 2023 @ 8:33 pm
Uninformed comment.
There were probably 300+ people there for the unveiling when it happened. So no, I wasn’t the only one.
And if you don’t think The Broken Spoke isn’t still “vibrant,” it’s because you’ve never been there. The dance floor every Friday and Saturday night says different.
Welcome to Texas.
April 13, 2023 @ 4:43 am
300 at the funeral you say? The place must’ve been loved.
Trig, you’ve got to quit coming back at me with strawmen. I didn’t say the Broken Spoke was not vibrant. I said that you, Trigger, are the only person I know who would spin the erection of a tombstone as a sign of vibrancy, as a positive; you did it with the Ernest Tubb Record Shop too.
I have no doubt that folks will continue to come to the gravesite to pay their respects, for years to come.
April 13, 2023 @ 7:53 am
Honky,
You’re out of your depth if you think The Broken Spoke is some sort of dead relic, and you’re proving how uniformed you are by doubling down on that, and comparing it to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. You’re right in some respects that something like the Ernest Tubb Record Shop is a relic, and that lack of community support is what helped put it in peril. That is not the case for The Broken Spoke. Nobody needs to go there because aw shucks, if we don’t support it, it’s going to shut down. The Spoke doesn’t have the space to serve all of the people that want to go there. You’re cynical because you spend your whole day thinking about things in a political context. There actually are things like The Broken Spoke that are still vibrant and succeeding.
April 13, 2023 @ 1:06 pm
I took maybe 7-8 people when we were in Austin for work. We had a great time and the place was PACKED! Crowd ranged in age from roughly 8 years old to 80. As we were all from out of town, my co-workers asked me how I knew of such an awesome place and thanked me for taking them. There is no way to spin this other than it is good news.
April 13, 2023 @ 7:25 pm
You don’t get it, Trig. I don’t have to know jack about this bar for what I’m saying to be true, because what I’m saying has nothing to do with how busy the place is. I’m talking about what it now represents.
It represents history. It represents what used to be, but no longer is. People will visit this place for the same reason they go to a Charley Crockett show: to feel close to something that used to be.
Things that used to be, can be popular, but they’ll always be something that was, sort of like Christmas songs by Bing Crosby.
I get it though, Trig. You discovered C(c)ountry Music late in life, and it sucks that it was pretty much dead when you found it. You want so badly for it to be alive, for you to enjoy in real time. But it is what it is.
April 13, 2023 @ 7:49 am
I was there for the unveiling also, Trigger. Sorry I didn’t get the chance to meet and shake your hand for all the good things you’ve brought to the country music scene.
The Broken Spoke has and always will hold a very near and dear place in my heart, having been asked to play there on both the big and small stage many years ago before I moved to Colorado for work. After the pandemic hit, I moved back to Austin to be with family.
When he passed away, I was invited to attend Mr. White’s memorial service out at the family ranch and the request of the family was to dress as western friendly as possible. I went out and bought a brand new Scully shirt and wore it out there for the service. During that day the family endeared themselves to me as I’d helped to make sure a song was played at his gravesite. 2 years later when I played in the front room for the first time in a while, I wore that exact same shirt that I hadn’t worn since the day of the service and the family was very moved by the gesture.
I have so many other cool stories about that place, but suffice to say, I’m proud to be a part of its past, it’s history and it’s legacy for many more years to come.
Thanks again for all you do, brother. Hope our paths cross again one day.
April 12, 2023 @ 9:35 pm
When I asked the Historical Commission if this Texas historical marker would protect the Broken Spoke from development this was the response I received. “Subject markers like this one are placed at sites that have historical associations with the topics, but no legal restriction is placed on the use of the property or site, although the Texas Historical Commission must be notified if the marker is ever to be relocated.” Definitely not the response that I hoped for, nor the significance that I expected. Sad.
April 12, 2023 @ 9:51 pm
Having talked to people about this and having read the resolution from the City of Austin, I am not worried about the future of The Broken Spoke. You are correct that the marker does not mean the property is 100% protected at this point. One of the things they had to do to get the marker approved was to put it on the building as opposed to the property itself. The property (land) still needs to be officially zoned as a historical district for it to be fully protected. But they have already jumped numerous hurdles on the way to getting there, and everyone I spoke to today seemed to believe it is going to get there eventually, though it’s going to take more time.
Consider that plaque like a shield though. The property is not for sale. But let’s say somehow the ownership became an issue, a developer would have one hell of a time convincing the public that bulldozing a historical landmark to erect a condo complex was in the public interest.
April 13, 2023 @ 3:14 am
There are a few good places in my neck of the woods here in Texas:
Main Street Crossing in Tomball (Junior Brown performs here on occasions)
Old Town Theater in Huntsville (recently had Janie Fricke and Gene Watson)
Dosey Doe in the Woodlands (a mix of local and big name talent)
Not as big as say Billy Bob’s but definitely brings the crowds
April 13, 2023 @ 5:58 am
Thanks to Trigger for a nice article about the Spoke.
But reading what Trigger has written about the Broken Spoke being designated “Historic” is confusing. The resolution by the City of Austin is one event and the Texas State Historical Marker obtained from the Texas Historical Commission is a second event.. The Austin City Council passed a resolution and State of Texas approved a Marker. Two separate events from two separate goverment entities. Both are positive steps for the Broken Spoke which will turn 60 next year.
April 13, 2023 @ 8:01 am
Yes, the Austin resolution and the plaque are two separate things, as is the continuing effort to designate the property as historical, not just the building. This is a story about the dedication of the plaque that happened yesterday. I didn’t want to “bury the lede” so to speak by getting into the minutiae of the process. There will be time for that later if necessary.