Austin city officials have passed a resolution to potentially recognize the Broken Spoke bar as a historic landmark. The resolution was passed on November 3 and now moves to the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission before returning to the City Council.
The resolution recognizes that Austin’s creative spaces are being lost to the ongoing real estate boom and will use the city’s Iconic Venue Fund and other methods to protect and preserve the South Lamar bar. Broken Spoke specifically met the criteria of being over 50 years old, associated with important historical events, and having significant ties to people who have contributed to the city’s history.
James and Annette White opened the Broken Spoke in November 1964 as a bar, dance hall, and restaurant. Its legendary history includes concerts by the Chicks, Garth Brooks, and Dolly Parton. He was featured on the cover of George Strait’s 2019 album Honky Tonk Machine. James White passed away in 2021 at the age of 81, but Broken Spoke continues to operate under the direction of Annette and their daughters Terry White and Ginny White-Peacock, as well as Ginny’s husband Michael Peacock.
Terry White and the Broken Spoke was featured in the Austin season of the Netflix show Queer Eye. However, shortly after the season aired, Gawker collected many online reviews that claimed Terry’s racist and homophobic attitude. The Broken Spoke responded by saying that Terry was not the owner, but was a contractor hired for her dance lessons, which are still advertised on the Broken Spoke website.
Over the years, James and Annette have opened their doors and welcomed a pretty impressive list of up-and-coming musicians to the stage. George Strait and his Ace In The Hole Band made their mark on the music business by playing under the neon lights of the beer signs at the Spoke. Various country superstars such as Garth Brooks, the Midland Band, Kris Kristofferson, Sturgill Simpson, Charlie Crockett and Kitty Wells have popped up on this stage and continued the tradition of good country music that Broken Spoke made famous.
It’s a favorite hangout for most of Austin’s “real” country musicians. Don’t call them “Hat Acts” here… the hats you see on the Broken Spoke stage are as traditional as the music echoing off the walls. You can see talented musicians every night that Spoke is open, such as Dale Watson, Alvin Crowe, Derailers, Jason Roberts, Wagoneers with Monte Worden, Gary P. Nunn, Billy Mata, Weldon Hanson, Johnny McGowan, Darrell Goldman, Tyler Brandon, and many more.
James White likes to tell a story about another Texas legend, Davy Crockett: “Yeah, old Davy came through here on his way to fight at the Alamo, and he liked what he saw. He said: “James, don’t change a thing.” “Not until I get back.” Well, poor Davy never came back, so we’re not changing anything!”
