Billy Bob's Texas - The History

The History Of Billy Bob's Texas

The Building now known as Billy Bob's Texas was built in 1910 and was once a large open-air barn for housing prize cattle during the Fort Worth Stock Show.

In 1936, as a Texas Centennial Project, the building was enclosed by the City of Fort Worth at a cost of $183,500 and the tower added. The "new" structure contained 1257 animal stalls, and a 1200 seat auction ring that is now Billy Bob's Bull Riding arena.

The floor of Billy Bob's slopes from the entry toward the showroom stage, making an ideal elevation for concert seating.

This slope was originally constructed to allow easy cleaning and runoff from the cattle pens. Livestock events were held here until the stock show moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, in the present downtown area, around 1943.

During World War II, the building was used as an airplane factory for the Globe Aircraft Corporation.

In the 1950's the building became a department store so large that the stock boys wore roller skates to make their jobs quicker and easier.

With 127,000 square feet of space, which is nearly 3 acres inside and 20 acres of parking, for entertainment and events, Billy Bob's has 32 Max individual bar stations, country music's biggest stars, Live Pro Bull Riding and a Texas size dance floor for everyone to enjoy.

Billy Bob's Texas opened April 1, 1981 to national attention with Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers as the first performers. Other artists who appeared that first week were Waylon Jennings, Janie Fricke & Willie Nelson.

Comparisons to Gilley's located in Houston where the movie "Urban Cowboy" was filmed starring John Travolta were numerous. Gilley's was only 44,000 square feet, less than half the size of Billy Bob's and did not have Live Pro Bull Riding.

Our rated capacity is 6028 people at any one time.
We are open from Monday - Saturday from 11 AM until 2 AM
& on Sundays from 12 Noon until 2 AM

The most bottled beer sold in one night was at a Hank Williams Jr. Concert. A total of 16,000 bottles were sold.The next highest bottled beer sales totaled 13,000 during a Clint Black Concert.
Merle Haggard once bought a round of Drinks for the whole Club & set a world record.
The Youngest singer ever to perform at Billy Bob's is LeAnn Rimes.
Garth Brooks last performed at Billy Bob's Texas in 1990.
More Than 15 Million Visitors have come through Billy Bob's Doors since 1981.

Billy Bob's Texas has been equally popular on TV and Movie screens. Several episodes of the television series "Dallas" were shot here at BBT. Other television shows including "Walker Texas Ranger", CBS's "Happy New Year America", "CBS This Morning", and The Nashville Network's "On Stage" series have also been seen from BBT.

Movies filmed at Billy Bob's Texas have included:

"Over The Top", starring Sylvester Stallone in 1987
"Baja Oklahoma", with Lesley Ann Warren, Peter Coyote & Willie Nelson in 1988.
"Necessary Roughness", with Scott Bakula, Sinbad, Robert Loggia & Kathy Ireland in 1991.
"Pure Country" in 1992, starring George Strait.

We have also been the site of several Country Music Videos. The artists have included Billy Dean, Collin Raye, Bryan White, Daron Norwood, The Marshall Tucker Band, BR549, & Aaron Tippin.

Many people know Billy Bob's as the Host of Country Music's biggest stars. We have also played host to Rock 'n' Roll & Pop Music stars. We have featured artists such as Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine, Ringo Starr, .38 Special, Men At Work, The Go-Go's, Steppenwolf, & ZZ Top. Even Bob Hope performed onstage at Billy Bob's Texas.

It's no wonder that Billy Bob's Texas has been named Country Music Club of the Year 5 times by the Academy of Country Music and 2 times by the Country Music Association. We have also won the Country Music Association's Venue of the Year award! That's an incredible 8 times! That's why we say "We Have A Honky Tonk Attitude!"

Come See Us Soon!