Fort Worth, Texas, is the proud home of Billy Bob’s Texas, which is the The World’s Largest Honky Tonk. Billy Bob’s has more than 127,000 square feet of dance floors, musical stages and a rodeo arena. Although Billy Bob’s Texas opened in 1981, the building dates back to 1910.
It was originally an open-air barn used to house prize cattle for the Fort Worth Stock Show. In 1936, the City of Fort Worth spent $183,500 to enclose the building and raise a tower over the main entrance. The enclosed building had 1,257 animal stalls, and a 1,200 seat auction ring that is now the rodeo arena. Livestock events were held there until the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo moved to the Will Rogers Memorial Complex, in 1943.
During World War II, the building was used as an airplane factory for the Globe Aircraft Corporation. In the 1950′s, the building was home to an enormous department store. Billy Bob Barnett opened the honky tonk on April Fools Day in 1981. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers performed on opening night and later that same week Waylon Jennings, Janie Fricke and Willie Nelson also performed.
Besides hosting country stars, Billy Bob’s Texas has also been a place were virtually unknown performers got their start. George Strait, Reba McEntire and Travis Tritt are some of the musicians who are now stars who got their big break at Billy Bob’s Texas. There is music playing on Billy Bob’s Texas’ two stages every Wednesday through Saturday night. If you do not see a country legend, you may just be seeing a future star. There are great things going on in the 12th District of Texas!