A 1920s bungalow-style house that is being transformed into a 2,700-sqft restaurant in the heart of the River District is set to open this fall.
Located on Roberts Cutoff Road, Crystal Springs Hideaway will feature:
- A laid-back beer garden with 25+ draft beers, wine, and cocktails
- The first brick-and-mortar for food truck Big Kat Burgers, featuring juicy burgers, hand-cut fries, salads, and appetizers
- A wine, cheese, and charcuterie shop with a build-your-own board option
The 1920s bungalow-style home will be transformed into a casual restaurant. | Photo via Loopnet
A callback to Cowtown history
Owners J.D. Granger — the former Executive Director of the Trinity River Vision Authority — and event producer Shanna Granger teamed up with local firm Fender-Andrade Architects to transform the 100-year-old house.
The beer garden is near the former site of the famous Crystal Springs Dance Pavilion, which is touted as the “birthplace of Western Swing” and boasted acts like Bob Wills and Milton Brown.
Guests can relax into the history with the stone carriage house, original hardwood floors and shiplap, and dog-friendly patio shaded by an iconic Texas water tower and 150-year-old cottonwood trees.
Construction on the site kicked off last September + an opening is planned for this fall. Stay tuned for the official opening date and live music schedule.
The Light Crust Doughboys ushered in an era of western swing — a combination of jazz and country music.
Photo courtesy of TSHA
Long live Light Crust
Look at you, music history buffs. When we shared the news about the new Crystal Springs Hideaway + its ties to the former Crystal Springs Dance Pavilion, we asked our readers the name of the house band. Over 80% knew that the Light Crust Doughboys popularized the dance hall.
Formed in 1931, the Light Crust Doughboys had “the greatest and longest success” of all the western swing bands in the area. Fiddle player Bob Wills teamed up with guitarist Herman Arnspiger and vocalist Milton Brown. The band was sponsored by Burrus Mill and Elevator Company to advertise the mill’s light crust flour. Their “hillbilly music” was broadcast across the state by the Texas Quality Group Network, which included Fort Worth’s WBAP and Dallas’ WFAA radio stations.
Over the years, new bandmates joined the group and the original members broke off to pursue solo careers, but the Light Crust Doughboys lived on. They were inducted to the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in the late 1980s + became the official music ambassadors of the Lone Star State in 1995.
The group, now led by Grammy Award winner Art Greenhaw, still performs today. Do you think they’ll perform at Crystal Springs Hideaway?
