Preservation Fund Grants

When a roof leaks or a dance floor buckles, the music stops. Texas Dance Hall Preservation’s 1:1 matching Preservation Fund grants help historic Texas dance halls tackle critical repairs, stabilize structures, and secure the specialized expertise needed to protect these community treasures for the future.

2026 Grant Recipients

In our 2026 grant cycle, TDHP received $87,842 in requests within a $50,000 program budget. The board chose to fully fund each of the five selected projects, awarding over $46,163 in matching funds:

La Bahia Turn Verein Hall (Round Top / Burton) – $10,000 Award

Founded in 1879 by German immigrants as a social and athletic club, La Bahia constructed its iconic octagonal hall in 1903. Today, the hall accommodates up to 600 dancers and hosts both the La Bahia Antique Show and the fall Big Star Texas Night. This 1:1 matching grant funds a remodel of the women’s restroom as part of phased facility improvements leading toward the Turnverein’s 150th anniversary in 2029.

La Bahia Turn Verein Hall (Round Top / Burton)

El Maton National Hall (El Maton) – $9,150 Award

Built in 1919 as a school and turned Czech National Hall in 1941, this coastal hall hosts summer Friday dances, Sunday afternoon live music, and local gatherings. Funds will completely rebuild a 1950s addition housing the men’s restroom.

Luckenbach Dance Hall (Luckenbach) – $7,013 Award

Rebuilt in the early 1930s over late-19th-century foundations, Luckenbach is a cornerstone of outlaw country history, immortalized by Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1973 live recording of ¡Viva Terlingua! and Willie Nelson’s Fourth of July Picnics. TDHP grant funds support the refinishing of the hall’s historic 3,000-square-foot maple dance floor.

SPJST Lodge 25 (Ennis) – $10,000 Award

Organized in the late 1890s, Lodge 25 is an anchor venue for the annual National Czech Polka Festival held every Memorial Day weekend, welcoming dancers and music lovers from across the state. Following significant plumbing issues, this grant provides critical infrastructure relief to overhaul the women’s restroom, including updated plumbing lines, flooring, and accessible fixtures.

SPJST Lodge 92 / National Hall (Fort Worth) – $10,000 Award

Chartered in 1910 and constructed on Roberts Cut Off Road in 1938, Lodge 92 is the home of the Cowtown Birthplace of Western Swing Festival, honoring the musical giants of Texas swing alongside recurring Tejano nights featuring Latin Express and monthly country-and-western dances. Matching grant funds will completely restore and refinish the original 5,000-square-foot hardwood dance floor.

SPJST Lodge 92 (Slavonic Benevolent Order of Texas)

LOOKING AHEAD: 2027 GRANT ROUND

TDHP will offer another round of up to $50,000 in matching grants in 2027.

  • Award Amounts: 1:1 matching grants up to $10,000 per project.

  • Eligibility: Public or private non-profit organizations, or for-profit entities that own or lease an eligible historic dance hall and are current TDHP members.

  • Qualifying Criteria: Buildings must have historically hosted regular community dances, remain largely intact, and feature a dedicated dance floor and stage. The primary historic and ongoing function must be as a dance or community hall (not solely a bar or restaurant).

  • Matching Requirement: All grants require a dollar-for-dollar cash match. Applicants with matching funds already secured receive bonus scoring points.

Stay Connected for Information

Application deadlines, guidelines, and instructions for the 2027 round will be announced in early spring. To be the first to know when the next grant round opens:

  • Join Our Email Newsletter List to receive direct updates, grant announcements, and preservation news straight to your inbox. SIGN UP HERE »

  • Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

Have questions about potential projects or historically appropriate repairs?
Contact us at director@texasdancehall.org or call 512-400-4315.