Devil’s Backbone Tavern

The Devil’s Backbone Tavern & Dancehall is situated on one of the most picturesque and haunted spots along this earthquake fault, providing the historic venue with a spectacular view of the surrounding Texas Hill Country. The history dates back to the late 1890’s, when the first stone room was built for a blacksmith’s shop and a stagecoach stop at the top of a treacherous trail. After Prohibition, the sale of alcoholic beverages, particularly beer, became licensed in early 1933. Since Hays County was “dry” with no public means to purchase alcohol, the tavern, was built next to the old blacksmith’s shop just beyond the Hays County line (in Comal) in 1937. In the early 1940’s, a Sinclair service station building was added and the dancehall was constructed. The venue became a rare attraction for anything you needed including a cold-beer, a tire change or community dances with local and touring bands such as Adolph Hofner drawing crowds to the dancehall during its “hey-day” for music and dancing.