Pool players gather inside Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall in Hunt, Texas, before the destructive Fourth of July floods that forced the historic venue to close for months.
Courtesy of Megan Bruinsma
After devastating floodwaters tore through the Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend in 2025, one of the region’s most beloved gathering places went silent. But things are about to change.
Nearly a year later, Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall is reopening, marking both a comeback for a century-old tradition and a turning point in the community’s long recovery.
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The historic venue, nestled along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, was forced to close indefinitely after floodwaters ripped through the property in July 2025, damaging key infrastructure and halting its hallmark season. Its return comes with purpose as a benefit concert aimed at restoring the very river that nearly destroyed it is set to take place.
The May 17 event is dubbed “Plant the Guadalupe,” and will feature Texas country staple Gary Nunn and raise funds for a large-scale restoration effort to replant tens of thousands of trees along the river’s banks. The event will run from noon to 5 p.m.
“We hope reopening is a sign of hope and resilience for our community,” Megan Bruinsma, who manages Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall with her mother, said in a statement to MySA. “So many are still putting pieces back together, and this moment carries the strength of everyone who showed up—neighbors helping neighbors, strangers stepping in and taking the shovel from our hands so we could catch our breath.”
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Flood damage inside Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall.
Courtesy of Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall
Flood damage inside Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall.
Courtesy of Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall
“Reopening is super emotional,” Bruinsma said. “Our family has poured into this place for over 100 years, and in return, Crider’s has given us lifelong friendships and a community that feels like family. The outpouring of love and support has shown us that Crider’s is far bigger than the small town it sits in. With that comes a responsibility we don’t take lightly—to preserve its traditions and keep its memories alive for generations to come.”
The totally Texas comeback of Crider’s dance hall
The dance hall confirmed to MySA that while its main structure held strong during the flood, the damage inside was extensive. Much of the interior was impacted, with items washed away, and the dance floor’s foundation, stage and bathroom structures all requiring repairs. The septic system had to be replaced, and fencing across the property was lost or removed during rescue efforts.
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Fresh concrete on Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall’s dance floor’s foundation.
Courtesy of Megan Bruinsma
Flood damage affecting the patio at Crider’s during the 2025 floods over the Fourth of July weekend.
Courtesy of Megan Bruinsma
Arena pipe fencing and bleachers remained intact, and over the past 10 months, volunteers, contractors and the Hunt Preservation Society have worked to rebuild the space piece by piece.
“We still have many pieces to put together, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come—and even more grateful for the people who have helped us get this far,” the statement continued.
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History of Crider’s Rodeo and Dancehall in Hunt, Texas
Crider’s dates back to 1925, when Walter and Audrey Crider hosted a Fourth of July rodeo to raise money for the Hunt School PTA. What began as a simple fundraiser quickly grew into a summer tradition, blending rodeos, barbecue and dancing along the Guadalupe River.
As crowds expanded, the dance hall evolved. A wooden dance floor was first built near the river before repeated floods forced it to move across the highway. After World War II, it settled into its current location overlooking the water, where generations of Texans have gathered beneath towering oak trees.
An aerial view of Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, before deadly Fourth of July flooding damaged the century-old venue.
Courtesy of Megan Bruinsma
An aerial view of Crider’s Rodeo & Dancehall along the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, before deadly Fourth of July flooding damaged the century-old venue.
Courtesy of Megan Bruinsma
Over the decades, Crider’s became known for its charm, drawing a mix of locals, visitors and notable figures, all sharing the same space. Now, the upcoming benefit concert brings the story full circle.
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“Crider’s started as a fundraiser to build a new Hunt Schoolhouse, and it feels only fitting that she comes back together in time to once again give back to the Hunt community and the generations to come,” the statement continued.
Proceeds from the concert will support an effort to plant 50,000 native trees along the Guadalupe River over the next five years, helping restore vegetation lost during the floods.
Less than a year after disaster struck, and 100 years after it all began, Crider’s is once again bringing people together, even in the aftermath of loss.
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Find it: 2301 Texas Highway 39, Hunt, TX 78024