This place is *the* quintessential Texas honky tonk, hidden away on a curvy, scenic, two-lane Hill Country highway that gets its name from the many souls who have perished on its pavement. Legends say the road, hills, and stonewalled beer joint itself are all haunted. You can certainly smell the 80+ years of cigarette & BBQ smoke still hanging onto the low ceiling and eclectic decor of vintage neon, weird mannequins, and $1 bills.
From Austin, you can take a lovely drive down to Driftwood, then tack over toward Wimberley, and finally follow your GPS toward Canyon Lake. When you cross from Hays into Comal County, you'll find Devil's Backbone Tavern (DBT) on your left. The venue is really 3 different areas: the small bar in the front, the wood-floored dance hall on the left side, and the tree-shaded backyard with picnic tables. Bring your greenbacks, as DBT is CASH ONLY and the ATM is hit-or-miss.
As part-time Canyon Lakers, DBT has become one of our beloved stops for live music and community events. The food & drink is always reasonably priced, the jukebox is excellent (if you like classic country & Americana), and once you establish yourself as a decent human being not here to stir up a ruckus or try to city-fy this rural area, the staff & regulars crowd is generally very welcoming (at least in our "middle-aged Texans" experience).
The place has changed hands a few times over the years but today is part-owned by Robyn Ludwick, a musician born and raised in the Hill Country who happens to be the sister of phenomenal Texas songwriters, Bruce and Charlie Robison. The DBT draws some excellent bands, so if you're into live music, sign up for the email list and check out the online calendar for upcoming shows. https://www.devilsbackbonetavern.com/live-music read more
