Dixie Chicken (bar)

Last updated
Dixie Chicken back porch Game Day at the Chicken.jpg
Dixie Chicken back porch

The Dixie Chicken, also known as The Chicken, is a bar located in College Station, Texas, directly across the street from the Texas A&M University campus. The Dixie Chicken claims to serve the most beer per square foot of any bar in the United States. [1]

“One of the most recognizable restaurants in College Station,” [2] [3] the Dixie Chicken is known as Texas A&M's "favorite local watering hole." [4] The Dixie Chicken is the oldest and most famous bar in the Northgate district. [5]

The Dixie Chicken was founded by local businessmen Don Anz and Don Ganter. [6] [7] Anz had rented a pool hall, the Aggie Den, directly across the street from the Texas A&M University campus. The two businessmen invested about $7,000 to convert the pool hall into a bar. The two renamed the facility the Dixie Chicken, taken from the album of the same name by band Little Feat. The decor was inspired by the cover of a Jerry Jeff Walker album, and featured swinging doors at the entrance, sturdy wooden tables - over time covered in patron's carvings - pool tables, dominoes, and signs on the walls. [7] In a 2014 article, ESPN writer Scott Eden described the bar: "The exterior resembles a honky-tonk as dreamed up by the Disney people who designed Frontierland. On the inside, it's pure Texas, with outlaw country on an infinite loop and Lone Star longnecks sliding down the bars, not to mention photos of old Bonfires all over the walls." [8]

A group of friends pose with a pitcher of beer. DIXIE-19.jpg
A group of friends pose with a pitcher of beer.

The bar opened on June 15, 1974. [9] It soon became a favored hangout of Texas A&M students and aspiring singers Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett. The two often brought their guitars to the bar and played impromptu concerts on the back porch. In the beginning, they were often kicked out of the bar, but as their playing improved, the owners allowed them to stay and play. [9]

The bar was the inspiration for the unofficial Texas A&M Tradition of "ring dunking". [10] In the late 1970s a student dropped his brand-new Aggie ring in a pitcher of beer. He was challenged by a friend to drink the pitcher to retrieve the ring. This spread to become a widespread practice among Texas A&M seniors. [7] Due to changes in Texas laws, by 2005 instead of pitchers, students are only allowed to buy 32 ounce (950 mL) mugs of beer on Ring Day at the Dixie Chicken. [11]

The Dixie Chicken was expanded in 1981, and in the mid-2000s an additional porch was added. [7] The decor has changed only minimally. [7] Ganter died in 2004, just days after the Dixie Chicken had its 30th anniversary. [12] His daughters, Katy Jackson and Jennifer Ganter, now run the bar. [7] In 2014, the Dixie Chicken celebrated its 40th anniversary, making it the oldest bar in the Northgate, Texas entertainment district in College Station. [7]

For Texas Independence Day 2017, Shiner Bock donated hundreds of thousands of caps to Bottle Cap Alley. For the day, it was called "Bock Cap Alley" throughout social media. Bottle Cap Alley.jpg
For Texas Independence Day 2017, Shiner Bock donated hundreds of thousands of caps to Bottle Cap Alley. For the day, it was called "Bock Cap Alley" throughout social media.

In April 2006, the Dixie Chicken was named "College Bar of the Month" in Playboy . [1] Complex.com named it the Number 1 Best College Campus Bars in 2013. [9] [13] Notable customers have included United States Senator John McCain and the former president of Panama, Martín Torrijos. [9] In his comments to the Texas A&M graduating class of Fall 2008, President George W. Bush stated that, "Back in my day, I think I would have enjoyed dunk [sic] my ring." [14] The president also joked about the absence of his Secretary of Defense (and former president of A&M) Robert Gates from the ceremony by stating, "It's not like he's over at the Dixie Chicken.” [15]

Bottle Cap Alley separates the Chicken from the Dry Bean Saloon. In the early days of the bar, the workers would have so many bottle caps from all the bottled beer that was served throughout the day that they started putting them up and down the alley. Today it's a landmark that encourages visitors to bring and dump their own bottle caps to be a part of the tradition. In recent years, with more people buying beer by the pitcher, different beer companies have contributed their caps to make sure the alley stays beautiful year around.[ citation needed ] On the night of May 27, 2020, heavy rain and hail caused the roof of the Chicken to cave in. Additional details are forthcoming. [16]

Related Research Articles

Texas A&M University Public university in College Station, Texas, U.S.

Texas A&M University is a public land-grant research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. As of Fall 2021, Texas A&M's student body is the largest in the United States. Texas A&M is the only university in Texas to hold simultaneous designations as a land, sea, and space grant institution. It has projects funded by organizations such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research. In 2001, Texas A&M was inducted as a member of the Association of American Universities. The school's students, alumni and sports teams are known as Aggies. The Texas A&M Aggies athletes compete in eighteen varsity sports as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

Bryan, Texas City in Brazos County, Texas, United States

Bryan is a city and the county seat of Brazos County, Texas, United States. It is located in the heart of the Brazos Valley. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 83,980. Bryan borders the city of College Station, which lies to its south. Together they are referred to as the Bryan–College Station metropolitan area, which has a population of more than 250,069.

College Station, Texas City in Texas, United States

College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East-Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley, in the center of the region known as the Texas Triangle. It is 83 miles northwest of Houston and 87 miles (140 km) east-northeast of Austin. As of the 2010 census, College Station had a population of 93,857, which had increased to an estimated population of 117,911 as of July 2019. College Station and Bryan together make up the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area, the 13th-largest metropolitan area in Texas with 273,101 people as of 2019.

Beer pong Drinking game involving ping pong balls

Beer pong, also known as Beirut, is a drinking game in which players throw a ping pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer on the other end. The game typically consists of opposing teams of two or more players per side with 6 or 10 cups set up in a triangle formation on each side. Each team then takes turns attempting to throw ping pong balls into the opponent's cups. If a ball lands in a cup, the contents of that cup are consumed by the other team and the cup is removed from the table. The first team to eliminate all of the opponent's cups is the winner.

Drink can Container specifically made for liquid such as beverages and usually made of aluminum

A drink can is a metal container designed to hold a fixed portion of liquid such as carbonated soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, teas, herbal teas, energy drinks, etc. Drink cans are made of aluminum or tin-plated steel. Worldwide production for all drink cans is approximately 370 billion cans per year.

Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery is a brewery in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. It was started in 1988 by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter.

Eskimo Joes

Eskimo Joe's is a restaurant and bar located at 501 W. Elm in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

KBTX-TV CBS affiliate in Bryan, Texas

KBTX-TV, virtual channel 3, is a CBS-affiliated television station licensed to Bryan, Texas, United States, and serving the Brazos Valley. The station is owned by Atlanta-based Gray Television. KBTX-TV's studios are located on East 29th Street in Bryan, and its transmitter is located northwest of Anderson, Texas.

Jug Container used to hold liquid

A jug is a type of container commonly used to hold liquids. It has an opening, sometimes narrow, from which to pour or drink, and has a handle, and often a pouring lip. Jugs throughout history have been made of metal, and ceramic, or glass, and plastic is now common.

Traditions of Texas A&M University Aspect of Texas A&M University culture

The traditions of Texas A&M University are a key aspect of the culture of Texas A&M University. Some of the school traditions date to the 1890s, shortly after the opening of the school, while others have been introduced more recently. These traditions encourage current students and alumni (Aggies) to cultivate the Aggie Spirit, a sense of loyalty and respect for the school, and dictate many aspects of student life, including how to greet others, how to act at an A&M sporting event, and what words a student may use in conversation. The most visible tradition among senior class students and alumni is the wearing of the Aggie Ring, whose design has been relatively unchanged since its introduction in 1894. Not all Aggie traditions are recognized by the university, and some, like Bonfire, have been discontinued for safety reasons. Texas Monthly states that the students' respect for school traditions and values is the university's greatest strength.

History of Texas A&M University History of a US university

The history of Texas A&M University, the first public institution of higher education in Texas, began in 1871, when the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas was established as a land-grant college by the Reconstruction-era Texas Legislature. Classes began on October 4, 1876. Although Texas A&M was originally scheduled to be established under the Texas Constitution as a branch of the yet-to-be-created University of Texas, subsequent acts of the Texas Legislature never gave the university any authority over Texas A&M. In 1875, the Legislature separated the administrations of A&M and the University of Texas, which still existed only on paper.

Campus of Texas A&M University

The campus of Texas A&M University, also known as Aggieland, is situated in College Station, Texas, United States. Texas A&M is centrally located within 200 miles (320 km) of three of the 10 largest cities in the United States and 75% of the Texas and Louisiana populations. Aggieland's major roadway is State Highway 6, and several smaller state highways and Farm to Market Roads connect the area to larger highways such as Interstate 45.

Many terms are unique to, or hold a special meaning connected with, Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a public research university and is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. It opened in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the first public institution of higher education in that state. In 1963, the Texas Legislature renamed the school to Texas A&M University to reflect the institution's expanded roles and academic offerings. The letters "A&M" no longer have any explicit meaning but are retained as a link to the university's past.

Texas A&M Singing Cadets Choir at Texas A&M University

The Texas A&M Singing Cadets are a male choral group at Texas A&M University. Nicknamed "The Voice of Aggieland", the Singing Cadets have been touring for 109 seasons, with their roots in a glee club founded on the A&M campus in 1893. The Singing Cadets are one of the oldest collegiate singing organizations in the world. They have toured both in America and abroad and have earned recognition by doing so, including invitations to sing for American presidents. Contrary to their name, the Singing Cadets are not all members of the Corps of Cadets and have not been since 1965, when the university as a whole ceased mandating Corps membership. Between 1996 and 2006, the Singing Cadets traveled over 35,000 miles and performed more than 450 concerts worldwide.

Allen Academy is an independent co-educational day school located in Bryan, Texas that was founded in 1886 by John H. and Rivers O. Allen. The 40-acre (16 ha) campus is located seven miles (11 km) northeast of Texas A&M University and enrolls about 340 students from throughout the Brazos Valley. The school is the oldest private school in the state of Texas and is a non-denominational pre-kindergarten through grade 12 school. It is a member of both the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS), and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Allen is also the only NAIS member school within a 75-mile (121 km) radius.

Lone Star Brewing Company Brewery in Texas, US

The Lone Star Brewery, built in 1884, was the first large mechanized brewery in Texas. Adolphus Busch, of Anheuser-Busch, founded it along with a group of San Antonio businessmen. The castle-like building which was once its brewery now houses the San Antonio Museum of Art. Lone Star beer was the company's main brand. The beer is still marketed as "The National Beer of Texas." The Lone Star name is now owned by Pabst Brewing Company. Production of Lone Star is currently contracted out to Miller Brewing Company in Fort Worth. The Lone Star name is used in the Philippines under license to Asia Brewery for a brand of light beer.

Plaza Hotel, College Station Former hotel building in College Station, Texas

The Plaza Hotel is a former hotel building in College Station, Texas. The building contained 300 rooms and was 17 stories high. It was located at 410 South Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77840.

Scott Ryan Beerer is an American professional baseball outfielder and coach. Prior to his professional career, he was an All-American pitcher and outfielder at Texas A&M University.

The Texas A&M Aggie ring is one of the various well-known symbols of Texas A&M University and a visible way to distinguish Aggies all over the world. The Texas A&M ring was formally adopted in 1889, and its design has remained relatively unchanged since then. The only major change that has been done on the original design was a result of the renaming of the university from “Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas” to “Texas A&M University” in 1963. The current Aggie Ring was designed by E. C. Jonas in 1894. The Aggie ring has distinct physical features, is surrounded by various unique traditions, and has very specific requirements for eligibility.

Tyler Cade Ivey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for Texas A&M University, and was drafted out of Grayson College. He made his MLB debut on May 21, 2021 in Arlington, Texas.

References

  1. 1 2 "The Dixie Chicken". On Campus. Playboy Magazine. Archived from the original on 2006-04-28. Retrieved 2006-04-27.
  2. ↑ Clair Lavender (2008-09-03). "Students rave about restaurants in College Station that not only define a community, but a culture". The Battalion. Archived from the original on 2009-10-09. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  3. ↑ Davis, Glenn D (2011), College Station, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN   9780738579559
  4. ↑ Mark Schabach (2006-08-14). "Texas A&M hoops finds place on football's back". ESPN . Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  5. ↑ Hensley, Laura (2006-09-23). "Promenade drinking ban sends crowds to other bars". The Eagle. Archived from the original on 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  6. ↑ Luke Jackson (2004-11-22). "Dixie Chicken owner Don Ganter dies". The Battalion . Retrieved 2009-02-04.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Salazar, Andrea (June 12, 2014), "Dixie Chicken to celebrate 40 years of business on Northgate", The Bryan-College Station Eagle, retrieved Dec 11, 2014
  8. ↑ Eden, Scott (November 26, 2014), The Burning Desire of Texas A&M, ESPN
  9. 1 2 3 4 Hlavaty, Craig (June 13, 2014), "College Station's legendary Dixie Chicken celebrates a milestone", The Houston Chronicle, retrieved Dec 11, 2014
  10. ↑ Jenna Janik (2005-09-26). "Unofficial tradition of ring dunking began on accident". The Battalion. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  11. ↑ Victoria White (2005-04-14). "Drinking on the Northgate promenade will not be allowed for Ring Day". The Battalion. Archived from the original on 2007-08-12. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  12. ↑ Lindsay Liepman (2004-11-23). "Dixie Chicken Owner Dies". KBTX-TV . Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  13. ↑ The 25 Best College Campus Bars, Complex.com, April 2013, retrieved December 11, 2014
  14. ↑ George W. Bush (2008-12-12). "Bush Delivers Commencement Address at Texas A & M University". The Washington Post . Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  15. ↑ "Bush mentions local bar in speech". The Eagle. 2008-12-13. Archived from the original on 2012-06-14. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  16. ↑ "'We will remain strong': Cleanup continues after roof collapse at The Dixie Chicken". KBTX. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2020-05-28.

Coordinates: 30°37′04″N96°20′47″W / 30.617815°N 96.346304°W / 30.617815; -96.346304

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.