The Broken Spoke may be James White’s claim to fame, but his legacy in Austin has roots deeper than his title as the owner of the legendary honky tonk.
White’s great-grandfather James Andrew Patton, a Texas Ranger, settled in Southwest Austin's Oak Hill in the mid-1800s after his mother grew tired of “frontier living and fighting with the Indians,” White said.
“I have an old picture of them at the Y in Oak Hill with all of their belongings on this wagon,” he said. “They settled right there on Patton Ranch Road.”
Originally called Oatmanville, Patton, the region’s postmaster, renamed the area Oak Hill in the late 1800s, White said, earning him the title of “mayor of Oak Hill.”
In 1898, Patton built the rock building just east of the Y, where he operated a general store for many years. His daughter, Rosa Patton White, took over the building in the 1940s, and in 1970 she deeded it to her grandson, James White, where he and his wife, Annetta, ran an upscale steakhouse called the Fortress until 1977.
White eventually decided to close the restaurant, but he still owns the building and said he has no intention of selling. Today, the building houses the Austin Pizza Garden.
In 1964, White opened the Broken Spoke after spending 18 months stationed with the Army in Okinawa, Japan, where he said he longed for country music.
“I was 25 years old; I didn’t have that much money, but I had the willingness to work and I was strong and didn’t mind getting dirty and working hard, so I visualized a place like no other,” he said. “When I got it built, I named it the Broken Spoke. I never looked back.”
Today tourists travel from all over the world to visit the legendary dance hall, White said, which is famous for its two-step dance lessons and live music. Photos of White with country music stars such as Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, George Strait and Dolly Parton cover the walls of the Broken Spoke’s museum area.
“I never knew it was going to be this way; I just wanted to open a dance hall,” White said. “I figured that when you open a business, you should treat people the way you want to be treated. I wanted people to feel welcome.”
At 78 years old, White said he still visits the Broken Spoke almost every day and is in charge of booking the bands.
“I had a heart problem about 17 years ago, and I was so upset because I was going to miss two of my favorite bands and it was a real downer,” he said. “I hate to miss a weekend at the Broken Spoke.”
