Waco's #5 Attraction - The Waco Hippodrome Theatre!

 Waco Hippodrome Theatre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

A really unique site in Waco is definitely The Waco Hippodrome Theatre. This is an iconic Waco landmark that not many outside the area know about. 

This historic building hosts various of entertainment options ranging from first-run and classic films, live music, comedy concerts, and plays! The venue also has a history of hosting events for families such as weddings, holiday parties, corporate meetings, or any other special gatherings. 

Founded in 1914, this theatre has been Waco's prime spot for extraordinary events and has enriched the city's culture. Back in the day, it featured extravagant shows, magic acts, orchestras, and even live seal acts! The Waco Hippodrome Theatre is over 100 years old, and renovations to restructure the movie theatres and restaurants began in 2018. It was built as a grand Spanish Colonial establishment in downtown Waco and its timeless character has been preserved ever since.

On February 7, 1914, Wacoans gathered at the theatre and only had to pay 10 cents to view the grand opening! A group of local businessmen, some from Waco and Dallas, broke ground on the property in 1913. In 1931, the theatre played its first movie with sound. When the Waco tornado hit in 1953, the theatre thankfully was not touched despite the vast destruction the rest of the city experienced. 

Famous celebrities such as Elvis Presley and John Wayne even visited Waco to catch a show in this iconic theatre. There was a fire in the production booth in the building during 1928, which required a renovation and this is when the Spanish style architecture was put in place which still remains today.

In 2012, the building was bought by two brothers, Shane and Cody Turner, who wanted to retain the building's historic look, but also added a wall to the second story allowing two films to be shown at once, and renovated the second floor lobby into a bar.

I would definitely encourage any Waco tourists to check the Hippodrome Theatre out as it is a really neat spot here in the city. Watching a movie is not the same as going to a regular theatre, as the added historic environment really makes the experience so much more worth it. 

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