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749 online
Server Time:
2024-04-19 08:53:38
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 Jonsered
     
Location: Back in New Mexico where I belong
Gender: Male
Dressed for a scarecrow ball.........
 |  |  |  | Down At The Balinese
< on 11/16/2005 11:20 PM >
|  | | | Hey Texas!
Any idea if the immortal Balinese Room is still in existence? It was made famous by ZZ Top in "Down At The Balinese" back in the 1970's. Before that it was a bar, and at one time, an illicit casino. I had heard that there were still slot machines in the back, as well as bar-type items lying around. The photo was taken in 1989 when I tried unsuccessfully to hand-over-hand down the beams to reach an open window about 45 yards from shore.
It sat right on the seawall, and stuck out into the Gulf 350 feet or so. I always had a soft spot for this place, and I just wonder what the status is.
Thanks!
Edit: Forgot to add that this place is in Galveston! Doh!
[last edit 11/16/2005 11:55 PM by Jonsered - edited 1 times]
I have changed my personal exploring ethics code. From now on it will be: "Take only aimed shots, leave only hobo corpses." Copper scrappers, meth heads and homeless beware. The Jonsered cometh among you, bringing fear and dread.
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Wiccan
 
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Gender: Female
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 1 on 11/16/2005 11:40 PM >
| | | | Cool place!
Don't know what it's status is now, of course, but it would be neat to see it!
Yeah, and I totally have that song stuck in my head now, but that's not a bad thing. 
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White Winged Dove
Location: Too far away from the beach
Gender: Female
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 2 on 11/17/2005 12:21 AM >
| | | | Last time I was in Galveston, a couple of years ago, the building was still there but it was closed up.
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Dokk
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 3 on 11/17/2005 1:06 AM >
| | | | Officially, the Balinese Room was a nightclub/restaurant. In reality, it was an illegal casino with slot machines and several gaming tables. After you entered the front door facing Seawall blvd, there were several other doors, turns, twists, etc. intended to slow down anyone trying to get in (like the Sheriff). There were lookouts stationed around the area and when the signal was given, the band would play "The Eyes of Texas" and the whole place could be converted into a dining room in less than a minute complete with hot food on the tables. It took several years for the County Sheriff to shut the place down. It was known as the crown jewel of Sam and Rosario Maceo’s Galveston-based empire.
http://www.thedeli...ature.cfm?Story=16
"If I'm gonna get blamed for it, I might as well do it!" |
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Wiccan
Location: Hamilton Ontario
Gender: Female
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 4 on 11/17/2005 1:58 AM >
| | | | Thanks for posting that article, Dokk! Pretty fascinating, I knew the song but I didn't know that the place really existed.
So that realtor put all that time and money into restoring it and it's now closed? That's sad.
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Dokk
Location: Lewisville, Texas
Gender: Male
| | | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 5 on 11/17/2005 11:41 AM >
| | | | My understanding is that it's now open again but I could be wrong. I haven't been down there in a few years.
"If I'm gonna get blamed for it, I might as well do it!" |
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TexasJeep
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 6 on 11/28/2005 4:38 PM >
|  | | | Not sure what this site is about, but the Balinese Room is open. From my understanding the realtor didn't have to put much money in it. That is amazing considering how long it sat and that it is about 600 feet out above the ocean.
I would think the Balinese room would of been famous before the ZZ top song but maybe it just became that much more famous. It did have all kinds of stars play there back in the day, Frank Sintra, Bob Hope, and others.
I found this site by seeing if I could find out why ZZ top wrote the song.
I went for my first time a few weeks ago. I think they are working on the back room (old gambling room I think). You could look into it from where the bar and bands play currently. I would like to go back again. It was not very crowded but I hope the place makes it.
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TexasJeep
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 7 on 11/28/2005 4:45 PM >
| | | | I forgot to add the website to the Balinese Room.
http://www.scottarnoldpc.com/br/
It has the calender, pictures, visual tour and other stuff.
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sealy628
| | Re: Down At The Balinese
<Reply # 8 on 4/29/2006 8:19 PM >
| | | | If you're ever in the Balinese check out the ghost in the bathroom. I can't remember if it's in the men's or women's. It was in full operation in Nov. 2005.
For more history research: Salvatore (Sam) and Rosacio (Papa Rose) Maceo. Their relatives (Tillman Fertitta in particular) still run the town.
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