The Tumbleweed Dance Hall and Concert Arena is an 18+ venue and dancehall located in Stillwater.

The venue has hosted hundreds of country acts, as well as dozens of rock and alternative bands. Popular annual events at the Tumbleweed include College Days each fall and Calf Fry, held every spring to crowds of 15,000+.

“The Weed” has been recognized by Country Weekly magazine as one of the top 10 historic country music sites to visit in the United States.

History

In October 1981, Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Lospeich and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hesser purchased land, built a large building and opened the Stillwater Honky-Tonk, hoping to capitalize on the “Urban Cowboy” craze of the time.

In the first four years, the venue hosted local, regional and national acts, like George Strait, Charly McClain, Mel McDaniel, John Arnold Band, John Anderson and Garth Brooks. Brooks actually worked as a bouncer at “The Weed” while attending Oklahoma State University.

In 1985, Oklahoma liquor laws placed tighter regulations on ballrooms and clubs across the state. Seeing a decline in business, new owners John and Linda Klinger opened a Steak House to compliment the venue.

In 1987, Tumbleweed was leased, and ultimately purchased, by Hank Moore and Sherry Perrin. Under new ownership, the venue added a new sound system and installed a floating maple dance floor. Both were major improvements over the old cracked concrete floors and music playing from a record turntable.

In the spring of 1991, outdoor concerts, rodeos and bull riding events were booked for the first time behind Tumbleweed. The first outdoor concert featured then-emerging country star Garth Brooks. The Tumbleweed was nominated as Nightclub of the Year by the Country Music Association in the mid-1990s and by the Academy of Country Music in 2005.

In March 2011, a new ownership group purchased The Tumbleweed and replaced the old rotting dance floor, among other updates.

In November 2013, Kings of Leon released a music video for “Beautiful War” that partially featured the venue.

Past Touring Acts

Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, George Strait, Hank Williams Jr., Mel McDaniel, John Anderson, Chris LeDoux, Keith Whitley, Lorrie Morgan, Gene Watson, 2 Live Crew, Vanilla Ice, Jackyl, Third Eye Blind, All American Rejects, Cross Canadian Ragweed, The Great Divide, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Bob Childers, Red Dirt Rangers, Stoney LaRue and more.