Urban Legend, Speed Channel, and Febreze

When you hear a story told time and time again, you get to the point when you don't know if it is truth or urban legend. The same could be said for Ramblin' Rose. I had heard stories from Mason and stories from Chris when he did a ride along with the Rowlett Police so when Chris pulled up in front of Ramblin' Rose, I will admit that I was nervous. As I sat in the car surveying the joint and trying to muster up the nerve to go in, I noticed that there is a historical marker on the outside of the building. I am not sure how and why, but it does have historical designation - so it can't be that bad - right?!? Chris asked me, "Do you want me to come in with you?" I said, "No, I can do it." And as luck would have it - a car pulled up and I decided I would wait and walk in with whoever got out of the car. I got out and waited. From the car appears a woman and I go up and start walking with her. "Hi, my name is Donna," I extend my and I am shaking hands with Shirley. Shirley holds the door for me, lets me go in first (ugh, I really wanted to follow her in, but no such luck), and I officially cross the threshold into Ramblin' Rose. I have to squint for my eyes to adjust and Shirley quickly finds a bar stool at the end of the bar. I am instantly odd man out and I have 10 sets of eyes staring at me. So I tell them, "I'm with Shirley." And that seems to break the chill. The first person that speaks to me is Debora. We shake hands; I tell her my New Year's resolution and that I write about the people I get to meet. Debora works there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday sounds like a hoppin' night because it is $2 beer (bottles) and $2 burger night (cheese is extra). According to Debora, Friday night the "kids" come in and the rest of the time it is a familiar group. I said to Debora, "If kinda feels like Cheers. Where everybody knows your name." Debora says, "Exactly." Just then the bartender asks me for my id and I tell her, "I'm not here to drink. I am here to meet people and to write an article." Debora kinda waves her off and we are back to conversation. Ramblin' Rose opened in 1992, Tuesday night and Thursday night is shuffleboard night. They have a karaoke night, they have pool tables, they have a big screen that comes down from the ceiling when they watch football games, they sell pitchers, and Debora is not a beer girl. I then notice that there are dollar bills signed and stapled to the ceiling and pillars around the bar so I ask Debora about the meaning. She says, "They have been here every since I have." This when I meet Kathy Lee who is sitting to the left of Debora at the bar. Kathy Lee tells me that is started in 2000, 2001 when a regular named Betty Lou passed away from cancer. Someone wrote a message on a dollar bill to honor Betty Lou and it was stapled to the ceiling. Now just about any kind of message (I saw bachelorette party references, love notes and R.I.P) appears on the bills (I saw ones, fives and a ten) stapled to the ceiling and the pillars around the bar. About this time a gentleman leaves the bathroom and heads for the door and everyone tells Bill goodbye. Even I gave holler out to Bill as he leaves. Back to my conversation with Kathy Lee, she tells me that they only serve chips with the burger - no fries. Her actual word were to the effect of "F the fries...that's what Debora says." Debora quickly jumps in and says, "That's what Kathy Lee says." We all laugh - I am loving this place. Shirley moves down to the empty bar stool on the other side of Debora and we continue talking about the bar. I turn to Debora and I say, "You gotta love a place that has the Speed Channel on showing the Barrett Jackson auction." Debora is impressed and then asks if I am a NASCAR fan and I tell her,"Yes." Debora turns to Kathy Lee and says, "She is going to fit in here just like a glove." High fives all around and I am high fivin' back. Did I mention that I am loving this place?!?!? Unfortunately all good things have to end and I tell everyone that I have to leave. I tell Debora, Kathy Lee, and Shirley that I will be back and I will bring my husband with me the next time. I shake hands with them and I again tell them good bye. When I get to the door, I turn, wave and I hear a couple voices say, "Take care Donna. Come back soon." And I holler back, "Oh, I will!!"

At the Ramblin' Rose, I debunked the urban legend that it is scary and unwelcoming. The truth about the Ramblin' Rose - it is a smokey (I did have to febreze myself before I could start dinner) honky - tonk - not your Urban Cowboy honky - tonk, but a plain and simple Texas honky - tonk.