On a recent Friday night tucked away behind Rancho Drive the crowd at Larry's Hideaway thickened as the live band played old favorites and some new country rock.
"This is the only honky-tonk in this town. It has real country music and real country folk," said John Dodds, of Sun City Summerlin, who has been coming to the Hideaway for 14 years.
The Hideaway opened in 1962 as Larry's Old Ranch House at 3369 Thom Blvd. The gourmet restaurant's original menu included filet mignon for $5.50 and jumbo shrimp for $3.95.
In 1998, the eatery was transformed into the Hideaway, serving bar food and live music. The large dance floor was built two years later.
"This is one of the nicest, friendliest local places," said Ellen Jewett of Summerlin. "I go other places to dance sometimes but I feel safe here. It's not a pick-up bar."
The Hideaway always has something going on. Dance lessons start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights followed by dancing with music provided by a jukebox, where any song can be downloaded from the Internet.
From 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. on Wednesday nights, local Austin Powers look-a-like, Peter Banks hosts karaoke.
On Thursday nights contestants 21 years and older can enter a wet T-shirt contest. The first place prize is $100 and the second place prize is $50.
There's live music for the rest of the week. From 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights the Terry Green Deadwood Band performs Southern rock and from 7 to 11 p.m. on Sunday, Twice as Nice featuring Janice Stark and Dan Bell perform.
"We come every week for dancing and for the bands," said Dodds, who comes with his wife, Clara, who used to teach dance lessons at the Hideaway. "We like the live music and the dance floor." The Dodds now come every Tuesday and take dance lessons.
"There's always new stuff to learn in dance," Dodds said.
"We have a lot of regulars," said Judy "Gidget'" Abercrombie, the Hideaway's general manager. "We're getting the younger crowd because of the new country and the country rock."
The 24-hour establishment also has pool tables, video games, including a trivia game, and 15 slot machines and dart boards.
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