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Home My WebLink AboutHPC 01 Dixie Chicken Historical Marker ApplicationTo write a narrative of the Dixie Chicken is nearly an impossible task. The unofficial Capital of Northgate, now 50 years old, has served hundreds of thousands of people and found its way into the hearts of many. The atmosphere is unmatched anywhere in town. From the rustic, wood picket walls, to the Willie and Waylon you’ll hear over the speakers, the building embodies everything Texas. It is a known fact that if you wanted to find someone on a Friday night in College Station, you would likely meet them at the Dixie Chicken, enjoying a beer, shooting pool, and playing dominoes. As the oldest restaurant on Northgate, the Chicken has been a staple to all Aggies who have passed through Texas A&M University. Northgate has grown and changed but the Chicken has remained timeless. Lovingly nicknamed “The Bird,” the Dixie Chicken is a part of many traditions within itself, and A&M. Home of the Aggie Ring Dunk, a critical member of the roll call of traditions, thousands of students made the trek across University Drive to the back porch where they celebrated receiving their Aggie ring. This is a large part of how the Chicken manages to sell the most beer per square foot in the United States. Another tradition that sets The Bird apart is the carving of one's name and class year on the walls and tables. Starting when their first beer is purchased, students begin etching their names into the wood, continuously working on it throughout their time in school so that they may join the ranks of all Aggies who have passed through those infamous swinging doors. It is a wonderful sensation to walk into a favorite spot and run into people you know, talk about old times and create new memories together. However, it’s not just one specific story or memory that makes the Dixie Chicken unparallelled: it’s the collection of thousands of people who all have unique stories centered around this place of fellowship. Here are a few stories from people throughout the decades, some of love and romance, some of friendship and others are just having a plain ol’ good time! Don Ganter and Donnie Anz knew more than anyone that it is a wonderful sensation to walk into a favorite spot and run into people you know, talk about old times and create new memories together. Since they founded Dixie Chicken, it’s been a special place for their family and friends to gather and enjoy the legacy that, together with the community, has become the place that it is today. However, it’s not just one story or memory that makes the Dixie Chicken unparallelled: it’s the collection of thousands of people who all have unique stories centered around this place of fellowship. Here are a few stories from people throughout the decades, some of love and romance, some of friendship and others are just having a plain ol’ good time! “My last semester at A&M I lived in Leggett Hall. Many Friday and Saturday nights would find my roommate and I diving in the fish pond looking for coins, anything at the value of a nickel or more. When we reached 35 cents each, we would change into dry clothes and head to the Chicken for a Lone Star. When we finished that, it was back to the fish pond.” Old Army ’75 - Bill Leidner “Used to tie up our horses in the back when we rode over from the Cav barn during weekend excursions. That was when the Cav Jocks supplied our own (personal) horses. Behind the Chicken was just an alley and we’d ride over , tie up and play dominos and dispense pitchers while chewing tobacco or dipping snuff.” - Danny Hill, ‘85 “On September 1, 1990, my family was at the Chicken to christen my cousin’s ring. My boyfriend (now husband) dropped a ring in a pitcher and asked if I was ready to christen my ring. I was a year away from getting my Aggie ring, so I didn’t know what he was talking about. He pulled an engagement ring out of his pocket, dropped it into the pitcher, and asked me to marry him. The place went wild! I was showing someone the ring later that week, and a person nearby congratulated me, saying “Wow! You’re the one! I heard about that! Congratulations!” We have been married 25 years now. The Chicken will always be special to us!” - Kasey Koenig-Edmundson “It was a regular girls night out. We (my girlfriends and I) always ended up at the Dixie Chicken for some Tijuana fries and Goodnight Irene to end the night. My friends and I loved to hear “Guacamole” by the Texas Tornados, so I went up to the front bartender to ask him to play it. I thought the bartender was really cute. I went back up there and asked him for a pad of paper and a pen. He threw me a guest check book and I wrote down my name and number, gave it back to him, and told him to call me. He did- that night after he got off around 4am! I didn’t meet up with him then because I was already asleep, but we did meet up soon after. The rest is history- that bartender, Mason Moore, is now my husband! We got married on Aug 1, 2009, had our first son on Dec 21, 2014, and are expecting twin girls in March 2017! Thanks Dixie Chicken for setting us up!” - Beth Moore “Most memories I can’t remember or repeat, however, my wife (’01) and I (’98) had the privilege of taking our daughter (’31) to the chicken, and the next day, after asking if TAMU had a 1st grade, my daughter said she wanted to go back to the Chicken and play some bones.” - Ryan ’98 “The Dixie Chicken has been a long time favorite spot for me and my buddies. I became a regular and made friends with many of the staff members. Months prior I had registered to ride the MS 150, a charity bike race 150 miles across Texas at the end of April. In March of 2023, I approached the GM with the idea of getting sponsored by the Dixie Chicken. I contacted the bird and within a week I had ordered my jersey and continued my training to prepare for the race. I knew I was near the finish when I passed the Kyle Field road sign along Highway 21. After the race there was no other option but to go celebrate with a beer at the Chicken. That will forever be one of the highlights of my college career, among many others that take place at 307 University Drive.” - Tyler Skinner ‘22 It may have started as just a bar in 1974 but it has grown to be so much more. They’ve always been there for the big Aggie wins, post exam beers, and reconnecting with old friends. They’ve seen countless awkward first dates, 20 year wedding anniversaries, and return visits from Aggies coming back to show their kids where they spent their Friday nights back in their college days. The memories held within the walls of the Dixie Chicken are irreplaceable to not only the culture of Texas A&M, but the city of College Station. Supporting Documentation: A. Alterations: 1. In the early 1980’s, Dixie Chicken expanded into what was then Miranda’s. There is a slight ramp that now connects the two buildings. 2. In 1982, a kitchen was added, expanding the bar into a burger joint. 3. In May of 2020, the roof collapsed in the southernmost part of the building. It was repaired shortly after and business continued as usual. B. Prominent Historical Figures: 1. Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett i. Robert Keen and Lyle Lovett were roommates at A&M, freshman in the same year that the Chicken opened for business in 1974. They were frequently seen inside drinking beer, playing pool and occasionally having impromptu concerts on the back porch. Having lived where the Northgate parking lot is now, Keen is credited saying “We were the perfect ambassadors for both venerable institutions” in reference to the Dixie Chicken and the Presbyterian church. 2. Dub Miller wrote the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Song, mentioning the Dixie Chicken 3. Granger Smith also mentioned “The Chicken” in his song “We Bleed Maroon” C. Property Ownership: 1. The property is currently owned by the Boyett family. 2. The business was started by Don Ganter and Donnie Anz, around 1980, Donnie sold his share to Don. The business is currently owned by Don’s daughters, Jennifer Ganter and Katy Jackson. D. Tenant History: 1. Dixie Chicken has rented the Boyett owned building across from the University since 1974 2. Before the Dixie Chicken, the building was a pool hall known as the “Aggie Den” 3. The East side of the building was Miranda’s E. Narrative History: F. Drawings: 1. Attached G. Photographs: 1. Attached H. Additional Information: 1. Attached newspaper clips 2. Dixie Chicken is known for Aggie Ring Dunks, the live rattlesnake inside, table/wall carvings, and occasional 42/domino tournaments. I. References: