Designed by local San Antonio architect Otto Kramer and constructed in 1894, the Pearl Stable originally housed roughly 70 horses for the Pearl Brewery. Before motorized vehicles, these horses pulled beer wagons as part of the brewery’s production process until the early 1900s. Once motorized vehicles replaced horses, the intricate brick and stone building transitioned from a stable to storage. The front pediment and cupola were removed in the 1940s, and in 1950, the stable was renovated as an event venue named The Pearl Corral. The second floor, previously used for hay storage, was removed. A 290-foot mural called "The History of Ranching” wrapped the walls of the interior lending to the venue’s new Wild West theme. Designed and painted by Wimberley architect Buck Winn, the mural incorporated scenes of chuck wagons, old western towns, cattle branding, and bronco riding. At this time, the lobby space adopted the name “The Safari Room” and housed taxidermy from the former Pearl Brewery president Otto Andrew Koehler’s numerous safaris. The Pearl Corral closed in 1968 during HemisFair and later reopened in 1971 as Jersey Lilly, a vibrant event venue with red flocked wall paper and brass chandeliers, which operated until 2002. In 2005, new ownership renovated the building once more as a community event space.
Today, the 128-year-old elliptical structure, now called Stable Hall, opens as a premier music venue. Although light touches were made to the exterior, a completely new interior suits the space for hosting events and namely live music. Hammered limestone floors and plaster and original brick walls usher patrons into the lobby space as they enjoy pre-show drinks and local beers from the bars to the east and west of the entry. Column details and chandeliers in the lobby remain from an earlier renovation and lend to the cumulative history of the building. In the performance space, timeless, rich materials reference the Texas landscape. New forest green walls, lush velvet curtains, hand-painted landscape murals, and brass accents cultivate an intimate, soulful space for enjoying performances from artists like The Peterson Brothers and San Antonio’s own Rosie Flores. A radially laid out original wood ceiling in the space serves as a testament to the skilled carpenters of the 1890s. Custom-designed upholstered balcony seats and upper-level lounge areas, referred to as the eastern and western “hay lofts,” work in tandem with the large, open ground floor. The longleaf pine wood evokes the experience of being in a classic Texas dance hall, and accommodates raucous standing-room-only shows to more intimate, seated events. After shows, performers retreat to a relaxing green room. Signage and art, including framed original building plans, throughout spaces reference the original use of the building—a horse sable.
With the nation’s the Live Music Capital down the road, Stable Hall amplifies the Texas music scene and celebrates the spirit of coming together. Uniquely historic and one of San Antonio’s oldest buildings, Stable Hall brings San Antonio a variety of performances and is certain to be a treasured venue for many years to come.
