TYLER, Texas — Community members came together Thursday evening to celebrate the unveiling of the fully renovated historic Mayfair dance hall.
During the grand reopening, Tyler Mayor Don Warren announced the nearly 100-year-old building that once saw performances by Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley has earned a spot on the esteemed National Register of Historic Places. It now joins the ranks of Tyler Rose Garden with this accomplishment.
"Since its inception in 1927, The Mayfair has stood as a cornerstone of entertainment and joy in our community," Warren said. "Today, we stand in a venue reborn, ready to host the music and dancing that once echoed through its halls."
The National Register of Historic Places features a list of America's historic places worthy of preservation. City officials spent a year completing the application process to register while receiving assistance of a historic preservation consulting firm.
Thursday night's festivities included music from one of Tyler's local bands, The Tuxedo Cats, signature mocktails and life-sized cutouts immortalizing icons Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley.
Now that the Mayfair has been renewed and refreshed, it will serve as s dynamic extension of the W.T. Brookshire Conference Center and Tyler Rose Garden at the Tyler Rose Complex. This multipurpose venue has seating for up to 300 in a dinner-style arrangement or 500 in an auditorium format, according to the city of Tyler.
The renovations have preserved the historical elements of the dance hall, such as the original floors, windows, stage and dressing room with the mirror Elvis once sat in front of for a photo. The city has plans to turn the dressing room into a small museum, showcasing items that were found during construction, like a vintage amplifier and record player and an unopened bottle of whiskey from the prohibition era.
The project was funded using the Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is collected from overnight guests who stay in the city’s hotel or lodging facilities. Those proceeds must be spent on projects that will bring more visitors or attendees staying overnight in the community.