Waco Hippodrome Reopens

The  reopened Nov. 14 with six days of special events including concerts and classic movies, marking the end of a two-year, $2.6 million renovation of the century-old building. 

Photo: AP Photo / The Waco Tribune-Herald, Rod Aydelotte
The historic Waco Hippodrome Theatre in Waco, Texas, reopens Nov. 14 after a lengthy renovation process.

Local developers purchased the 929-seat theatre, which opened in 1914 as a vaudeville house, from the nonprofit Waco Performing Arts Company after it closed in 2010, according to the Waco Tribune.

The renovation adds two movie screens, a restaurant and second-floor bar, plus food and alcohol service for Hippodrome events. Its ornate ceiling is restored, bathrooms and kitchen space added, and fixed seats removed to create nightclub-style seating.

A three-story annex was added to give the Hippodrome even more room. Restless HeartLorrie Morgan and  helped kick off a grand-opening gala with a Nov. 15 concert.