About

Since it’s founding in the early 90’s ACW has always welcomed everyone regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression!

ACW is a

Proud member of the

IAGSDC since 1991

In San Antonio, two friends, Cricket Matheson and Harland Jylha, were square dancers, but they had to dance with straight clubs. They were aware of the growing number of gay clubs being formed elsewhere, and Cricket began going to the annual IAGSDC conventions where he became well known. In 1990, the president of the association challenged him to start a club in San Antonio.

Taking up the challenge, Cricket and Harland worked very hard to set up what would become the Alamo City Wranglers. Those two involved their friends, then friends of friends, etc. In a short while, word was out in the gay community that a new, fun dance group was forming. In addition to those two, David Vanderhoof, TK Krausnick, and Danny Castillo are recognized as the five founders of the Alamo City Wranglers. A bar on the northwest side named Memories served as the location for beginning lessons, demonstrations and the first dances. The IAGSDC was contacted for help in starting the club and holding initial classes, and that association sent out word for member clubs to help. It is an example of the unity that exists in the gay square dance community that no less than sixteen dancers came to San Antonio from Seattle, Portland, Albuquerque, and Baltimore to assist with the demo nights and organizing the club. A caller from the straight clubs, Rusty Fennel, was hired to do the calling and teaching. At the completion of the classes, the Alamo City Wranglers club was begun. At its next convention in 1991, the IAGSDC officially accepted the Wranglers as a new member. We are the oldest gay square dance club in Texas.

Links to our sister clubs,

👋 hey girls hey 👋

Austin Texas: Lone star Lambda’s

&

Dallas Texas: Pegasus Squares