The Original Texas Roadhouse Is Still in Indiana, But Not for Long

Texas Roadhouse Started in Southern Indiana, Not Texas

There are very few places that get your meal exactly right every single time you go, and where it's hard to find anything bad on the menu. For me, and I think a lot of folks across the country would agree, that place is Texas Roadhouse.

I mean, hearty slabs of smoky ribs, steaks cooked to perfection, chicken that'll make you slap your mama, even the chili and sides are amazing. But can we just take a moment for the ranch dressing and those fresh-baked rolls? Truly, there's nothing better. I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.

The First Texas Roadhouse Wasn't in Texas

You'd think a place called Texas Roadhouse would have been founded in the great state of Texas by a real-life Texan, right? Nope.

I was surprised to learn that Louisville native W. Kent Taylor opened the very first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, just across the river from Louisville. Taylor, who was a manager for KFC at the time, tried to secure funding for his restaurant but was turned down again and again. After multiple attempts, he finally got the backing he needed from three doctors in Elizabethtown.

A Dream That Started on a Napkin

What started as a sketch on a napkin became reality when Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville in 1993, in the Green Tree Mall.

With Andy Armadillo welcoming guests, the original restaurant featured a green exterior and the company's first logo. Inside, it had the same Texas ranch feel people know today, complete with cowboy décor and plenty of local flavor. In fact, Texas Roadhouse still employs mural artists who create custom artwork highlighting something unique about the community every time a new location opens.

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The Original Restaurant Is Moving

You can still visit the original Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, but not for much longer.

The original location is expected to close this fall before reopening down the street in a brand-new building, which will be the biggest in the country. Even after more than 30 years in business, regulars say it's still common to see a line stretching out the door most nights as hungry guests wait for a table.

According to WDRB, a spokesperson for the company called the move "bittersweet," but said the new restaurant will "honor the original location's heritage in the architecture and design."