Bingo in the Backwoods

BY MACKENZIE JOHNSON

Managing Editor

The words “There is not much to do around here” is a phrase often spoken in the town of Stephenville and its surrounding areas.

Although this may be true to a certain extent, perhaps those thinking this aren’t looking in the right places. 

Right next door in Dublin, Texas, roughly less than 10 miles outside of Stephenville city limits, Backwoods Bar and Grill offers activities throughout the week to combat this misconception. 

Previously occupied by the restaurant known as Woody’s, Backwoods took over the building in 2023 and expanded the setup for Dublin residents to enjoy. 

However, the good natured eatery isn't just limited to Dubliners, nor is it limited to only food. 

“I’ve been to Backwoods for Friday night bingo a few times now,” Savannah Jensen, a Tarleton State University student, said. “It’s how I like to decompress from a long week, and oftentimes, I’ll just come by myself. That’s the type of welcoming atmosphere Backwoods offers.” 

Backwoods’ 7 p.m. Friday night bingo is an activity many people mark their calendars for every week, and there is good reason why. 

“I really don’t know how bingo started,” Carol Gibson, owner of Backwoods, said. “We were just looking for an activity for people to do on Friday night, so we came up with bingo. Over the last year, it has grown to capacity. I know a lot of it has to do with the huge payouts, the wonderful people who attend and the family-friendly atmosphere.”

The description of bingo night offering huge payouts is no exaggeration. 

“Most games pay from $250 to $300. The blackout game is always over $1000,” Gibson said. “In the past, we have played seven bingo games for $14, but we are going back to five games for $10."

In other words, it’s possible to win over a grand and no less than $200 for only a $10 entry fee. 

This possibility has encouraged an influx of people to make Friday night bingo a mandatory event, and there’s not typically a night where bingo cards don’t sell out. 

So, if the five-letter word “bingo” is calling your name, you’d better get there early – but if you can’t make it in time to grab a card, Backwoods offers other weekend activities. 

“After bingo on Friday nights, we have a late Happy Hour from 9-11 p.m.,” Gibson said. “On Saturdays, we alternate live music and Perryoke Karaoke. Sundays at 6 p.m., we have a fantastic pool tournament. We also have a great fenced-in patio out back with cornhole.”

Alongside bingo and the activities to follow it, Backwoods is additionally recognized for its food. 

“Along with the nightly activities, we also have excellent food: brisket, ribs, steaks, burgers and pizza,” Ryan Scheid, Backwoods manager, said. “We make as much of our food from scratch as we can. It just tastes better.”

Offering good food and a great time to customers is what Backwoods strives to do, but their community involvement reaches far beyond the doors of their restaurant. 

“We also host an annual benefit for Revitalize Dublin, a non-profit centered around community cleanup and restoration projects,” Scheid said. “Dublin citizens are a large portion of our customer base, so we are honored that they ask us to host this event. We host bike nights for local clubs, wedding receptions, company meetings and holiday and birthday parties, and we are always on the lookout for new activities.”

Whether you’re a Dublin citizen or not, Backwoods is open for all to enjoy. 

Spend a weekend attending one of their offered events, and you yourself may just say, “I know of a place,” the next time you’re met with the conundrum of what to do in Erath County.