Nestled in the heart of downtown Abilene, the handsomely restored historic Elks Arts Center first opened as the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge 562 on January 1, 1913. Merry revelers attending the grand opening danced all night, marking the first of many celebrations to take place in the distinctive Italianate-Romanesque Revival building.

Venue spaces at the Elks are both highly functional and aesthetically pleasing. From a business meeting for 15, to a classic wedding for 170, our unique spaces accommodate a variety of special events. Choose your venue space and connect with our team to save your date today!

Making History at the Elks

With the cake topper and a framed photo from his wedding in hand, along with flowers, cake, and music prepared, Victor Lopez excitedly decorated a corner of the Elks Ballroom the morning of December 5th, 2019. Later that afternoon, Victor brought his wife, Sharon, to the building under the pretext that he found a dance class. Instead, it was a surprise date to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

Victor said of the occasion, “We’ve been celebrating our 50th anniversary all year, having travelled to may places around the United States, but the Elks is a special place for us. It holds so many memories. We celebrated our 40th anniversary, both of our 60th birthdays, and our grandson’s induction into the Hardin-Simmons University Honor Society here. We’ve also catered several events here.”

Victor and Sharon danced the afternoon away, stopping only to eat cake, creating one more sweet memory at the Elks.