KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — In the land of lederhosen and dirndls, welcome to the club of Stetsons and denim.
The Kazabra Club has been around for years. But it remains an oasis for those hankering for American beer, a Texas-sized dance floor for country line dancing and a place where cowboys and cowgirls can feel at home.
In a country where techno music still reigns, the “K Club” in K-town is like sovereign territory to two-steppers.
That’s probably why hundreds of servicemembers from as far as Würzburg and Stuttgart will travel to the Army bar on Vogelweh in Kaiserslautern. It is believed to be the biggest military club in Europe, attracting as many as 700 people on a Saturday night.
Army Spc. Mike Griffin and Pfc. Will Alcorn both drove up from Baumholder on a Wednesday night just to play some pool and hang out while other patrons played bingo.
“On Saturdays around midnight it’s crazy,” Alcorn said.
There is no doubting the club is a country bar.
Saddle stools line the spacious dance floor. A steer skull hangs from the wall. And in the back corner is “Tornado,” the mechanical bull. It’s one of the club’s feature attractions and practically a rite of passage for regulars.
Men looking for some free entertainment with their ice-cold beer won’t want to miss the Ladies Bull Riding Contest later this month.
Women can take a shot at getting their eight seconds for free. Prizes go to the winners.
There is, of course, no charge to boot scoot over to the dance floor and line dance or two-step.
If you need some help, you can take lessons on Thursdays. There are plenty of liquid refreshments for encouragement. A cocktail called “Cowboy Killer” might be the most appropriate for some.
Those who might be a little shy about getting on the dance floor might be enticed by the “K Club girls” — a group of women who volunteer on Fridays to “try and keep the party going,” said Jutta Morgan, the club’s manager.
Country music lovers, however, might not need any inspiration.
“If you like country,” Morgan said, “this is the place to be.”
To see previous After Hours reviews, go to: stripes.com/afterhours
