Hillsboro Revives Historic Texas Theater With Community Support

City takes ownership of century-old venue, plans to rely on volunteers to restore and revitalize the downtown landmark.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:04am

An extremely blurred, impressionistic photograph of a glowing movie theater marquee at night, with warm pools of amber, ochre, and blue light creating a nostalgic, dreamlike atmosphere.The revitalization of Hillsboro's historic Texas Theater will rely on community volunteers to restore the venue's vintage charm and transform it into a hub for local entertainment and civic pride.Hillsboro Today

The city of Hillsboro, Texas has taken ownership of the historic Texas Theater, a 100-year-old venue that closed down in recent years. With limited city funds available, officials are calling on the local community to volunteer their time and effort to help revive the theater as a hub for entertainment and community gatherings.

Why it matters

The Texas Theater has long been a central part of Hillsboro's downtown, and its closure left a void in the community. By reviving the theater, the city hopes to spur broader revitalization efforts in the area, bringing more foot traffic and economic activity to local businesses.

The details

Hillsboro finalized a deal on March 31st to trade the former Municipal Court building for ownership of the Texas Theater. The theater, originally called the Palace Theater, was built in 1926. City officials say they have limited funds to renovate the aging venue and will rely heavily on volunteer support from residents to get the theater back up and running.

  • The Texas Theater was built in December 1926.
  • The city closed the deal to acquire the theater on March 31st, 2026.

The players

Kim Pope

A longtime Hillsboro resident and owner of Main Florist, who is enthusiastic about the community supporting the theater's revival.

Megan Henderson

The city manager of Hillsboro, who oversaw the deal to trade the municipal court building for the Texas Theater.

Ken Gates

The director of operations for F&R Solutions, LLC, who helped facilitate the trade of the theater to the city.

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What they’re saying

“I'm sure there are plenty of people here in Hillsboro who are willing to volunteer and help.”

— Kim Pope, Local resident and owner of Main Florist

“By having the front redone of the theater, making it bright...you'll have the bright lights at night. People will be able to see that something is going on in downtown Hillsboro, and now this will be part of the whole revitalization of downtown, which people are looking for, and this is a great way to kick that off.”

— Ken Gates, Director of operations, F&R Solutions, LLC

What’s next

The city plans to recruit volunteers from the Hillsboro community in the coming months to help with renovations and preparations to reopen the Texas Theater.

The takeaway

The revival of the historic Texas Theater in Hillsboro demonstrates the power of community engagement and grassroots efforts to breathe new life into cherished local landmarks. By tapping into resident enthusiasm and volunteerism, the city hopes to restore the theater as a hub for entertainment, culture, and civic pride.