After traveling to Austin, it became clear to me that it was one of the few cities where I could move and feel right at home! So when my bud asked me to go on a trip there for the Labor Day weekend to visit a good friend of his I was really excited. And the cherry on top was the fact that Austin houses the oldest bar in Texas. We decided to go straight to Scholz Garten from the airport. It is in a part of town that is pretty unexpected. As far as I could see there were no other restaurants around, mostly parking garages. We found out that this is a major hang out when there are University of Texas games.
What was really interesting is that there is a hidden bowling alley in the back of the building where only “members” are allowed to go. I asked how to become a member and was quickly told that you had to be born into membership! There is a German club that regulates who goes in. It definitely makes the history of this bar more interesting.
We enjoyed a few appitizers, and some local brews. It was quiet in there but not empty. The service was good. The original wooden bar is still there. It is really beautiful.
There is a wonderful patio out back really making it look like a beer garten! You have no problem imagining the Texas fans there celebrating a win!
Now a little bit more about the history…
In 1866 Scholz Biergarten was founded by August Scholz, a German immigrant and confederate veteran. The property was originally purchased from Sam Norville, in 1862 for the sum of $2400. The property contained a boarding house that August eventually built his bar and café above. Scholz Garten quickly became a popular meeting and hang out location for Austin’s German population. August ran the place until his death in 1891.
Taking over Theodor Reisner, August’s step son ran the operation of the Garten until selling the establishment to the Lemp Brewery, makers of Falstaff Beer, in 1893. That year just so happened to be the same year the University of Texas football team went undefeated and thanks to the Garten’s geographic location, only two blocks from the stadium, it quickly became the place to celebrate the school’s wins (a tradition that continues to this day.)
The bar was again sold in 1908 to the German singing club ‘The Austin Saengerrunde’ who still own the property today though the bar and restaurant are leased. This club runs the private membership on the bowling alley.
