Question: What if these walls could talk here at Scholz Garten? They’d tell tales of German immigrants and Texas traditions. Scholz Garten stands as the oldest continuously operating tavern in Texas. It is located in the heart of Austin.
In 1866, August Scholz, a German immigrant and Civil War veteran, made a bold move. He purchased a building and its surrounding property for $2,400. August opened a public bar and café over an old boardinghouse. Little did he know, Scholz Garten would become a cultural landmark. It became a beloved meeting place for the German population around Austin.
Scholz Garten thrived. It became a hub for German culture. Austin’s rapid growth in the 1870s certainly helped. More German merchants and skilled laborers came to the city. Scholz catered to them and the Anglo population. He advertised in both English and German newspapers.
Step inside Scholz Garten. Feel the warmth and character. Owner Dan Smith says you can smell the history. Nancy Wilson, an Austin local, studied calculus here one summer. She needed a place to study that also had something else to do besides calculus.
Scholz Garten has seen many changes over the years. After August Scholz’s death in 1891, his stepson Theodor Reisner took over. Then, the Lemp Brewing Company of St. Louis bought it. In 1908, the Austin Saengerrunde, a German singing club, purchased the property. They built a bowling alley next to the biergarten. Bowling is a significant part of German heritage. The six-lane center is one of the oldest continuously operating bowling centers in the U.S.
Even Prohibition couldn’t shut down Scholz Garten. The Austin Saengerrunde persevered. They sold non-alcoholic “Bone Dry Beer.” Food sales became more important.
Scholz Garten has always been popular with political groups. It is said that liberals meet outside in the biergarten. Conservatives gather inside the restaurant.
The Texas legislature honored Scholz Garten in 1966. They recognized it as a gathering place for Texans of discernment, taste, culture, and erudition. It embodies the finest traditions of German heritage in Texas.
Today, Scholz Garten remains a favorite spot. People come here to enjoy traditional German food. They raise their glasses and say “Prost.” Scholz Garten is more than just a bar. It’s a Texas tradition, a community center. It’s a place where history lives on with every pour.