PALAZZO LAVACA

Austin, TX

One of America’s fastest growing towns and tech hot spots, Austin, Texas has retained much of its Old West vibe and vibrant history including an 1890 building that was first a firehouse and then the worldfamous Capitol Saddlery where custom-made-cowboy boots were sold for thousands of dollars. Later, it was reborn as a stunning residence and event space while retaining much of its historical charm. Now for sale, the former Capitol Saddlery is priced at $4.95 million including the neon-lit boot above the home’s entrance.

The unassuming building facade could easily be taken for almost any other Austin building near the University of Texas were it not for the gigantic boot above the entrance - a clue that it was formerly home to Capitol Saddlery. The owner was T.C. “Buck” Steiner, a gruff rodeo rider with up to 100 employees, but the star was Charlie Dunn, a boot maker that Jerry Jeff Walker wrote a song about in 1972.f

From the number of celebrities who have walked through its front door to choose the style of their next pair of pricey cowboy boots to the tinkle of cocktail glasses from the party in the gilded ballroom, Austin has it going on. Now for sale, Palazzo Lavaca is priced at $4.95 million, listed by Kumara Wilcoxon of Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty in Austin.

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