Exploring Austin’s Historic Landmarks: Peter Pan Mini-Golf and 1850s-Era Buildings

Jim Duncan, a retired city planner, has written more than 600 short histories of Austin businesses. This week, we sample two very old businesses, the Hofheintz-Reissig Compound and the Robinson-Rosner Building, and one that’s still pretty old by most people’s standards, Peter Pan Mini-Golf.

1854: A frontier compound survives among the towers

Located at East Third (Cypress) and Red River streets are some of the oldest commercial structures in Austin. Referred to as the Hofheintz-Reissig or Waterloo Compound, the property was originally developed for J. Henry Hofheintz, a merchant and waggoner who immigrated from Germany in 1845.

He built a log cabin and corncrib in the early 1850s, then added a two-story grocery and dry goods store with a residence above in 1854. On Saturdays, Henry emptied his corncrib and let rural families stay overnight so that he could visit markets and attend church. Called a “Sunday House,” this was a common arrangement between city and rural German settlers at the time.

Henry died in 1880 and left the property to his son-in-law Adolph Gustav “Dutchy” Reissig who replaced the log cabin with a saloon and domino parlor in 1892. Dutchy died in 1906. The complex remained in the Reissig family until 1952.

The main building was the only structure to survive the deadly 1915 Waller Creek flood. Compound structures have hosted businesses related to antiques, leather goods and restaurants. Since 2003, Moonshine restaurant has occupied the main building. The compound was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

1854: The oldest commercial structure on Congress Avenue

The oldest documented structure that survives on Congress Avenue is the Robinson-Rosner Building. Originally constructed as a plain limestone and brick two-story building in 1854, it had a Victorian façade added during the 1880s.

The building at 504 Congress Ave. was initially owned and operated as a grocery, bakery and dry good store by London-born Alonzo M. Robinson and his wife Laura.

Polish immigrant Charles Rosner bought the store in 1901 and operated a clothing and dry goods shop. He was an unabashed promoter and predictor of Austin’s future growth and greatness.

After Charles died in 1935 and Rosner’s closed, the building was occupied by several women’s wear stores, including Marie Antoinette Millinery from 1940 through the 1960s. During the 1970s, it was home to a restaurant (SamWitch Shop) and a nightclub (Dejah’s).

In 1985, CapMetro opened a route information center in the building. In 1984, it was purchased by Clyde Rabb Littlefield, son of the legendary University of Texas track coach. He received a restoration award in 1985 from the Austin Heritage Society. When Clyde died in 2018, his estate sold the building and donated the proceeds to UT.

1939: Before Peter Pan Mini-Golf, there was Varsity Links

Clifford Leroy Dismukes founded Varsity Miniature Golf Links in 1939 at 2811 Guadalupe Street across from Dirty’s. In 1948, he moved it to Barton Springs Road and South Lamar Boulevard. After Clifford died in 1967, his brother Glenn renamed it Peter Pan Mini-Golf and introduced a collection of giant fantasy figures that have memorably contributed to the city’s “Keep Austin Weird” reputation.

In addition to Peter Pan, there are a pirate, pig, clown, turtle, horned frog, whale and snail. There is even a Texas totem pole comprised of cowboy boots and hats, a horse, a lone star and an armadillo that was briefly acknowledged on "Jimmy Kimmel Live."

Over the years, the park has served as a place for people of all ages to spend part of a day or evening, Austin style. Glenn died in 1998. The park is now managed by Margaret Dismukes Massad and her husband Julio. According to Margaret, the secret to the park’s success is that “we just don’t change anything. I think that is our best-selling point. People love the continuity.” In 2023, developers indicated a desire to redevelop the park as high-rise apartments. A “Save Peter Pan” petition gained an extension, but the future looks bleak.