Petrified Forest Lodge

Petrified Forest Lodge. (Timber Lodge). , In the 1930’s, J.S. and Alta Woodard built one of Austin’s first tourist courts on the northern portion of this site. It was designed by local architect, Hugo Kuehne. Encased in petrified wood from Glen Rose, Texas, the 10 unit lodge appeared as an unusual, exotic western fantasy. The gleaming rock appearance appealed to overnight tourists traveling State Highway 2 (Guadalupe Street) en route to San Antonio or Dallas. In the early days of its history, the owners discovered a “Bonnie and Clyde” autograph in a room rented to a young couple at a nightly rate of $2.50. When traffic was re-routed to Interstate 35, business began to decline, and the distinctive landmark was forced to close its doors in the early 1990’s, after 60 years of operation., Rarely used as s construction material, petrified wood is formed from trees buried in the mud and silt of volcanic ash. Minerals and other elements combine to create glimmering colors and a hard outer surface. Salvaging the petrified wood from the vacant tourist court and replicating the design in walls by the northern driveway, this 1999 development project provides citizens with a lasting reminder of an Austin icon, the Petrified Forest Lodge.