A large rock in front of a house with a message written on it that says, 'Texas First Stage Coach Stop, Round Rock Tour.' The house has a sloped roof and trees around it.

Stagecoach Inn

Round Rock Preservation selects one historic preservation project each year & schedules programs and events to achieve the preservation goals of the project.  We seek to reach an increasingly diverse audience through longtime favorites such as our special events & tours.  Where possible, we will partner with local, state, and national preservation organizations and their events throughout the year.  We always have an on-going historic preservation project, so keep an eye on our website, our Facebook pages, our e-newsletters and e-blasts to stay in the know.

The Stagecoach Inn Story

The public became aware in 2012 that the historic Round Rock Stagecoach Inn (the oldest surviving historic structure in Round Rock, Texas, built in 1848) was earmarked for demolition due to the Road Safety Project along RM 620 and Round Rock Avenue.

 

Public efforts to save the Inn from demolition began in 2012. These efforts included a Change.org petition and the nomination of the Inn as a Round Rock Local Legend.  Over 1,200 individuals signed the petition and Mayor Alan McGraw said "I don't want to be remembered as the mayor that tore down the Inn”.  In 2013 the Inn was added as a Round Rock Local Legend.  Transportation was directed to find a new home for the Inn. In 2016, Round Rock Preservation, a 501(c)(3) public charity was founded by Shirley and Donald Marquardt and Shirley and David Tynan to raise funds to "Save the Inn."

In April 2018, the City of Round Rock relocated the Inn from a hill on the southwest side of Brushy Creek (901 Round Rock Avenue, Suite D) to the northwest side of Brushy Creek along Chisholm Trail Road (750 Chisholm Trail Road).  The Inn was relocated from the south side of the round rock to the north side of the round rock, which helped retain the integrity of its original location.  The new location for the Inn is within the city's Chisholm Crossing Park and along the Heritage Trail West Project.  Prior to the relocation, all the new additions to the Inn were removed and only the original building was relocated.  

In 2023 the work for the rehabilitation of the Round Rock Stagecoach Inn began.  The Grand Opening of the Inn was held on October 19, 2024, which included the installation of the engraved bricks as part of the Heritage Trail West Project and landscaping around the Inn.  Over 250 guests attended the grand opening.  The decor and furnishings for the Inn have yet to be completed.  Round Rock Preservation continues to meet with City of Round Rock leaders bi-monthly to discuss the need to complete these issues so the Inn can be placed back into full use and to discuss the need for permanent parking spaces, a bathroom facility, permanent signage for the Inn, and the future use of the facility. 

After the relocation to 750 Chisholm Trail Road, the Round Rock Stagecoach Inn was boarded up in April 2018 awaiting its final restoration.  The construction contractor was hired on April 13, 2023.

  • The Round Rock Old Stagecoach Inn is the Round Rock Preservation Project for 2023.  The Inn was threatened with demolition due to the RM 620 Road Safety Project in the City of Round  Rock in 2013.

        

    The city funded the relocation of the Inn from Hotel Occupancy Taxes to save the Inn from demolition.  The Inn was originally located at 901 Round Rock Avenue (Suite D) & was built circa 1848-1853.  The City of  Round Rock purchased the building in 2012 & relocated the Inn to 750 Chisholm Trail Road on Apr 27-29, 2018. 

     

    The City signed a resolution on April 13 2023, to hire a local construction contractor to complete the restoration of the RR Stagecoach Inn.  The cost of the restoration is approximately $700,000.00.  The contractor is expected to begin his work on the Inn in July 2023.

    Round Rock Preservation was formed on April 5, 2016 to help save the Round Rock Stagecoach Inn from demolition & achieve other preservation projects in the future.  Round Rock Preservation depends on memberships, sponsorships, & donations to accomplish preservation efforts within the City of Round Rock and to provide education to the public about historic preservation sites and structures within the City of Round Rock.        

  • Location:  750 Chisholm Trail Road, Round Rock Avenue, Round Rock, Texas.  The inn sits on the top of a hill just northwest of Brushy Creek and the Round Rock.  The Inn was relocated on April 27-29, 2018, from 901 Round Rock Avenue, Suite D, to save the Inn from demolition due to the RM 620 Road Safety Project.   The Inn was built by John James (JJ) Harris from rocks quarried from the hill on which the Inn is located.

    Built:         C1848-1853

    Owner:      City of Round Rock

    Threat:     The Round Rock Stagecoach Inn is no longer in threat of demolition. The City of Round Rock hired Architexas to conduct a cost feasibility study to relocate the Inn and to serve as advisers during the relocation project.  The final report was sent to the City on December 5, 2016.  The report found two firms that said the Inn could be relocated safely.   The Inn is in threat of non-use until funds are raised from the community to restore the inn. The future use of the Inn is to be determined.  A suggested use of the inn is as a Round Rock Living History Events Center.

    Relocation:  The City of Round Rock hired Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction to relocate the RR Stagecoach Inn using Hotel Occupancy Taxes at approximately $800,000. The Subcontractor, H. D. Snow and Son House Moving, Inc , from Fort Worth, relocated the Inn on April 27-29, 2018.  The relocation phase of the project is scheduled to be completed by September 1, 2018.   The new additions to the Inn were demolished prior to the relocation.

    Restoration/Reconstruction.  Round Rock Preservation is helping the City of Round Rock raise funds to restore the Inn so the Inn can be placed back into use and be opened to the public.  No formal decision has been made about the future repurpose/use of the Inn. The City requested the public help fund the restoration project.  Round Rock Preservation is serving as the official fundraiser and is accepting donations and conducted an engraved brick campaign to raise funds.  The bricks were delivered to the City of Round Rock and will be installed by the City of Round Rock near the RR Stagecoach Inn once the Bathing Beach Project is constructed.   The Bathing Beach Project is part of the Heritage Trail West Project, which is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2024.

    In September 2021, City Council approved in the RR City FY 2022 Budget an allocation annually of 3% from Hotel Occupancy Taxes and another $300,000.00 one time allocation for Historic Preservation Project purposes.  RR Preservation advocated  for the restoration of the RR Stagecoach Inn as the first project from these funds.

    The City of Round Rock hired Architexas, a historic preservation consultant firm, on 24 Mar 2022, to develop designs and provide consulting services during the restoration of the RR Stagecoach Inn.  The designs are now complete.  The city selected a construction contractor for the Stagecoach Inn Project on 13 April 2023, and the contractor is expected to start work on the project in July 2023, with the project being completed in early 2024.

    Before COVID RR Preservation met with the City of Round Rock Historic Preservation Office, Parks Department, Plans Department, and Assistant City Manager every other month to develop a plan for moving the Stagecoach Inn Restoration Project forward.  The last meeting was held on Nov 5, 2022.  On July 20, 2023, the City Manager agreed to continue the bi-monthly meetings with RRP and City Leaders once construction on the RR Stagecoach Inn restoration starts.

    The Heritage Trail West Project construction contractor was approved by the RR City Council on June 25, 2020, and did not include funding for the RR Stagecoach Inn. The project does include the Bathing Beach Project (downsized), landscaping around the Inn and the installation of the Engraved Brick Display.  The construction on the Heritage Trail West Project began on October 1, 2020, and was expected to take an estimated 18 months to complete.  In the meantime, fund raising continued for the restoration of the Inn.  The contractor went bankrupt, and the Heritage Trail West stopped in the summer of 2022.  After the city worked with the insurance company to recoup monies for the Heritage Trail West Project, a new contractor was hired, who is now working to complete the Heritage Trail West Project and that project is expected to be completed in March 2024.  The contractor started on the east side of Mays Street and in the Memorial Park area and is continuing to work the project westward.  On July 17, 2023, Chisholm Trail Road was closed near Brushy Creek to allow work on that area of the project. 

    On 30 June 2023, RR Preservation had in savings $58,950.27, which was donated by supporters for RR Preservation Projects.  The Global Pandemic (Covid-19) hampered ability to conduct group-type fundraisers in 2020-2022.  Fundraising has continued through this website, telephone calls, e-mails, and special Round Rock product offers (such as RR History Afghans and RR Adventure Kits).

Land owners (1841 Forward)

JJ Harris had 27 land transactions & it is unclear which deed is associated with the parcel for the RR Stagecoach Inn between 1863-1901;  However to the best I could conclude here are my findings:

 1841 - 1853     Jacob M. Harrell, Headright League

​ Circa 1851-53  JJ Harris built RR Stagecoach Inn        

 1853 - 1863     Thomas C. Oatts (Postmaster)

​ 1863 - 1880     John James (JJ) & Elizabeth (Tisdale)Harris

​ 1880-1907        John James (Jack) Jr.  & Anna Harris (Son of JJ Harris)

​ 1907 - 1907     Marcus Dee & Ella Surber (Carpenter)

1907 - 1932     Benjamin Chester (BC). Henrietta Richards (proprietor of stone quarry)

​ 1932-1941       Donald Lee Joseph (Author/Teacher)

​ 1941 - 1957     Harold & Sue Richards (Oil Operator)

​ 1957 - 1960     James Onus & Mary Barger (Accountant & Director of, State Security Board)

​ 1960 - 1984     Donald & Laura Davol (Rancher/Aircraft)

​ 1984 - 1997     Bedico Property Ltd (RR  Land Developer)

​ 1997 - 2005     George Transom III

​ 2005-2012       Back in Texas L.P.

​ Nov 2012        The City of Round Rock

​ Apr 2018   City of Round Rock relocated Inn from

                        901 Round Rock Avenue in the Commons 

Business Complex to 750 Chisholm Trail

                        Road within the grounds of the City's

                        future Bathing Beach Park.