Laguna Gloria

You may not know it, but there is a huge piece of Austin history tucked away off of West 35th Street. What may look like just another Lake Austin mansion actually housed a very important Texan, and is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is now Laguna Gloria, one of two sites of The Contemporary Austin, was the former home of Clara Driscoll, a woman best known in Texas history for helping save the Alamo from destruction in 1903. This Mediterranean-style villa was built by Driscoll in 1916 and includes terraces, a lush garden and amphitheater. The space was most recently renovated in 2003 and continues to be an exhibition space.

There is much more to look at here than just the local and regional work of artists, however. Inspired by her honeymoon in Italy, Driscoll devoted much of her time to cultivating the gardens, which includes both native and foreign plants. The Villa and grounds are truly a sight to see on their own accord.

Laguna Gloria is an award-winning venue, most recently being named Best Wedding Venue in Austin by The Knot in 2015. The expansive grounds allow for a variety of events, and up to 125 guests for seated dinners can be accommodated. When you rent the venue you get access to the site for nine hours, including set-up and breakdown. Pricing depends on the day and time of year, and can start as low as $1,500 on weekdays in the low season and go up to $5,500 on the peak days during high season. Upon renting the venue, you also must become a member of the Contemporary Austin.

It is important to know when choosing this space for an event that art exhibits are constantly rotating and cannot be removed for an event. However, use of both indoor and outdoor space is included upon renting Laguna Gloria.

This historic Villa is perfect for lovers of Texas history and art enthusiasts alike. It was donated to be used as a city museum in 1943 by Driscoll herself, and over 70 years later, her vision still lives on.

For rental information and space availability, contact the Laguna Gloria directly by clicking ‘Request a Quote’ above.

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