Aue Stagecoach Inn
a.k.a. Settlement Inn
Boerne Stage Rd. and I-10, Leon Springs, TXThe Aue Stagecoach Inn Complex is a significant example of the evolution of transportation in the west, from horse, to train to automobile, as well as a provincial interpretation of the transitional Greek Revival-Victorian style. The evolution of transportation in the west, from horse, to train to automobile, is mirrored in the evolution of the complex, from house/store/stagestop to hotel to 20th century automobile-related structures located nearby.
Established in approximately 1855 on the San Antonio-Boerne Stage Road, the Aue Stagecoach Jnn Complex represents a significant element in Texas history in the areas of architectural history, ethnic influence on,architecture, and transportation. This three-structure complex is an excellent example of simple Germanic construction, common to this area, as well as a provincial interpretation of the transitional Greek Revival-Victorian style. The evolution of transportation in the west, from horse, to train to automobile, is mirrored in the evolution of the complex, from house/store/stagestop to hotel to 20th century automobile-related structures located nearby.
Max Aue came to Texas from Germany in the 1850's with the wave of immigrants who fled their native European lands due to economic depression and famine. Traveling inland to the hill country, Aue procured a tract of land from John 0. Meuseback in 1852. This tract is located approximately one-fourth of a mile from Leon Springs, a part of the Salado Creek watershed that was formerly used by the Comanches as a pamping ground. Also in the vicinity is the first stop on the famed Chisolm Trail, located on the nearby Maverick Ranch. Around 1855, Max Aue erected a structure utilizing locally available materials and a form identified as pioneer Germanic which reflects the vernacular German salt box house. Aue's building served as a store for the surrounding ranch community, a residence for himself, and provided the first stop on the San Antonio-Boerne Stage Road, which was the major route between San Antonio and the settlements in the eastern portion of the predominantly German Hill Country. The store, at that time, was one day's journey from San Antonio (south) and Boerne (north), and therefore enjoyed great popularity as a result of its strategic location.
The following year, Aue married and built a log house for his bride. The house, constructed of unfashioned cedar logs spliced at the corners with "V" notching, is a double-pen dog trot type, typical of vernacular structures of the 19th century frontier. The changing needs of the Aue family are reflected in the 19th century additions to the log structure, which exists today in relatively good condition, an outstanding and rare example of a once-common building type.
The continued settling of the frontier, and the advent of the railroads in Texas initiated more travel throughout the state, and thus the need for lodging steadily increased. In 1878 Max Aue constructed the Aue Hotel on his property. The structure, a two-story stone edifice with a standing-seam metal hipped roof, reflected both the Greek Revival and Victorian stylistic developments with the two-story veranda enclosed in a simple balustrade and the Victorian cut-out trim. The Aue household occupied the ground floor while the second floor provided lodging for transients. Single-story additions eventually incorporated the two-story hotel with the dog trot structure. The construction of the San Antonio-Aransas Pass Railroad brought an influx of travelers through the Leon Springs area. A depot (no longer standing) was located on a spur from the railroad line and stood approximately 50 yards from the inn complex.
The development of the automobile brought travelers and changes in the needs of the community. In 1925 Rudolph Aue, Max' son, built a gas station which became know as Rudy's Corner. In the 1930's the station was expanded to provide a bar. Gradually the need for the inn declined. Today the Inn Complex has been developed into a restaurant with both indoor and outdoor facilities. The original stone house has been enlarged to provide the mechanical facilities for the operation of the restaurant. The outdoor area between this house and the 1878 house/hotel has been converted to outdoor dining. The log house is currently used as a commercial retail space.
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Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.