Winedale Inn Complex
a.k.a. Stagecoach Inn;Winedale
Off FM 1457, Winedale, TXThe Stagecoach Inn at Winedale in northeast Fayette County was purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, daughter of former Governor Jin Hogg, and given to the University of Texas. It is historically significant, though not in the more obvious sense. No major political or military events occurred in or around this building. It is not even claimed that the peripatetic Sam Houston ever slept here. of its half dozen early owners, none was spectacularly famous and only two were widely known in the Texas of their day.
Still, this lovely restoration in the valley of Jack's Creek is a striking symbol of much that is important in the history of Texas. It is on a homesite established in the Mexican colonial period in the heart of an area that drew settlers even before Stephen Austin, making it a part of his first colony.
The Inn itself is believed to have been built by Will Townsend in 1834 as a stout one-room frame structure with heavy cedar timbers and a loft above. The property was purchased by Samuel K. Lewis and in about 1850 this structure was more than doubled, the loft turned into a full second story and an identical section was added to the north with a wide, open hallway between the two halves of the house, upstairs and down. A broad two-story gallery was added across the front.
Architecturally and historically, the Inn combines the Anglo-American and German elements which flowed together in Fayette County to contribute to the cultural ferment which eventually produced one aspect of Texas culture. Paintings in the Inn, for example, are thought to have been done by Rudolph Melchoir, one of a family of artistic German immigrants who settled Round Top in the 1860s. German decorative motifs abound throughout the Inn.
Winedale Properties include various outlying buildings: Hazel's Lone Oak Cottage, built in 1854; the Lauderdale House, an Innkeeper's cottage; two barns; a log kitchen, smokehouse, and the MacGregor House of 1859. Today, the University of Texas uses the Winedale buildings for conferences and festivals. There is a day school and there are museums and restoration workshops. Scholars performing area research in academic fields related to ethnic studies frequently visit the Inn, and a museum that depicts early German settlement in Texas is open to the public. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1967. (The Stagecoach Inn.)
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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.
The establishment of Anglo-American settlements in Fayette County started in the 1820s under Stephen F. Austin's colony. The town of La Grange, which would become the county seat, was founded in 1826 and named after the ancestral home of General Lafayette. Over the next few decades, more pioneers arrived, attracted by the fertile soil and opportunities for farming and ranching. German immigrants, in particular, played a significant role in the county's development, establishing thriving communities and introducing their agricultural practices.
During the mid-19th century, Fayette County became embroiled in the turmoil of the Texas Revolution and the Civil War. The Battle of Fayetteville, fought in 1836, marked a significant event in the struggle for Texas independence. Confederate soldiers from Fayette County fought in various battles during the Civil War, including the Battle of Galveston and the Battle of Sabine Pass.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Fayette County experienced economic growth and cultural diversification. Railroads connected the county to larger markets, stimulating trade and commerce. The discovery of oil and gas reserves further bolstered the local economy. Today, Fayette County is known for its agricultural industry, with crops like cotton and corn, as well as cattle ranching. It also attracts tourists with its historical sites, including the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, which commemorate important moments in the county's history.
Fayette County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Fayette County, Texas.
- 1837 – Fayette County is established as one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas.
- 1838 – The permanent county seat is established in La Grange.
- 1861-1865 – Fayette County residents actively participate in the Civil War.
- 1873 – The railroad reaches Fayette County, spurring economic growth.
- 1901 – The first oil well is drilled in the county, leading to the discovery of the West Point Oil Field.
- 1905 – The monumental Fayette County Courthouse is built.
- 1950s-1970s – Fayette County experiences an agricultural boom due to the construction of the Fayette Power Project and Fayette Nuclear Plant.
- 1998 – Fayette County celebrates its 150th anniversary.
- 2011 – The historic town square in La Grange is added to the National Register of Historic Places.