Willie Nelson Mural in Downtown Austin Faces Demolition
An iconic mural of Willie Nelson might be demolished in downtown Austin. Originally created by artist and musician Wiley Ross as a 60-by-20-foot monument to Willie, it was commissioned to be the backdrop of “Heart of Texas Rockfest” that was part of South By Southwest in March of 2016. When SXSW and all the downtown festivities left town, the mural stayed, and has since become a destination spot in the city.
“My favorite part of the mural is that anywhere you go, Willie’s eyes follow you,” Wiley Ross said after the mural was unveiled. “It’s like he’s watching over downtown Austin.”
The mural is painted on the side of a 100-year-old building at 407 E. Seventh St., near Neches Street. Most recently the building housed the bar Mug Shots, but was abandoned when a fire in February resulted in structural damage to the building. The fire was believed to have been caused by homeless in the area. Instead of renovating the property, the owners, Jaffa Parks LLC, have decided to demolish it and use the 1/3-acre footprint to build a high rise hotel and/or residential building.
After its original unveiling, the mural was updated to include another Austin music icon, Janis Joplin. Austin’s Historic Landmark Commission will review the plans to demolish the mural and building at a meeting on November 6th. Though the mural is not even 10 years old, it’s perhaps the most recognizable piece of public art in downtown Austin. Demolishing the 100-year-old building might also be a hurdle for developers.
The mural is one of three pieces of public art paying tribute to Willie Nelson in Austin’s downtown region. There is also the statue in front of the Moody Theater where Austin City Limits is taped, as well as a smaller “Willie for President” mural on South Congress Avenue.
Attempting to preserve the mural or the building isn’t entirely implausible. The legendary Daniel Johnston “Hi, How Are You” mural at 21st and Guadalupe streets in Austin was preserved when the building itself was torn down for development in 2023. It had been preserved on the side of the building since 1993. But since the Willie/Janis mural is so large, and the building potentially irreparable, it’s days in downtown Austin might be numbered.
November 2, 2024 @ 7:41 am
If there is a quick solution then it would be nice to save, but this is not something to have a long drawn out process over, like you said, he has multiple tributes downtown.
November 2, 2024 @ 7:55 am
I’m of two minds about this. I can claim the mural is iconic. I can’t claim it’s historic. The building might be historic, but it also might be irreparable. As a radical preservationist, it angers the blood to think of another building coming down for yet another high rise. But perhaps the Historic Landmark Commission can get concessions from a developer to in some way pay tribute to the mural in a tasteful way with the new building.
November 2, 2024 @ 8:37 am
They can feel free to remove the Joplin part, just leave Willie 😂
November 2, 2024 @ 11:28 am
If the building is a safety concern, no issue at all to me. Public safety beats even historical value when it comes to this kind of thing.
But why must the mural be permanent, anyway? Shouldn’t someone else get a turn at some point? The mural is only 8 or 9 years old by now anyhow and while it pays homage to those displayed in it, their legacy isn’t in that painting. Their legacy is in their works. Long after the mural fades and people stop touching it up, their recordings and writings will still be here even if only in the minds of those who appreciate the value of the music.
It’s sad that the building suffered such a catastrophic disaster, but it sadly is what it is as they say.
I am also NOT against preservation if that is what people truly want. I think a compromise can be had. Heck, we can pick up and drive entire homes down a highway to move them so I am sure they can do something to preserve this if people want it saved. A move is a good idea, but it would take some careful planning around a decaying and weakened structure.
Anyway, rambling on is now off.
November 4, 2024 @ 10:12 pm
isn’t it possible to take the bricks and assemble them into some mural on the ground somewhere else? Or take those current bricks and repaint the mural if need be.
November 2, 2024 @ 11:55 am
Free legal advice to commercial property owners:
If your building is in use or is vacant, and a community group or an artist offer to come and beautify it by painting a mural or applying soem other installation on the side, tell them to take a hike.
If you accept their “generosity,” then if you decide to tear down or alter the building, you may have to pay lawyers extra bucks and face delys just to get the permit approved.
And you’ll still have to pay property taxes, the whole time.
November 2, 2024 @ 3:07 pm
um, like everything else they are taking down, nothing is forever, enjoy it while it lasts, be happy when it’s over, anything man-made is vapor, but a mist, so invest your time and energy in what is not man-made, Willie Nelson sings about it all the time!
November 2, 2024 @ 6:10 pm
Alan Jackson”s song: “The Little Man” comes to mind and so does all traditional country singers of the 80’s and 90”s who George Strait has influenced in his songs like: How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls, and “Heartland “ sang as “Dusty” in the movie: “Pure Country” In Texas, Willie Nelson is revered by young and old. I believe Texas will think of something to preserve the mural. Coming from the legend himself: “Don’t Mess With Old People” and I concur too, Willie.
November 2, 2024 @ 7:37 pm
An even bigger and better mural of Willie and Janis must be in the offing if Willie’s mural is demolished. These two iconic musical Texans MUST be recognized.
November 3, 2024 @ 7:48 am
I can no longer support Willie on any level…he evidently support’s the division and destruction in and of Our Country! I was born listening to his music and attended many venues… but, his last act in Houston for and alignment with Harris, ruined it for me! For Weed…
November 3, 2024 @ 5:19 pm
Canceling people because they are voting for the so-called candidate is itself divisive rhetoric. And no, I didn’t vote for Harris. Plus, very old people should get a free pass for being misguided.
November 3, 2024 @ 7:56 pm
Voting for someone who has been part of the destruction of your nation is dumb at best and canceling someone who supports said destruction is the most patriotic thing you can do if you love your Republic.
Making those who hate your nation rich and giving them attention they surely do not deserve is just bad. Very bad. Horribly, terribly, viciously bad.
November 3, 2024 @ 8:04 pm
Any further comments of a political nature will immediately be deleted. This is a country music website, not a political one.
By the way, anyone just waking up to the fact that Willie Nelson support Democrats is not a real Willie Nelson fan, because he’s been doing this for over 50 years. If you don’t want to listen to his music because of it, it’s your loss.
November 4, 2024 @ 6:25 pm
Censor Dude, you regularly post all of your political gripes here under the banner of “country music.” When anyone else does, the Censor appears.
The Marshmellow rap guy got under your political knife because he expresses himself like a black man, and because you say his utterances are not country music. You protect the political statements by which Willie Nelson leaves a stain on Country Music because you say his political statements are part and parcel of country music.
Dude just eliminate the comments section.
Your savior thing cannot tolerate comments
November 4, 2024 @ 7:16 pm
First, no comment has been deleted in this comments section. I do try to allow these comments sections to be open fot people to express their views. But when an off-topic political tangent is happening as you saw with the three comments nested above, I will come in and stop it out of respect for the rest of the comment community. If the subject broached in the article has a political quotient, then people can discuss that particular political subject. That was not the case here.
If you want to criticize my commentary on Marshmello, go right ahead. Some did, and they weren’t censored. I don’t see the Marshmello criticism as a political subject. I never said anything about him expressing himself as a Black man. It wasn’t even a serious article, it was categorized under satire.
“Dude just eliminate the comments section.”
No. I want people like you to be able to come here and criticize myself and this website, and how I approach it. However, to avoid the comments section getting eliminated like 90% of the rest of the internet, it is imperative people respect this website and its comment rules, namely that they don’t participate in divisive, off-topic political back-and-forths that never solve anything, and discourage others from commenting or engaging with the comments.
November 3, 2024 @ 12:18 pm
If you would like to know more about the owners of Jaffa Parks LLC you should click this link and listen to this NPR interview they did. https://www.wqxr.org/story/wall-street-trailer-park/ Don’t forget to read the 10 comments at the bottom of the page from listeners who hated these guys.
These guys think they are above the law. DANIEL WEISSMAN’s wife is an attorney and DAVID SHLACHTER’s dad is an attorney. They both think and act like they are attorneys. I guess an attorney is not a far stretch for a guy who called himself a Tech Entrepreneur in one article and an Investment Banker in the next article. They married sisters that are the true money in the family.
Good luck!
November 3, 2024 @ 6:43 pm
Willie would be misguided had he chosen to support Agent Orange !!!!!!
November 4, 2024 @ 10:09 pm
I’m torn on this. Nashville has some famous murals on older buildings and it’s a cool way to apply art to dilapidated buildings. Murals have also reached their peak saturation point. I think part of the charm and beauty of murals on abandoned buildings is that they are likely temporary.
There can be safety reasons to demolish large abandoned buildings that aren’t being taken into consideration. With it being one of the first and largest murals that is an argument to try and maintain it, but I kinda see both sides here.
November 4, 2024 @ 11:36 pm
“There can be safety reasons to demolish large abandoned buildings”
Indeed, there can be.
Also, you can’t build a new building on the property without first demolishing the old one.
Presumably, the owner bought the property–and continues to hold onto it–in order to use it for something. (Preferably something that generates income.)