Austin’s Graffiti Hill
Pulling out of Whole Earth Provision Company on N. Lamar Blvd. the other day, I spontaneously turned west, heading uphill on the alley-sized road behind the store, which dead-ends onto Baylor Street just below the “castle” that Castle Hill neighborhood is named for (originally built in 1869 as headquarters for the Texas Military Institute). On the concrete-walled slope below it, I was astonished to see a graffiti wonderland.
Graffiti covers every vertical surface—and most other surfaces as well, like the culvert pipe and red couch in the foreground. As I pulled over to gawk, I noticed other visitors strolling around, looking at the colorful images. Two teens sat on the highest wall, legs dangling, enjoying a first-rate view of downtown Austin as well as the spray-painted scene below.
Googling it that afternoon, I learned that this place was once slated to be a condo development, but the project died and street artists took over. Sometimes called Graffiti Hill, sometimes the Foundation, it attracts well-known graffiti artists and unknown taggers who continually remake the fantastical wall art.
I wondered if the place might be a homeless or drug-users camp, but from what I’ve seen online, all kinds of people visit Graffiti Hill, from families to young couples taking engagement photos here. I think I’ll come back with the kids one afternoon. They’ll get a kick out of it.
By the way, does it inspire anyone to want to add a little street art to their garden, a la the Blue Lotus Garden in Dallas?
Next door, a private home perched on a hillside seemed to be getting into a similar spirit with their own recycled “foundation” garden, complete with a couple of bronze giraffe statues on the top level, one overlooking the deck and the other the garden. Wild, huh?
All material © 2006-2013 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
That is such fun. I have turned up that street many times but not recently. Next time I am on Lamar. It is certainly worthy of a visit. You certainly have a way of seeking out the unusual.
I do try, but I didn’t seek this one out. Rather, just stumbled upon it. —Pam
It inspires me! It is so fun and colorful! Thanks Pam 🙂
Isn’t it amazing? I’m not normally a graffiti fan, but this place seems perfect for such a free-form expression. —Pam
That’s an impressive collection of grafitti. I like seeing it in various places around town.
Thanks for showing this, I remembering visiting the castle with my grandmother years ago and I’ve often wondered about it.
I’ve never visited the castle. How fun that you have! —Pam
So fun and colorful. I also love the idea of the giraffe overlooking the deck.
Aren’t they a playful touch? —Pam
Lots of fun to visit. I especially liked the message on the top of one of the walls, “Welcome to Austin, Don’t forget to leave.”
Ah, yes. I actually winced a little at that message, Peter. I don’t see Austin as being unwelcoming in that way. But I guess someone does. —Pam
Older Austinites have always known it as the Boondoggle Ruins.
Ha! Good one, Chris. —Pam
Austin is so funky and fun! David Landsel doesn’t know what he’s talking about!
Tell me about it. 🙂 —Pam
I think it is fabulous. I wish I knew a graffiti artist that could work some magic on the blank white fence in my garden.
That would be a transformation, Lisa! —Pam
We LOVE Graffiti Hill! Finn and I have been going for years. I just love that spot and how I WISH Jackdaddy would let me have some graffiti on our fence. He would expired. I did get some sweet street art on my surf board this morning though.
I don’t know how it took me so long to discover this place, Mamaholt. It’s just one step off the beaten path on N. Lamar, after all. It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve been visiting for years! —Pam
What a fantastic city! I do like the recycled foundation garden…a lot…
It’s different, right? —Pam