Buda Restores and Relocates Old Garison Windmill

BUDA, TX – If you drive down Main Street today, you will notice an old friend has made a new home — the Garison Windmill. Serving as a landmark to travelers near and far, the windmill has made its way just across the street next to the future Buda Welcome Center.  

Through 100 years seated behind the originally named Garison Filling Station, the old windmill would serve the many businesses owned by Dave Garison and his family.  In the early years if you looked to the windmill, you knew you would find either an ice-cold drink, delicious burger, or a place to play some mini-golf — and a friendly face ready to help you do all three.

The Garison family was known for their contributions to the community, and in addition to running the filling station, they also owned a miniature golf course, burger stand known as the Tiny Tavern, and held youth dances all under the windmill.

Sandra Grizzle, the owner of the now known Old Main Street Station and relative to the Garison family, saw the windmill in disrepair and in an effort to save the historic landmark donated it to the City of Buda. In conjunction with the Historic Preservation Commission with funding from the Main Street Improvement Grant and the Tourism Department, the windmill was restored and moved to an equally prominent location in Downtown Buda.

Seeing the newly renovated windmill in its new home is a proud moment in Buda’s history. To quote Barbara Younts, co-author of the People and Places In and Around Historic Buda: “Could it not be moved to the greenbelt? Maybe near the Buda water tower on Main Street. The old and the new? The Garison windmill deserves to be a part of Buda’s future. The old Buda depot was moved to San Marcos; let’s save the windmill.” We are happy to say we have officially saved the windmill!