Mystery Solved: 1419 Austin Highway

Okay, at least once a week, for two years I have been driving past this building:It's a castle, in the middle of Austin Highway! With a super cool train in the front! It's NOT a train, it's a magic latern!
It's practically a fortress.

After coming out to the site on two different occasions to take pictures, I finally notice this sign:

Interesting, it's a castle with a train out front, with a serious security fence and with gargoyles at the front door. What in the hell is this place?

One of the reasons I started this blog was because there's a story behind every building, sturcture or lack there of. And this place at 1419 Austin Highway has a super cool one.

It's owned by a man named Jack Judson and inside is the Magic Latern Castle Museum. Way back in the day, movie projectors were called Magic Laterns. Here is the link:

http://www.magiclanterns.org/

Mr. Judson also has a nature trail (that's pretty popular with the birding set), here's that link:
http://www.go-texas.net/Jack-Judson-Nature-Trails/

I'm going to make it a point to see if I can make an appointment to see the museum really soon.

I have no idea why this restaurant failed.

Ah, who the hell would not want Mexican/Chinese food? Seriously, the possibilities are endless: Mexican Fried Rice, Kung-Pow Burrito, Deep Fried Won Tons filled with Refried Beans. Mmmmm, I regret never having dined here. However, the sign is killer: a vaquero lassoing a dragon? It's a tat waiting to happen!