Things to Do in Austin's Mueller Neighborhood

Austin’s Mueller neighborhood is one-of-a-kind here in Austin. While it may be a fairly new neighborhood in terms of development, Mueller is a direct result of residents collaborating over decades to build a community based on sustainability, diversity and support. 

A bit about the Mueller neighborhood

Like we said, Mueller is a fairly new neighborhood compared to Austin’s overall city history, but plenty has happened since its humble beginnings in 1984. And it all starts with Austin’s first airport, surprisingly.

The Robert Mueller Municipal Airport (RMMA) became Austin’s first airport in 1936, an airport which ended up serving the immediate and surrounding area diligently for over 63 years. As Austin grew, the area around the RMMA became more and more populated by both commercial and residential neighborhoods, and a replacement airport site was selected in 1976. Even so, it wasn't until 1999 that the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport officially closed, and work on the new neighborhood began.

Residents in surrounding neighborhoods spent over thirty years planning for a community founded on diversity, affordability, sustainability and economic development. The first commercial building in Mueller opened in February 2007, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Mueller today is full of sustainable retail stores, beautiful public spaces and highly-sought-after residential properties. With all the great restaurants, parks and stores around the neighborhood, it’s no wonder people spend so much time in this gem of East Austin.

Things to see & do in Mueller

Public art

You can’t visit Mueller without popping by to see Austin’s largest public art project: the Mueller SunFlowers. These 20-foot blue futuristic flowers are part art, part solar panels, and fifteen of them line a walking trail in the northern part of the neighborhood. The flowers were installed as a representation of Mueller’s devotion to energy conservation and the uniqueness of the city. 

Unfortunately, the LED bulbs have burnt out and the flowers no longer light up at night . However, they are still a magnificent statement on the neighborhood’s ecological stewardship. 

Farmers markets

What better way to experience a community like a true local than through a local farmers market? The Texas Farmers Market has set up shop at Mueller Lake Park every Sunday for years, and the market has been voted as Austin’s favorite for the past six years straight! Bring your composting to their community bin, shop for locally-grown vegetables or support a unique Austin artist. 

Parks

Mueller’s dedication to a sustainable and environmentally-friendly neighborhood extends to its park system. Planners incorporated green spaces into the development of the neighborhood very early on and, as a result of careful planning, every resident will live less than 600 feet from a public green space!

There are eight parks in Mueller. The centrally-located Mueller Lake Park offers 30 acres of green space equipped with picnic shelters, play areas and a 6.5-acre lake, as well as an amphitheater for concerts and events. Food trucks often sell their wares at Jessie Andrews Park, and the Southwest Greenway is ideal for basking in the native grasses and flora of the restored Texas blackland prairie. 

Shopping & dining

The Town Center District offers a more local entertainment atmosphere. Once fully completed, the tree-lined Aldrich Street district will feature over 1.2 million square feet of mixed-use lifestyle spaces, including shopping, dining, apartments, workplaces, entertainment venues and cultural centers. Some of our favorites include Lady Quackenbush’s Cakery for baked goods, WhichCraft for craft beers and L’Oca d’Oro for authentic Italian cuisine. If you’re looking to really experience the local charm of Mueller, then these are the places to go! 

The Mueller Retail Center features over 400,000 square feet of shopping and dining in a centrally-located plaza where you can eat, drink and shop to your heart’s content. From big-buck stores like Bed Bath & Beyond and Total Wine to dentistry, Pad Thai and Jamba Juice, you’re sure to find something you like, want or need here. 

Food trucks are abundant in the Mueller neighborhood, with local favorites assembling at the Mueller Trailer Eats food court every day! Visit these mobile eateries for some of the best locally roasted coffee, wood-fired pizza, vegetarian wraps and some truly authentic Mexican food that you can smell from a mile away. 

Now, go!

Mueller is a neighborhood founded on intentional, community-driven sustainability and diversity. It’s come so far from the airport it used to be, and there’s still so much more to do that will make the neighborhood even better as time goes by! If you live in our Austin apartments, then don’t miss out on the local events and colorful atmosphere, so head on over and enjoy everything the community has to offer. You won’t regret it!