What is the Mueller Control Tower?

The Mueller Control Tower is an iconic 1961 airport structure and one of the last remaining pieces of the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. It was preserved and restored as part of the historic fabric of the Mueller planned community redevelopment.

What is unique about the design of the tower?

The tower is well-known for its distinctive alternating light-blue and dark-blue porcelain panels.

Is there a park or plaza at the tower?

Yes, the Roger Lavon Taylor Senior Plaza (also referred to as Roger Lavon Taylor Sr. Plaza) is a public park that opened around the tower in March 2025. It serves as the final named park in the Mueller redevelopment project.

What features does the plaza around the tower include?

The plaza design features landscaped open space, a pedestrian ramp with observation platforms, a new paseo with tower views, and a 21-foot-high public deck built around the structure.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Mueller Control Tower in Austin

What to know

The Mueller Control Tower stands as a striking monument to Austin’s aviation history. The site was originally home to the Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Austin's first city-owned airport, which opened in October 1930. The airport was named in honor of Robert Mueller, an Austin city councilor who passed away in 1927. While the airport's very first control tower was constructed in 1942 atop a repurposed flying school, the iconic structure standing today was built during a major 1961 expansion. This expansion, which added a new passenger terminal and control tower, was so significant that Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson attended its grand opening. When the airport closed in June 1999, ending commercial service that had run since May of that year, plans began to transform the 711-acre site. Rather than leaving the land idle, a public-private partnership between the City of Austin and Catellus Development Corporation was formed to redevelop the area into a compact, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use community. Although much of the airport was demolished, the local community strongly desired to keep the iconic 1961 control tower. Thanks to this advocacy, the Fehr & Granger-designed tower was preserved as one of three original airport structures targeted for historic preservation. Architecturally, the tower is celebrated for its unique alternating light-blue and dark-blue porcelain panels. Today, it serves as the centerpiece of the Roger Levon Taylor Sr. Plaza, which celebrated its grand opening on March 29, 2025. This plaza represents the final named park in the 20-year Mueller redevelopment project. The surrounding space features landscaped open areas, a new paseo with tower views, and a 21-foot-high public deck designed to match the height of the airport's former passenger terminal, offering visitors a unique vantage point to appreciate this mid-century landmark.

Visitor tips

Walk up the 21-foot-high public deck to experience the exact height of the former airport terminal.
Stroll along the pedestrian paseo to capture the best angles of the tower's blue porcelain panels.
Combine your visit with a walk around the Roger Levon Taylor Sr. Plaza, the final park of the Mueller redevelopment.

Nearby context

The Mueller Control Tower is situated in the heart of the Mueller neighborhood, a vibrant 711-acre planned community built on the former municipal airport site just three miles from downtown Austin. Designed as a compact, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use district, the area seamlessly blends historic preservation with modern amenities. Visitors can easily walk from the historic tower and the surrounding Roger Levon Taylor Sr. Plaza to contemporary neighborhood attractions, such as the nearby Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (Mueller), making it a perfect hub for entertainment and local history.