Mueller Control Tower

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In the middle of a modern, walkable neighborhood just three miles from downtown, an unusual architectural relic stands tall. This is the Mueller Control Tower, a striking mid-century structure preserved from the old Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. The airport first opened in October 1930 as Austin's first city-owned airport.

While its original 1942 control tower was built on a repurposed flying school, this iconic tower was constructed in 1961, immediately recognizable by its alternating light-blue and dark-blue porcelain panels. When the airport closed and the area was redeveloped, the local community fought to keep this beloved architectural landmark. Today, it is one of only three original airport structures targeted for historic preservation.

In 2025, the city opened its final park at the tower, named Roger Levon Taylor Senior Plaza. The design features a public deck built twenty-one feet high around the tower, allowing visitors to get up close to the historic porcelain panels and enjoy sweeping views of a neighborhood built around its own aviation history.

Updated June 2026