Welcome to this magical Austin house, where twisting hallways and staircases lead to hidden rooms, a clocktower and cozy rooftop decks with a giant Live Oak tree. Enjoy spacious indoor and outdoor spaces including three stories of decks, state-of-the-art jacuzzi, gourmet kitchen with high-speed WiFi. Explore the heart of the city just steps away from South Congress Avenue.
Reviews
9.69.6 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
5 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 102700 sq ft
Popular amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Add dates for prices
About this property
Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups
Get lost in the twisting and winding hallways and staircases that lead to hidden rooms, a clocktower and cozy rooftop decks with a giant Live Oak tree growing through it. This is a magical house on a large private estate with tons of charm and personality and spacious indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy including three stories of decks, a state of the art jacuzzi, and a hidden arcade in a large walk-in closet with a classic Ms. Pacman video console with 60 of the most popular video games (including: Ms. Pacman, Pacman, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Galaxian, Space Invaders, Centipede, Phoenix, and many others). Plus, the location is amazing!
The house has it all including a gourmet kitchen, a large jacuzzi, high speed wifi and A/V system. When you are ready to explore Austin, you can walk to just about anything you could want as the house is in the heart of the city a mile south of downtown and a block off charming and entertaining South Congress Avenue (SoCo). Minutes away to all kinds of restaurants, shops, clubs, cafes, Rainey Street, 6th Street, Barton Springs, or to see the bats! This large, comfortable home is a dream rental for people looking to be in the heart of it all, yet feel at home in a creative house on a large, private and peaceful estate.
Perfectly situation for easy Austin enjoyment, we have hosted quite a few families, reunions, a small wedding, girls' weekends, corporate groups for SXSW, and other similar gatherings. We are sorry, no bachelor parties or wild parties of any type please.
From the house, you can walk or bike to hundreds of great restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, music venues, you name it. And the best part is that at the end of a day of exploring and adventure, you are able to return "home" to a comfortably furnished house, cook a meal in the gourmet kitchen, watch a movie on the large screen AV system, enjoy a cocktail on the third story deck with a downtown view, or soak in the large, outdoor jacuzzi. The property is large, heavily treed, and private, and the house, an architectural fantasy, straight out of a C.S. Lewis novel. Spacious and beautiful, artistic and original, this unique house is a true gem and in an exceptional location.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Only a two minute walk to South Congress or one minute to South 1st Street, both loaded with many Austin treasures. Without having to get into a car, you are able to easily … people-watch while sipping a cup of coffee at: Jo's, Once Over, Mañana or quite a few other unique coffee houses; have breakfast at: Bouldin Creek Cafe, Polvo's, Magnolia Cafe, Torchy's Tacos; have a fresh juice at The Soup Peddler; dine at Guero's, Vespaio, Hopdoddy's, Enoteca, El Mercado, South Congress Cafe, Home Slice Pizza, Lenoir, Boticelli's, Winebelly, Uchi, Elizabeth Street Café, Thai Fresh, Café No Sé or one of fifty restaurants of every cuisine type within a ten minute walk from the house. Also, you can listen to some world-class quality live music at the famous Continental Club, the Hotel San Jose, Guero's, C-Boys, one of a hundred clubs downtown, or stroll past the street performers on South Congress. And then there is the famous Amy's Ice Cream, Gordough's Gourmet Donuts, the many food truck courtyards, visit awesome vintage clothing stores, or pick up groceries from one of the gourmet markets nearby. The list goes on and on. This is truly one of the best locations in all of Austin.
Also, within twenty minutes, you can walk downtown, to 6th Street, 2nd Street, Rainey Street, Auditorium Shores, The Ladybird Lake hike and bike trail, see the bats by the South Congress bridge, or if you are in town for SXSW, make it to the Convention Center. If you don't have time to walk, it is easy to catch a bus or ride-share, rent a bike, or hire a pedi-cab.
The house is ideal for festivals. Whether SXSW, ACL, Formula 1 or one of the many others. It is the best of both worlds. You are close enough to get there easily and quickly, and you also have a spacious and quiet house to come home to for relaxation.
AMENITIES The house's amenities include a large, deluxe, Jacuzzi-brand hot tub with powerful jets, a landscaped yard with lush gardens, a gas barbecue, three stories of balconies (including one with a downtown view), a sunny and private back deck, two massive and ancient Live Oak Trees, secret passageways, a spiral staircase into a clocktower, an office, an A/V system with 55 inch screen, and a chef's kitchen. Free parking is available, and the house is clean and private.
QUIRKY CHARM This house exudes charm. No two rooms are alike. It leans more toward the creative than traditional. Aside from the kitchen, living room, dining room and bathrooms, there are six additional rooms that can be bedrooms or fun rooms depending on the size of your group. There is also a queen-sized sleeper sofa in the living room if extra sleeping space is required. There are two bathrooms, including a high-ceiling cathedral shower with a window in one, and an antique clawfoot tub/shower in the other. The kitchen is full of windows and light, with Thermador stove and appliances, and there is a laundry room with washer and dryer. The living room is spacious and warm. Wifi is available.
This house is precious, and precious to us, so responsible guests only please. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Property amenities
Pool/Spa
Hot tub
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Car not required
Parking on site
Kitchen
Blender
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Electric kettle
Ice maker
Kitchen island
Microwave
Oven
Paper towels
Refrigerator
Spices
Stovetop
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
5 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Bathtub
Hair dryer
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Living room
Entertainment
Books
DVD player
Games
Stereo
TV with cable/satellite channels
Video library
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Fenced yard
Garden
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washer/dryer
Work spaces
Desk
Desk chair
Office
Comfort
Air conditioning
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Housekeeping (on request)
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Location highlights
Near a hospital
Near a zoo
Things to do
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Sailing nearby
Swimming nearby
Water tubing nearby
Windsurfing nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Note from host: The house is not infant nor toodler-proofed.
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 50
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadbolt lock
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
We should mention
A car is not required for transportation to and from this property
About the neighborhood
South Congress, a neighborhood in Austin, is home to this vacation home. South Congress Avenue and Sixth Street are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lady Bird Lake and Zilker Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Moody Center or Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium. Discover the area's water adventures with water tubing and windsurfing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails and horse riding. Visit our Austin travel guide
Is Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking?
Onsite parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups?
Check-out is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups located?
Located in South Congress, this family-friendly Austin vacation home is within a 5-minute walk of South First Street and South Congress Avenue. Sixth Street and University of Texas at Austin are also within 3 mi (5 km).
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Fun House in a Fantastic Location w Hot Tub, Great for Groups Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Very impressed with the house and its design. Super fun and accommodating for a large or small group of friends and family. Cannot beat the proximity to south Austin and incredible restaurants/night life. Highly recommend staying here.
Our group really enjoyed our stay and the location was perfect. The house had plenty of space for our group and was decorated with so much character. We loved our place!
From top to bottom wonderful. Check-in and out was a breeze, as was communication. The place was incredibly fun and had great character- we loved it. Wonderful location as well, we were never far from where we wanted to be. Would highly recommend!
We had an adult outing in Austin with the goal of being close to the action for music and nightlife. The house was perfect for our group. We could walk to several restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and stores. Downtown was a short Uber ride but the stuff by this house is better than the downtown scene anyway. The beds were comfortable, the location was great, and Brian was an awesome host. Highly recommend staying here if you are looking for an Austin getaway with a larger group.
Location of the home is great - walking distance to tons of shops on South Congress and 1st street. Close to Barton Springs as well. House is unique, definitely an experience. Hot tub is a nice touch. Few updates could help the home. Host very responsive to a few questions. Thanks!
David M.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Maria
Apr 14, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
This house is bonkers, in the best possible way. The best way to experience it, if travelling with kids like we were, is to have them explore the house and then give you a tour. Especially through their eyes the fantastical weirdness of it comes to life. We were quite sad to leave after our week there.
For everyone else, the house is clean, well equipped, has a lovely jacuzzi, it has a brilliant location very close to lots of food options and walkable to SoCo, but at the same time quiet. It has copious space for a bigger group (we were 8 and had sleeping options to spare). The house is on the older side, so expect some creaks and wrinkles here and there, but that did not take away from our experience at all.
Have fun!
I had a great weekend with 5 ladies at Brian's place. The proximity to SoCo cannot be beat. The instructions were very clear on how to operate everything and the house was quirky and fun. It was really hot that weekend, and the AC performed great. Well stocked kitchen supplies, and washer and dryer were great to wash towels after we got back from Barton's.
Just keep in mind that 1 room requires you to go through other rooms in order to get to a bathroom. This didn't bother us but it's worth noting.
If you're considering staying in SoCo, I'd highly recommend this home for your stay!
We did a guys weekend in Austin and the house worked out great for us! Location is awesome, close to SoCo and walking distance to downtown. The host was very helpful every step of the way.
Only two things making 4 starts instead of 5 (would have done 4.5 but that isn't an option):
- This is an older house and the bathrooms are of that period. Worked fine for a guys trip but not sure if our families would have been crazy about them.
- This house is quirky! We really enjoyed it, but things like having to walk through another bedroom to get to a bedroom might not be for everyone.
Brian’s place worked well for our larger group and is in a convenient location. There was plenty of space for everyone, which made it easy to gather and spend time together.It’s an older home with some character, and as expected with that, there are a few quirks. Brian was responsive and quick to communicate when we reached out. Overall, it met our needs for a group stay.
Mark C.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Kate G.
Feb 28, 2018
Wonderful location
The house was able to beautifully accommodate our large group. We would definitely stay here again!
Plenty of space for our group, the house was very clean and well maintained, and the location was perfect to walk to many different cafes, restaurants, and bars. We also really enjoyed the hot tub/outdoor space to relax.
A few friends flew in to escape the cold and enjoy Austin. Super unique decorated spot with awesome hot tub, roof deck, location, and excellent communication with the manager who was always available.
Brian was great and communicative, and we had a blast staying at his house. We were three families with 5 kids under 2.5, and the kids loved the house as well. We were also walking distance to South Congress and lots of great restaurants. Would definitely recommend!
The stay was absolutely perfect! We had an amazing time for a large group for a bachelorette party. Brian was very responsive on the chat, and answered and accommodated requests. The house is so cool with lots of character throughout! Would highly recommend
We had several ladies staying the weekend. The house was so fun and cute! The location couldn't have been better! It was 5 minutes to walk to south congress or south first street. Host was communicative and helpful. Highly Recommend!