Steven W. Platt purchased land outside of Austin, just north of Del Valle for a farm in 1911 from Christian Platt. His family and heirs would purchase land around the Colorado River bordering west of FM 973. The Platt family used much of their land for farming purposes. Travis CAD data reports that the Platt House was established and constructed on land owned by Earl P Madison, James Platt, and Steven W. Platt. The large Platt House was originally a single family house. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=288574&year=2020)
A large square 2-story house would be constructed on 2 acres land owned by Steven W. Platt in 1916. Construction for this large house began and was completed in 1916. Steven W. Platt and his family members would live in this house for close to 90 years. This spacious family home was situated up on a street called Platt Lane which was named after Steven W. Platt as he owned a majority of the land. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=288583)
The Platt House has 2 bathrooms and had 4 living spaces. A fire place was constructed to provide heat during the winter time. Central heating and cooling were established. Foundation of this house was placed on a concrete slab. A crawlway was installed underneath the house. There is no basement. Floor size of this house was 3,198 square feet with 1,854 square feet of living space per each single person. Total size of the house was 3,200 square feet. Now the roof is made of metal and was built in composition style. This house was built on a wood frame plan using piers.
A 2-port detached garage was built to store tractors as well as other vehicles such as cars and trucks in 1952. This garage was constructed using aluminum metal on a slab foundation. The roof cover is an aluminum sheet cover. This garage was also used for parking. The 2-port detached garage was originally 462 square feet. Now this 2-port detached garage was later expanded into a 3-port detached garage around 1977. The size of this detached garage is now 1,062 square feet and is now a carport. (Ref: https://homemetry.com/house/10607+PLATT+LN,+Austin+TX)
Kenneth Arnold paid $17,140 dollars for Gary Pools Inc to install a swimming pool on their property next to the Platt House in 1967. He had signed a contract for them to construct a swimming pool for which he payed in 119 monthly installments of $248.69 each. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Book 10344, Page 3)
Clustr Maps records reported the house had a pool at one point in time. Exactly when this pool was supposedly installed is certainly not listed. It is unknown if/or when this pool was filled. Whether this pool was an indoor pool or not is unknown. Clustr Maps lists the pool as “An indoor environment includes central cooling and pool.” in their description. (Ref: https://clustrmaps.com/a/1hoddo/)
Coincidentally enough, Clustr Maps lists the address of the Platt House as “10521 Platt Ln” even though the address is “10607 Platt Ln”. This could be a geographical error. (Ref: https://clustrmaps.com/a/4182oa/)
Steven W. Platt sold the Platt House to Kenneth Arnold and Ellen Kate Rhodes Arnold in sometime in the 1950s but definitely before 1977.
Travis CAD data indicates renovations to the Platt House were made in 1967 specifically on the 1st floor. Much renovation was done to the living quarters and fire place. The house was valued and appraised at $127,342 dollars in 1967. Platt House was already a single family house by then. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=288574&year=2020)
More renovations and remodeling was done to the house in 1977 specifically the garage. This house was reported to be in a habitable condition by 1977. More central cooling was installed and upgraded.
The house was remodeled a couple of times in late 1987. An electrical permit and mechanical permit were issued by the City of Austin in the same year. The work on these projects was valued at $200 dollars with each project being $100 dollars each.
A request for an electrical remodeling permit was submitted on the date of December 21, 1987. The permit was granted by that same day. The electrical connections to this house was remodeled on December 21, 1987 and completed the following day. The Platt House was listed as “is in a residential area” even though the house was located in the country outside city limits. Cost of the job was estimated at $100. (Ref: https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/permit/public-search-other?t_detail=1&t_selected_folderrsn=4413419)
A request for the mechanical permit was submitted the same day the request for an electrical remodeling permit was submitted. Service changeout to an electrical circuit box done. Work was completed the following day. (Ref: https://abc.austintexas.gov/web/permit/public-search-other?t_detail=1&t_selected_folderrsn=3446992)
Ellen Kate Rhodes Arnold sold the Platt House to Earl P Madison and Deborah A Madison on the date of January 23, 1995. The property was sold a grantors deed and warranty deed. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Book 12358, Page 199)
Earl P Madison, Steven W. Platt and his wife, Kimberly Platt, sold their land to the City of Austin, Austin Water Center, and TreeFolks on the date of January 6, 2000. The large Platt House was sold on a general warranty deed. Steven W. Platt had conveyed 54.43 acres of land to the City of Austin. (Ref: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/GIS-Data/PWD/RealEstate/3648.16.pdf)
Other portions of land were donated to the City of Austin on the date of January 6, 2000 from Earl P Madison, Steven W. Platt and his wife, Kimberly Platt. Other landowners donated their portions of land to the City of Austin in the process. (Ref: ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/GIS-Data/PWD/RealEstate/3648.12.pdf)
Exactly when this house was abandoned is unknown. The house has been used a refuge for squatters around 2004. Austin Water Center began putting signs around the fence and on the house in 2007 telling people to stay away. 
Accessing the inside of Platt House was still possible in 2017 as not all windows had been completely sealed by the City of Austin or Austin Water Center. People could still explore both the inside and outside. As you can tell, not much is left inside the house. Furniture such as a recliners, a sofa, and a mattress are what was left behind from Steven W. Platt and his family members along with other owners too. Windows have been broken and furniture has been moved.
In 2020, City of Austin or Austin Water Center had boarded all windows shut and locked all doors. Most of the signs have been removed except for one sign which can be seen at the very front on a chain link fence which surrounds Platt House. 
Today the large Platt House serves as a public safety training house for the Austin Fire Department and City of Austin. Austin Fire Department, City of Austin, Austin Water Center, and TreeFolks keep a close eye on the large Platt House. The City of Austin now owns the large Platt House.
The large Platt House is located at 10607 Platt Lane, Austin, Texas, US 78725.
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