Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Some history of the old Circleville Inn of Austin, Texas explored.

Circleville Inn is one of the many forgotten inns and hotels of Austin, Texas which has some history behind it. Most Oak Hillians (Oak Hill residents) know about Circleville Inn. Circleville Inn was an inn located in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Austin, Texas.

Curly Glosson opened Circleville in 1972 at the intersection of Circle Drive & Thomas Springs Road. Travelers would buy alcohol before traveling again. This Oak Hill in was popular among locals for being a beer joint. Supposedly this inn was considered to be very dangerous in the 70s. Heating was provided by a fireplace. (Ref: https://donnamariemillerblog.com/2014/02/22/oak-hills-old-timers-tell-tales-about-the-good-ol-days/)
Heating was provided by a fireplace.
Curly Glosson operated Circleville Inn from 1972 until 1998. Jessie Lee Glosson owned Circleville Inn for 32 years and managed the business for 7 years. For a short time, Circleville Inn operated under the name of Circle Country Club. (Ref: https://www.ancestry.com/boards/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m=305&p=localities.northam.usa.states.texas.counties.blanco)

Circleville Inn was in competition with Cottonwood Inn as a business. They were rivals in a sense. Both inns were considered to be dangerous due to the crowds they brought in. Circleville Inn was a rough place at one time.

1998 is the year when Curly Glosson decided to shut down Circleville Inn. Warren Dronebarger bought the Circleville Inn from Curly Glosson in 1998. Travis County originally wanted to condemn the place due to the place being a fire hazard. However Warren Dronebarger had the buildings renovated to avoid being shut down. (Ref: https://oakhillgazette.com/history/2012/03/oak-hill-yesteryear-honky-tonks-and-juke-joints/)

Kelli’s Up-N-Smoke Bar and Grill operated at this location in 1998 until closing in 2012. Today the Circleville Inn is abandoned and up for sale. The Circleville Inn in 2012.The Circleville Inn today.

Circleville Inn was located at 9926 Circle Drive, Austin, Texas, US 78736.


7 comments:

  1. And now in March of 2021 Circleville Inn is finally torn down. Was a sad day to see it bulldozed and hauled off in 2 days.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for notifying us. A news article is being written about the demolition of Circleville Inn. This news article will be posted shortly.

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  2. Anything you want to know about Circleville, I can answer or give you a list of folks who can.

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  3. This is not accurate. My mom, Billie Tracy, bought the Circleville Inn from Curly sometime in the 90s and ran it.

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    Replies
    1. I think she just leased it from him.

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    2. And it was earlier than 1990.
      Billie ran it in the mid 80s and that knucklehead bought it before 1989

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