One of the lesser known but iconic houses of Austin, Texas is the Ira Regiene House. The Ira Regiene House is tucked away in a corner from East Austin on a dry arid gravel road by US 183. This news article will explain what the Ira Regiene House is.
The 3.17 acres of property where the Ira Regiene House was originally owned by a single man named J O Mitchell. J O Mitchell sold the land to Ira Regiene et ux (Ira Regiene Sr. ) on a warranty deed somewhere around the 1940s. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 747, Page 56)
The Ira Regiene House was built around the 1940s out of ceramic limestone from a quarry on Regiene Road by Ira Edward Regiene. His house was built on top of gray cinder bricks. The Ira Regiene House was remodeled and improved over the years. The Ira Regiene House was and is owned by the longtime Regiene Family of Austin, Texas. Six generations of Regienes have owned this house and currently do to this day. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=97457)
Prior to 1957, Regiene Road was a dirt road that was not paved. In 1957, Ira Regiene dedicated Regiene Road to the City of Austin and Travis County for public access to the homes for his family which he built. Regiene Road would connect to the Ira Regiene House. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 9775, Page 559)
Electric easements were granted from the Ira Regiene House to the City of Austin on the date of November 21, 1957. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 1916, Page 15)
Ira Regiene Sr. sold the Ira Regiene House along with other property to his son, Ira Regiene Jr., on the date of December 15, 1978. The sale of the property was finalized in the year of 1979. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 6474, Page 1097)
Ira Regiene Jr. sold the property to a man named Mr. Bird Burr around the 1980s. Mr. Bird Burr had the property zoned limited industrial as he initially planed to install a storage facility. However this did not happen due to his financial troubles. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Volume 747, Page 56)
The Ira Regiene House was foreclosed when a man named Bird Burr encountered financial troubles which led him losing the Ira Regiene House and property at a tax sale.. So the Ira Regiene House was put on a tax sale and sold to James O Mitchell (J O Mitchell) in 1985. James O Mitchell was married to Ira E Regiene’s sister, Dorothy Regiene. (Ref: Closed Caption Log, Council Meeting, 06/22/06)
In 1985, the house was abandoned left to ruin and decay. No one had been inhabiting the residence since the 1970s. Cactus had been growing inside of the home and overgrown vegetation has been taking over since the house was abandoned. 
Ira Regiene Jr. sold the Ira Regiene House to his daughter, Victoria Mae Gable, on a gift deed with life estate in the year 2004. Victoria Mae Gable was the last person who owned the Ira Regiene House. Victoria Mae Gable was the daughter of Ira Regiene Jr and Dorothy Regiene. (Ref: Travis County Deeds, Instruments #2004026977 & #2004026978)
By 2006, people had been illegally dumping trash into the Ira Regiene House. The house was cited for non-compliance due to city code violations. George Kurachi had been using the Ira Regiene House to dump inoperable vehicles onto for sometime. Neighbors were well of the illegal dumping occurring at the Ira Regiene House and on Regiene Road. (Ref: https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=97457)
All that remains of this house are the abandoned ruins. Such as the walls, square window frames, the square concrete foundation, and the structural walls. The house has been abandoned for almost 40 years.
The address for the Ira Regiene House is 6600 Regiene Road, Austin, Texas, US 78725.
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