Ashley Kontnier
BUDA — Nearly two years after Buda City Council voted to accept the historic Buda Train Depot and return it to the city, the process to move it will commence in the coming weeks. Council received an update on the site plan and timeline at its Sept. 16 meeting.
As previously reported by the Hays Free Press, the depot, which was built in the 1880s to serve the International-Great Northern Railroad, remained functional until 1961.
Following a few ownership changes, the depot now sits on a property between San Marcos and New Braunfels and was offered as a donation to the city to avoid demolition.
On Nov. 8, 2023, council voted to accept the donation and return it to the city. The following year, on March 5, 2024, the dais was presented with two options for the new location, both of which are in the Downtown Greenbelt:
• Concept A: As close to the railroad easement as possible.
• Concept B: Approximately 30 feet away from the easement, closer to Main Street.
Council voted to approve Concept A.
Most recently, at its meeting on Sept. 16, 2025, council was informed that there had been multiple conversations with Pape-Dawson Engineers, which is the firm providing the site plan designs.
“The depot will be relocated to the Greenbelt, just north of the Welcome Center,” explained development project manager Adam McKee. “We’ve gone through about four rounds of back-and-forth feedback with [Pape-Dawson Engineers]. Initially, it was centered on Elm Street, in that parcel, but we had issues with a Centerpoint [Energy] gas line cutting across that parcel and cutting across the railroad tracks and we couldn’t build on top of that. So, we asked Pape-Dawson to explore shifting the footprint to the south or to the north.”
McKee explained that shifting to the south encountered additional problems, including a water main across the parcel. In order to shift to the north, it is possible that the gazebo will need to be relocated approximately 10 feet. Despite this, he said shifting it north was looking like a better option.
Now that the site has been chosen, bids on moving the depot and pouring the foundation have been received and the area has been cleared for the foundation, a temporary building permit has been issued.
Due to the fact that the Buda Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has committed to funding the cost of the foundation and relocation, it is expected to finalize contracts with the general contractor and moving company and have the foundation poured by the end of September.
According to the presentation, the foundation will be fully set and the moving company will perform prep work at the depot’s current location in October, with an expected move date of Nov. 1.
Following its arrival, the depot will be set on the foundation, building openings will be secured with plywood and a chain link fence will be installed.
Although no action was needed, McKee did ask for feedback from council on the new site plan.
“I’m curious about the gazebo; it is not historic, just old. And we’re going to pick that thing up and move it and it’s going to be fine in its current condition,” questioned council member Monica Davidson.
City manager Micah Grau explained that there have been no structural assessments on the gazebo and clarified that the gazebo location and other considerations are part of phase two design. Currently, the team is focused on phase one, which is getting the depot set in its place.
“The rest of the things on the site could potentially move around,” he concluded.
Mayor Lee Urbanovsky asked if there is a plan for phasing moving forward.
“So, the city has money in the budget; the EDC has money in the budget for fiscal year ’26 to advance to phase two. As soon as that new budget kicks in on Oct. 1, we can authorize Pape-Dawson to move to the phase two design,” said Grau. “Mr. McKee mentioned the need to hire an architect to evaluate the structure and any interior and exterior modifications to the train depot itself. So, that would probably happen over the next 24 — maybe a little bit longer — months for that final design to happen and then, pending the cost, move forward with construction soon after that.”
Any restoration costs or plans will be presented to and voted on by the council at a future date and time.
Buda City Council will meet next at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8.
