The Cathedral of Junk in Austin, Texas (Updated 2025)

"Started in 1988 by Vince Hannemann, this ever-evolving passion project uses over 60 tons of junk—old bikes, appliances, hubcaps, TVs—to form a massive “cathedral” that spans Vince’s entire backyard. The Cathedral of Junk grew as people began donating possessions to help expand it and add more rooms; years ago the City of Austin tried to shut it down after neighbors complained it was a safety concern, but Vince and an army of volunteers pared it down and brought it up to code so it could stay open. Vince later began dismantling parts of the structure but changed his mind, and it’s now bigger than ever; in a city like Austin, a massive cathedral made of junk in a suburban yard feels oddly fitting and is a perfect example of “Keep Austin Weird.” I spent most of my visit talking to Vince (it doesn’t take long to explore the Cathedral) and also wandered the quirky architectural feat; many locals bring their kids—who run around playing make-believe—and I discovered children will often stay occupied an hour or two. If you visit, admission is free (a $5 donation for adults is encouraged), there are no set hours so it’s best to call ahead, and it’s about a 15-minute drive from downtown or a 30-minute trip by bus (#10)." - Matthew Kepnes