The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria

Love this museum. It’s outdoors and there are pretty cool sculptures to check out. Pro Tip: It’s free Thursday’s go around 6:30 pm and grab pizza afterwards. 10/10 Sculptures 🗿

Thursdays are free! So you know, as a free experience this was fun. The art is interesting to read about, even if I didn’t understand most of it. It’s a cute place. Near the lake. Fun to wander around. Right next to the peacock park, so do two things at once if you’re in the area.

A really amazing experience, walking at the park at sunset. Just can't miss it, this is one of my happy places in the city. Thursdays are free! But in case you go on another day, the fee is $10.

Very nice place! It was a good choice of placement for the lake was just in eye sight. Majority of art there were installations which I like personally the most. My favorite was “Looking Up,” by Tom Friedman which is the pinned tall aluminum man in the fountain area. A lot of the art was in the forest, and it was very relaxing and refreshing to go to an art museum that wasn’t indoors. Overall the experience was amazing, and they have an art school and summer camp for kids 4-17. I would suggest 10 out of 10 great place to go.

What a beautiful walk at sunset! The sculptures are AWEmazing and the trails and water views, just gorgeous! If you see this review one day, Jenny, thank you for the recommendation. You are such a beautiful person! Thank you for that way too brief but wonderful exchange when we were watching the peacocks. If you have an afternoon to do something in the Austin area, visit this place. You will not be disappointed!

October 2024 This was my first visit to the Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria and enjoyed it. I loved the walking trails though the woods and along Lake Austin seeing all the artwork in the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park. I was impressed by all of it including the grounds with the Driscoll Villa, Visitor Center/Shop, Art School and Spread and Co. Café. The only drawback is finding a parking spot along the street since there is no lot on site. However, I did plan my visit by seeing it during the week around lunchtime where easily found a spot and parking is free. It was very relaxing and peaceful felling you were away from the busy Austin city life. The staff was very friendly and like it so much I purchased a membership.

Absolutely incredible! I recommend to come on one of the free nights if you get the chance. We were in town for the weekend and found this beautiful gem and managed to get free admission too. Score! The grounds are perfectly manicured and it's generally a mansion on the lake with trails and sculptures everywhere. Think of it as an outdoor art museum.

Laguna Gloria is an absolute gem! The Italianate villa and sculpture park offer a truly enchanting experience right on the lake. I was so impressed by how thoughtfully the contemporary art was displayed throughout the beautiful grounds – it's the perfect peaceful and inspiring escape in Austin.

This is about the school administration specifically -- I was enrolled in a weekend class and unfortunately my dog died two days before the class. Knowing that I would be in no shape to attend a class I emailed them immediately letting them know my dog had died and I wouldn't be able to attend the class. Initially, they refused any sort of refund since their policy requires a 8 days notice. I respect and understand that, but this is a really tough and exceptional time for me. I protested via email and they "graciously" offered me $90 credit towards another class that had to be used in the next 6 months. I refused since I will never take classes from their facility again given their cold and callous approach to my loss despite how much I enjoyed the teachers and courses.

This was my first visit to the Contemporary Austin at Laguna Gloria and enjoyed it. I loved the walking trails though the woods and along Lake Austin seeing all the artwork in the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park. I was impressed by all of it including the grounds with the Driscoll Villa, Visitor Center/Shop, Art School and Spread and Co. Café. The only drawback is finding a parking spot along the street since there is no lot on site. However, I did plan my visit by seeing it during the week around lunchtime where easily found a spot and parking is free. It was very relaxing and peaceful felling you were away from the busy Austin city life. The staff was very friendly and like it so much I purchased a membership.

I am a teacher and my teacher friends and I are doing some Austin Adult Field Trips this summer that are both budget friendly (#teachers) and fun! We chose Laguna Gloria and we luckily came on a "free day". We knew that teachers got a discount but lucky us to come on a free day! There is plenty of parking and even a cute little coffee/snack shop right when you come in. They have homemade popsicles. We didn't try one but they sounded great! There are several buildings for art classes. We must have looked lost ;) because someone popped over to talk to us and pointed out which way to go to hit the path and find the awesome sculptures along the way. One of my friends had been there before so she was a great docent during our walking tour. The grounds are charming. Down at the peninsula and in the woods, you feel like you are on a tropical vacation. When you pop out down near the estate house you feel like you're in California. :) My friend had attended a wedding here and said it was lovely. I can just imagine how perfect that must have been. It was a fun field trip. I will surely be back again!

Laguna Gloria is probably my favorite museum in Austin. Admittedly, I may be biased since I'm a huge fan of sculpture gardens, but I think this place checks all the boxes! Come on a nice day to walk the lovely grounds with views of Lake Austin and admire the art. On Thursdays, admission is free all day! Most recently, we visited on a Thursday evening for the unveiling reception of Mariposa Relámpago, an awesome piece that was commissioned by the ICA Boston and is making its way around Texas. The base is an old school bus from El Salvador, and the artist attached a number of objects onto it including gongs that can be used for sound therapy. During the reception, 3 gong players did a sound ceremony, and we were able to watch them in action from outside as well as go inside the bus to feel the vibrations. A very unique experience! Laguna Gloria's permanent collection features a variety of different artists as well as sculptural styles and mediums. I love the big silver guy looking up outside the villa as well as the crying Miffy fountain and the swan by the lake. Each piece has signage close to it where you can read information about the sculpture. There's a good amount of space, so even during an event, it doesn't feel crowded. It's a very peaceful place where you can get some exercise, enjoy wonderful art, and spend quality time with those you love.

I love this place so much. I grew up in Austin, but live in Seattle now. This is one of the places that I always go to when I'm in town. I dragged one of my coworkers here since we were in town for a conference. I didn't even know it was free on thursdays! That was just icing on the cake. The people at the front desk were super nice and friendly. I had such a great time. Watching the water slowly lap against the shore of Lake Austin was amazing. All the sculptures were very interesting. The trails are great. Well worth the trip.

This was such a beautiful spot in Austin. My fiancé and I took our engagement photos here and had a great time. Please note that you need an appointment and permission to have a photo shoot here. I liked that the villa had bathrooms upstairs where we could get ready. Afterwards, we grabbed lunch on the property and it was delicious. I would love to come back to walk around and to grab lunch.

The Laguna Gloria is a branch of the Contemporary Austin consisting of a lovely old villa on Lake Austin with landscaped grounds full of sculptures. The house itself can be toured to appreciate the architecture though it is mostly empty. The design is quite nice, though, and you will even find a carved wooden feature over the fireplace that was taken from the Alamo itself. Outside you will find a few stone statues and a fountain that match the age and style of the house, but most of the other sculptures are modern and can be quite odd. There's a 30 foot stainless steel sculpture looking rather alien in front of the house, and there are trails all around the lakefront property with many others, so you'll have to walk a bit to see everything. Don't miss the ones hanging in the trees! There is also an art school with a few small buildings on the grounds where one can occasionally take classes or have other activities. There's also a small gift shop and a restaurant on site. There is an admission charge but there are numerous free days if you check their web site. There is limited space for parking which is usually only a challenge during events, but there is free street parking if you are willing to walk. Be sure to check the schedule because this a popular place to hold weddings or other events that may interfere with the average visit to see the sculpture garden.

Had a wonderful day at the contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria. I took my family on a Thursday in January, the weather was nice and warm. I brought them on this day because every Thursday is free entry to the contemporary Austin Museum,. we walked around on the grounds of the museum, got a very nice view of the lake. All the sculptures around the area were very beautiful, everything was so serene and relaxing. Great experience, you sort of go on a little hike while looking around which was great. Good exercise, family interactive, wheelchair friendly.

We had my daughter's wedding here and it was truly a stunning event. This Italian style villa is breathtaking on its own, but as a wedding venue it is exquisite. It was a true Texas summer day with 100+ temperatures but luckily there was a little cooling room where we were able to chill for a bit. We also had a bartender serving ice cold beer & mixed drinks so there was never a notice of the sweaty foreheads, lol. The staff here were so easy to work with and the vendors on their list were top notch. If you are looking to host an outdoor event, you must check out The Laguna Gloria!

Well Dang Austin.. Just when I wasn't liking visiting anymore I found this gem. This must have been one of the highlights.. most definitely.. when visiting Austin. I had no idea how beautiful this sculpture garden was and how overlooked it is. Sculptures are immersed in such a beautiful forrest like scavenger hunt. Make sure to grab a map from the front and to definitely reserve a time to walk around. Due to covid it is recommended to reserve a time. Pictures do not do justice!

Proud to be a supporting member of this museum! The grounds are an outdoor sculpture park that I imagine is absolutely breathtaking at night. Winding walkways are covered by a canopy of trees and dotted with romantic lighting. The stringed lights only add to the sort of natural decadence in this other worldly reserve. It is absolutely magical that art classes are held here for the children- in a nice peaceful rustic Italian villa setting. I may bring my nieces and nephews here. Will definitely return for one of their many evening happy hours.

Gorgeous grounds situated by the lake, interesting and diverse modern sculptures, romantic backdrop of Mediterranean villa - a unique mix between feeling of walking a historic villa gardens in Amalfi and admiring the carefully curated contemporary pieces in Austin. Bring a picnic, hang back a while, buy food at Spread & Co on-site or just stroll around day-dreaming. They have free admission on Thursdays but you have to register online. Oh, they do have restrooms onsite.

Tip - go on thursdays because it's free! Only spent an hour there due to a tight schedule but probably could have stayed two hours. It feels very zen and I loved the lake overlooks. Spread and co had an awesome lavender lemonade! Street parking near the country club.

This review is for the very lush, verdant grounds and sculpture garden on the twelve acre estate, which was once Stephen F. Austin's homesite. This is premium Austin real estate. It doesn't get much better than this. I've attended gorgeous, romantic weddings here. Live music concerts at the water's edge. I've chased after enormous puffs of foam that were part of a super playful and unforgettable installation by artist Richard Hiorns. Laguna Gloria has enriched my life. Last Thursday, having made reservations and secured tickets, I was able to enjoy this huge place in the company of two little girls. We saw three other people during our visit, in addition to a few staffers and many peacocks who must have been visiting from neighboring Mayfield Park. Access was touchless and everyone wore masks. In 1916, philanthropist Clara Driscoll had an Italianate-style villa constructed there, overlooking the lake. She was also responsible for "rescuing" the Alamo by preventing its sale to a hotel chain. Her then husband, Hal Sevier, founded the Austin American-Statesman.

This outdoor museum is an awesome experience and I can't believe I haven't been sooner! So many great art pieces through a beautiful outdoor space of trees and shrubs with tons of shade. We went Thursday because it's free. Plenty of street parking right outside the entrance. There's a cafe with coffee and drinks to refresh you. The bathrooms were well maintained and indoors with AC. There are peacocks wondering the grounds which is fun. Absolutely recommend!

Free parking on the street. Free entry for kids. Free entry for military. Poison Ivy warnings are posted, so if you have little ones that like to explore, be aware. We enjoyed our hour here exploring the property. Kids marked off the statues as they found them on the map. Not many of the pieces spoke to me, but it is a scenic trail on the water. They have excellent bathroom facilities and a spot to refill water bottles. You'll need the latter visiting during the summer because we couldn't last more than an hour in that heat. 50 foot statue next to palm trees is amazing. Reminded me of Trump staring at the solar eclipse. I'll return during the cooler months.

If you are looking for a perfect date spot - this is it! It is such a beautiful ground with great sculptures from contemporary artists all over the country. It's located near Lake Colorado so you even get glimpses of the lake as you walk through with statues incorporated into the water. My friend was even considering this to be a wedding venue for her, that we didn't get to go inside to see the event space. Overall the walk was about 2 acres and took around an hour and a half to complete. I included some pictures of my favorite sculptures. Heads up this place is free on Thursdays for everybody which is when we went and I highly recommend.

Yikes?! Please save yourself the money, and if you really want to get the Laguna Gloria experience, come on a THURSDAY WHEN ADMISSION IS FREE! Though I question even then if it would be worth your time. I'm not typically an art critic, but holy cripes this art sucks! We humored it for the first...the second...wow...but by the sixth and seventh piece of street trash impostering as art, our jaws were dropping lower and lower. If you want to see better art for cheaper, just go to a junkyard. Then maybe you can even take it home for free, stick it straight up in the ground, and charge admission! Old lamp posts? A crappy array of old 70s style bollards? Oh this one looks at least like it was made with some craftsmanship..oh wait those are some old train track components placed upright. And don't get me started on the bronze sculpture(s) that looks like literal crap stacked up. The villa itself wasn't even pretty - looked like newer half-assed architecture - and we couldn't go in. We circled about wondering what they mean by "wear your masks indoors" when there wasn't any indoor exhibits to walk through?

So much fun during the day and during the late night session on Thursdays. Wonderful location to stroll through a beautiful garden while enjoying creative and interactive art pieces. Great place to take the kiddos to explore and experience.

Since we can't shop and drink all day, we thought we ought take in a little of art and culture in Austin. On a good sunny day in winter, Laguna Gloria makes a for a pleasant stroll in the woods along the Colorado river. You'll see modern contemporary works of art...some fascinating, weird, some questionable...all of which can be really good...or really bad in some cases. Can't explain it, just look at the pictures. Overall not a bad way to spend $10 and 60-75 minutes, if its not over 90 degrees during the hot Texas summer.

I wish I had more time and it was a little cooler so I could thoroughly explore this place. Contemporary art is usually not my favorite but it was interesting to see all the different pieces.

I really enjoyed walking this area. Parking isn't the beat. Check in was easy. Follow the arrows. Plenty of olaces to take pictures. Also along the water which is cool

I've lived in austin for 15 years, why did I sleep on this? A gorgeous Mediterranean villa on the water with trails that have art sculptures all through the trails. A beautiful lawn with sculptures that are so amazing and stunning. This almost felt like I was in Italy. The grounds were kept so well. I was fortunate to go to a sxsw party here and to enjoy this beautiful space! Wow!

Fabulous variety of creativity courses expertly taught by professionals in their respective fields.

This is primarily a review of the grounds, trail and sculpture garden of this local institution. The setting is a beautiful little gem very close to the city but still apart from it. The walking trail takes to close to the lake and is very bucolic. The site specific installations are well placed and interesting. I was particularly taken by a 50s car cast in bronze with sound recordings nestled into a clearing by the lake. Terry Allen's Road Angel is worth a visit by itself. There is also a piece by Ai Weiwei. I was also struck by a 30' tall sculpture by Tom Friedman of a figure looking up into the sky. Totally worth a visit, y'all.

It seems as though I'm either in the Twilight Zone or I'm the last living honest reviewer for the Laguna Gloria Sculpture Gardens. As a fine art major and teacher I was thoroughly disturbed by what I found. Who curated this space? Can we have a private meeting??? I dragged my kids and husband out for a stroll, to a "Beautiful museum," I told them... "It'll be breathtaking" I assured them. I was eager to see the Laguna Gloria structure having read Clara Driscoll's legacy and having an affinity to Italian architecture. I too honeymooned in Italy and there is nothing more romantic than a villa on the water. We attended the museum on March 7, 2021 after a snow storm so I took this into account when walking the grounds. I saved the villa for the end of the walk and started at... fabricated light posts doused in bright paint??? I cringed. Did the storm blow in this debris. There were awkward metal sculptures on the front lawn that left me grimacing. Why these? Why the front lawn of a classical home? I know this is a contemporary museum now but there are beautiful ways to accent a period piece with contemporary artwork. An enormous, stark white rabbit in a fountain made me think I was at an amusement park. I didn't know weather to chuck change into the fountain or attempt to recognize it as something more dignified. I did neither. We made our way to the water... so romantic the walk down, and we imagined the scene of the early 1900's... dignitaries and socialites pulling up in beautiful boats to attend decadent parties at the villa. Wait, what's this? It seems a demonic mermaid creature washed ashore. My kids and I shuttered at the unsightly sculpture. Other passerby's had the same response and children scurried away at the sight of her freakish chest. 'Look past these terrible so called art pieces, look out across the water... peaceful, heavenly.' TBC... on The Contemporary Austin.

I love visiting the original Laguna Gloria estate. My first nonprofit job in the 1980s was here, and I learned so much. Such a beautiful environment in which to work! I am glad to see how the historic villa has been so beautifully restored, and to see the impressive outdoor sculpture installed across the grounds. The new gift shop and coffee "patio" are well done.

First time here Limited street parking Fun Outdoor and indoor activities No handguns allowed

About 20 minutes outside of Austin, sits this beautiful Mediterranean style villa. It was built in 1916 for Henry and Clara Driscoll. It receives the moniker "Laguna Gloria" because of a nearby lagoon off the Colorado River. In 1943, Clara conveyed the site to the Texas Fine Arts Association. Today, it is owned by Laguna Gloria Art Museum. If you appreciate the arts like myself, you will really enjoy exploring the grounds and the several sculptures that are spread out on the grounds. My friend and I thought that the grounds were free admission, but this is only the case on Tuesdays. Otherwise, it is $10 per person. As far as the villa goes, there is really not much to see inside.

I came here after visiting another one of Ai Weiwei's exhibits and was told that he had another installation piece at The Laguna Gloria. It is hilarious because as we are driving to this place, my wife and I are having de ja vu, because the last time we visited Austin we happened to visit the peacocks and it's literally on the same road. We should have just visited it last time if we knew about it. The space is pretty big and it's cheap 3 for students and 5 for adults. Even though there is a lot of ground to cover, the exhibits are not well spaced apart. It's really far from one another and the map is kind of confusing. The Iron Tree Trunk by Ai Weiwei was one of the better pieces, buy my favorite was the giant statue out front by Tom Friedman. It's nothing you HAVE to do, but if you have some extra time worth a short afternoon.

Such a cute low key date spot, lots of walking paths around and beautiful sculptures in the garden. The museum was closed when we came, but we still spent an hour at the garden, walking through the paths and being by the water while seeing the contemporary art. Beautiful place with no tourists and a very cute date spot. Instagram worthy pics can be taken here. Instagram: @cali.betch

As sculpture parks go, this one was a little disappointing. The best pieces are up by the parking, honestly. It is a peaceful and relaxing place to take a walk, but from a value standpoint, not work the $10 pp really. I do like to support the arts, though, so no complaints. The views of the lake and lagoon were pretty - awesome lilly pads. Parking is very limited on a Saturday, so be warned. There was an event in the villa, so we couldn't go in. That could have upped the value factor.

This setting is so beautiful and peaceful, one of my favorite places in Austin! One thing I found surprising that may be helpful to others - there is no "museum" in the traditional sense. The house is mostly empty and the art is all sculptures outside. I have enjoyed taking many art classes here Drawing, teacher was Vincent Colvin, enjoyed him very much, teacher website http://vincentcolvin.com/ Watercolor with Sue Kemp, very good, teacher website http://www.suekemp.com/ Sign Art with Borelli, loved this, teacher website http://beccajborrelli.com/ I would suggest you become a member of the museum, you get additional discounts on classes and get invited to other museum events, some can be pricey but we enjoyed the low cost ones very much like the outdoor movie night and tasting. Also be sure to enjoy the beautiful peacocks that roam the grounds, they wander over from next door http://mayfieldpark.org/

Fell down a rabbithole and found this peaceful and interesting little wonderland. The art work is very unusual and somewhat eerie and mysterious which intrigues me. I enjoyed getting a little exercise out in this area and will come back when it's a little cooler outside for another jog.

We were taking a tour of Austin with an older lady friend who was showing us around the city and she brought us here. It was really a hidden gem. I had never heard about this place until this day. They have really cool sculptures and random pieces of art in the courtyard area when you drive in. There is not cost to drive in and park. It is completely free! They have a walkway where you can walk down to the lake and see the water and trails. We didn't get a chance to walk down the trails but they seemed really pleasant and made me want to come back just to check them out. They had a piece in the courtyard made from all recycled aluminum food storage containers. It was very cool and really BIG! I wish we had more time to check out more things. We will surely be coming back here very soon. So much to see , so little time !!

I loved visiting this beautiful villa and its gardens during Veterans weekend. My family and I arrived about 45 min before closing and they didn't charge us. We had time enough to enjoy and took beautiful pictures. My kids enjoyed walking and playing on the gardens. Wonderful place! I want to go back again with more time.

A great way to spend an hour near downtown Austin. My first visit was during a light rain, and I had it to myself. It was magical. My 3 year old came with me next time and loved the sculptures. It's a mix of botanic garden, sculptures and park. There are rent-able discovery backpacks for little explorers, too. They're undergoing an expansion, so there will be more to come!

I attended the Indie House Events launch at this beautiful venue. The parking is street parking so for bigger events I am unsure if they offer a different option but, I would opt for valet parking if you are having a wedding or classier affair. The grounds are gorgeous but, make sure you tell your guests to wear flats or shoes they can walk down stairs and across unpaved areas. The view at the bottom near the water is impeccable. I could see a beautiful wedding taking place here especially since they have a section for a ceremony with tiered seating for optimal views and picture taking options for all guests. I imagine that the area that we were in, which as water view access, would be great for a tented reception. I didn't see any bathroom options so, I can't comment on that but, overall this is a very beautiful venue with well manicured lawns that worked great for the event that I was at and I am sure it would for many others. It definitely has many photo op areas with lush greenery!

Steal a stroll and quiet moments here; wonderful place to reconnect and have conversation with someone special. Beautiful grounds with wonderfully curated thought-provoking sculptures all throughout . Only 10 minutes from the busy side of Austin's downtown. It is worthy of your $5 admission. Stay away from the marked areas with the poison ivy and recommend you were closed toed shoes and visit in the cool spring or fall. Perfect spot for special events-check website for fees and cost associated to do so.

Meh. I thought the tall metal man or alien looking sculpture that stares up into the sky was the best part of the whole thing. I thought a lot of the sculptures we saw had some dark undertones. Example: The crying abstract bunny fountain. Personally, I didn't like it. There were a handful of sculptures and exhibits were just too dark for my liking. It was a gloomy day with light rain during our visit and I'm sure that contributed to my first impression. On the bright side, my friend and I enjoyed walking the nature paths and found those to be quite peaceful. They had unique sculptures scattered about the thick (dare I say overgrown) trees. There are also signs for poison ivy all over to warn folks to stay on trail. My favorite part was walking down the staircase to walk the path that overlooks Lake Austin/Colorado River. Final Verdict: Our visit here was a quick in and out. We came... we saw.. we conquered.. we were underwhelmed. We quickly moved on to the beautiful botanical garden. Simply not my cup of tea. A-Ok for those who appreciate all sorts of art. The folks working here were also really great.

Not a at drive out of Austin. I would say if you're coming here you might also head to Mount Bonnell since they are very close to one another. This place has some really cool sculptures. It's a little small, but if you go exploring a bit you will be impressed. Take your time and go slow. Explore all around. I would also bring a sketch pad if I went back. The trees and shadows make it even cooler.

Maybe they have some nice artwork, if you can get inside. With only a several days in the city and these museums as one of the top two destinations for us, we planned our time around this museum's schedule because the downtown location was closed for renovation. We checked the online schedule and saw that fundraising events were being held on other days in the future but not for that day, so we planned our day around making it out to this location and skipped other opportunities to make it work. We showed up to a staff member saying that the museum was closed for a fundraising event and handing out free passes, saying that the museum will be open as usual the following day. Frustrating, but we changed our plans again to accommodate this because we really wanted to see it. The next day, we use what little time we have left to drive across town again and are greeted yet AGAIN by a staff member saying that the museum is closed to the public and handing out the free visit passes. Keep in mind that this is a weekend on spring break. Just ridiculous. An awful way to end the visit to Austin, and an awful impression of a first visit to Texas.

Having seen Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy, and the Huntington Gardens in San Marino, CA , AMOA-Laguna Gloria is a fair small-scale reproduction. The main building is a 1916 Italianate-style villa that was the home of Texas legend Clara Driscoll. The stroll through the 12-acre grounds overlooking Lake Austin can be lovely. It's a place you can propose to a girlfriend, take art classes, get married, take your teenage sibling visiting from out-of-town, see unique art work, meet up with your ex-boyfriend for some kind of resolution, spend a quiet afternoon to write your new story or sketch a few drawings - really, quite multipurpose. Suggested donation: $3 Parking: Free on the grounds or along 35th Street

I went to the Laguna Gloria this week with a friend. While we knew the grounds are gorgeous it was a real treat to experience them while listening Susurrus. Susurrus is a play that takes place in 8 somewhat brief parts. Each it played out at specific spot fitting to the "chapter." While it is a dark tale, the experience is unique and enjoyable and wow! Details can be found: http://www.thecontemporaryaustin.org I can't wait to go back! The other treat was seeing the current installations. One is called CURRENT and it is AWESOME! Check it out!

Laguna Gloria is a beautiful historic Italian Villa overlooking Lake Austin and the perfect place for a wedding reception or ceremony or wedding photos or fashion show. There are several other cottages on the property that I believe are for the art classes. For a large event there is very limited gravel parking - we parked in the paved lot next door for the country club. Many years ago when I owned a clothing store we rented LG for a fashion show along with Shiki and Avant. We had "people" handling the rental so not sure how much it was. The upstairs open room was big enough for all the models to get into their costumes without any privacy:) (the upstairs restrooms were clean and large enough for the shy types) and there was a table set up with all the booze you want (not sure who provided that) along with pizza courtesy of Mangia. There was lots of booze so my memory is foggy - just kidding I did not booze it up until my last model made the grand finale walk to "These boots were made for Walking" in her vintage bang bang western wear! The back terrace with beautiful fountain was the perfect runway for the models. After the show we lingered and drank booze on the beautiful terrace with twinkling lights. I am sitting here trying to remember everything and who paid for this event. Oh well it was an awesome night! and I would recommend this venue for most any event.

We arrived when the museum was closed but you're still allowed to walk the grounds and they are very nice. There's a lake and some sculptures scattered throughout. I particularly love the crying Miffy one. Parking is limited. Maybe next time we'll be able to go on a day when it is officially open.

Kinda just came across this place. I loved the different pieces and how beautiful the grounds were.

Beautiful, must see for austinites, and highly recommended for visitors also. I've only explored the grounds outside, I've never been inside the main building. There are so many unique sculptures and art installations outdoors, surrounding a small lake, it's a lovely little walk. Also be sure to check out the peacock park next door to Laguna Gloria.

Unlike many of the reviews here, my experience with Laguna Gloria was not when I exchanged my matrimonial vows. It was my kids who got me into Laguna Gloria. During summer, AMOA at Laguna Gloria hosts a diverse set of art classes. They are mostly 3 hours in length (half a day). The selections range from drawing, painting, cartooning, clay, tiles, to tie dyes. My daughter has taken various art classes there for three summers. She has come home with tons of art works, the kinds that make an artistically challenged parent like me feel proud! These classes do supplement the art classes at her school. We have been very happy with the variety of classes offered there and happy with the teachers and assistants. This year, AMOA had to cancel one class (Cartooning on Tiles) due to low enrollment, about one week before they're supposed to have the class. A feedback and a suggestion have been given to the staff that one week cancellation is just too short noticed. I could not find any replacement camps for my daughter in just one week, so she ended up staying at home. I was lucky enough to be able to stay at home with her. I presumed not all working parents have that flexibility. I hope they change their cancellation and enrollment process with us working parents in mind.