Photo: Jennifer Morrow, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.The place
A three-story "cathedral" built from scraps in a private backyard.
The Cathedral of Junk is a folk art structure in the backyard of a private home in Austin's West Congress neighborhood. Its main body rises three stories, about 30 feet, and is estimated to weigh around 50 tons.
Work began in 1989, soon after the owner moved to Austin from Santa Fe. By 1994 it was already drawing media attention, with towers, connecting arches and a pulpit about 16 feet high. Reports in 2010 said the owner worked on it full-time and lived mostly on donations from visitors.
What happened here
A neighbor's complaint, a threat of demolition, and a deal.
In March 2010 a neighbor complained, and the city said the structure needed a certificate of occupancy and a building permit, and that the electrical wiring had to come out. The city warned that it could be bulldozed if the owner did not comply by the end of the month. After several extensions, the owner announced in June that he would take it apart, then changed his mind days later.
In November 2010 the two sides reached an agreement: the property was zoned single-family residential, and the structure could not grow taller or sit closer than five feet to the fence. Between 30% and 40% of it, an estimated 30 tons, was removed during the permitting process. The cathedral has appeared in the opening scene of Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and in several TV and online features.
Photos
The cathedral from several angles.
Looking up inside the Cathedral of Junk at ducts, hubcaps and street signs. Aleksandr Zykov from Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.A tire filled with concrete and set with small objects such as scissors, an iron and a horseshoe. Aleksandr Zykov from Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.Shelves and walls packed with salvaged objects, beads and figurines. Aleksandr Zykov from Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.A salvaged glass panel and figurines among the tangle of the Cathedral of Junk. Aleksandr Zykov from Russia, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sold by Viator. Prices and review counts checked on 09/09/2026. This tour covers weird sights around Austin. Check whether it stops at the Cathedral of Junk.
Questions people ask
Before you go.
What is the Cathedral of Junk?
A folk art structure in a private backyard in Austin, Texas. It rises three stories, about 30 feet, and is estimated to weigh around 50 tons.
Who built the Cathedral of Junk?
The owner of the home, who began building it in 1989 after moving to Austin from Santa Fe. By 2010 he was working on it full-time.
Did the city try to tear it down?
In 2010 the city said it needed permits and warned it could be bulldozed. After several extensions and a settlement in November 2010, it stayed, with the property zoned single-family residential and limits on its height and distance from the fence.
Has the Cathedral of Junk appeared on screen?
Yes. It was in the opening scene of Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and has been featured in TV shows and online videos.
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