Mayfield-Gutsch Estate
Also known as: Mayfield Park
Why it's listed
Mayfield-Gutsch Estate, now Mayfield Park, occupies 23 hilly acres overlooking the Colorado River in Austin. Politician Allison Mayfield bought the property in 1909 and used an existing dwelling as a summer home. His daughter Mary Mayfield Gutsch, her husband Milton, and gardener Esteban Arredondo then built a showcase garden during the 1920s and 1930s. A two-acre garden enclosed by limestone walls surrounds a board-and-batten cottage with Craftsman details such as a cobblestone chimney and pergola. Inside the walls are a rose garden, rock garden, herbaceous beds, lily ponds, a dovecote and an overlook, while the wooded land below was left natural. The garden combines Romantic, Neoclassical and Arts and Crafts ideas in an individual way. Mary Gutsch left the property to the City of Austin as a public park, and restoration began in 1988. It was listed for its landscape architecture, with a period of significance of 1922 to 1940.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the estate is an excellent example of the modest suburban properties built in the hills around Austin in the early 20th century, with a garden that reflects landscape design trends of the period. The Gutsches blended Romantic, Neoclassical and Arts and Crafts ideas in an idiosyncratic way, using native stone and plants. It is considered significant at the local level in landscape architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94001159, listed September 29, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3505 W. 35th St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | September 29, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94001159 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1922-1940 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now operated as a public park; the house and gardens have been under restoration since 1988. |
| Acreage | 23.3 |
| Coordinates | 30.31449, -97.76983 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94001159.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6797162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.