The Train, The Widows, and the Town That Almost Vanished: Why Our Cabooses Matter
Every great town has a creation myth. Buda’s story is one of a whispered plea, a forgotten name, and the unstoppable force of the International–Great Northern (I-GN) railroad.
Our journey, and the story of The Roundabout, begins here—on a strip of land that was specifically platted for the train.
The Town That Began with a Whisper: “Do, Pray, Give Us a Depot.”
In 1880, the rail line was punching through Hays County. Near the existing community of Mountain City, a savvy landowner, Cornelia Trimble, platted a new townsite in 1881. She literally built the town around the train, reserving a massive 150-foot strip for the railroad’s depot and businesses.
But the name wasn’t Buda. It was Du Pre.
The story behind this name is pure local legend: As the railroad official was scouting the area, Mountain City’s postmaster is said to have approached him with a heartfelt request: “Do, pray, give us a depot.”
That desperate, humble plea for connection and commerce morphed into “Du Pre”—and the name stuck.
- Under the name Du Pre, the town flourished, becoming a critical service hub and a popular rest stop between Austin and San Antonio. The rail depot drove everything.
From Du Pre to Buda: The Widows’ Legacy
The name “Du Pre” lasted only six years. By 1887, postal authorities needed a change to avoid confusion with another Texas town. The new name they settled on? Buda.
The most beloved and enduring explanation is that “Buda” is a nod to the Spanish word Viuda (widow). Local tradition says two widows cooked for travelers at the popular Carrington Hotel (sometimes called the “Buda House”).
Whether it was a whispered plea or an honor to the hotel’s cooks, the sequence is clear:
- 1881: Born as the rail-driven town of Du Pre.
- 1887: Renamed Buda and cemented its reputation as a booming rail stop.
- Today: The legacy endures, connecting our past to The Roundabout’s future.
Full Circle: The Rail Story Anchors Our Future
For decades, Buda was defined by the train. Even after the depot was taken out of service in 1961 and removed from the town in the early 1980s, the history never truly left.
Today, that vibrant Du Pre/Buda rail heritage is coming home in two extraordinary ways:
- The Historic Depot Returns Downtown: The original depot building—long gone from the tracks—is being restored by the City and EDC as a historical anchor right near the active rail line, celebrating Buda’s origin story.
- Historic Cabooses Arrive at The Roundabout: We are thrilled to announce that we have secured three vintage cabooses from the same private collector who preserved the depot!
These aren’t just artifacts; they are massive pieces of our town’s DNA. Estimated to be from the early 1900s, these cabooses are scheduled for delivery to The Roundabout site in December 2025.
At The Roundabout, we aren’t just putting them on display. We are giving them new life—creatively repurposing them as a focal point for our gathering spot. They will provide story, shade, and undeniable character to a project designed entirely around community use.
The town that began with the humble plea, “Do, pray, give us a depot,” is now celebrating its rail roots by connecting the past to the present:
- The historic Depot anchors Downtown Buda.
- The historic Cabooses will anchor community life at The Roundabout in West Buda.
They link the original rail-side town of Du Pre directly to the modern City of Buda and to the vibrant, next chapter we are building together.