Frank Meyer Mansion At 9111 South Post Oak Rd.

[theoriginalkj]

Do any of your guys have photos or info on what I have always known as the "old Meyer property" at the NE corner of 610 Loop South & S. Post Oak, right across the freeway from the MeyerPark retail property. I know there were some scenes from a movie shot at this location, there appears to be the old footprint of a home, and there is (or was) a small retail building at the SE corner of this property that used to be a gas station ( i think ). Anyone have any citable information about this property or any photos? HCAD.org doesn't describe it at all except for the northern edge next to the bayou as being HCFCD (Harris County Flood Control District) ownership.

Kevin Jackson

Moderator edit: 

The Frank K. Meyer residential property was located at 9111 South Post Oak Road in 1967.

In present-day 2022, the Harris County Flood Control District water retention pond has an address of 4502 South Loop.

[TexasFreeway.com]

Do any of your guys have photos or info on what I have always known as the "old Meyer property" at the NE corner of 610 Loop South & S. Post Oak, right across the freeway from the MeyerPark retail property. I know there were some scenes from a movie shot at this location, there appears to be the old footprint of a home, and there is (or was) a small retail building at the SE corner of this property that used to be a gas station ( i think ). Anyone have any citable information about this property or any photos? HCAD.org doesn't describe it at all except for the northern edge next to the bayou as being HCFCD (Harris County Flood Control District) ownership.

Kevin Jackson

I have explorer and photographed the property. The foundation of the house and garage are still there. the house was roughly the same shape as the old Astrohall. The was(is) a fish pond out side the front door (south side of the old house). The old pond mainly grows weeds, but is still full of water. The driveway still circles around through the property. The shower of the main bath had the old baby poop yellow tile on the foundation.

I plan to add a small section on TF on the property, because of its relation to IH-610. I will pull some of the photos from storage disk and post them.

[nm5k]

Hummmm, I can't believe I've never seen that place, being I'm

close by.. I'm kinda confused on the location though.. This sounds like a

good place to take my metal detector.. NE corner? Seems

that would be kind of near the old Fluor <sp>? building... I'm confused..

I would like to check it out though.. Maybe I saw it years ago,

but forgot about it.. I'd like to check it out.

MK

[TexasFreeway.com]

You are close. It is across Braes Bayou from the old Fluor building (now Aramco/condos).

It's bordered by Braes Bayou on the north, IH-610 on the west and south, and Willow Bayou on the east. The garage was still standing until the early '80's.

If you want to visit the original two gates face the west bound frontage road of IH-610.

[Original Timmy Chan's]

The property has severe floodplain issues, which is why is hasn't been developed.

The Meyers are open to developing it...I'm sure there will be a huge uproar when they do. I think most folks enjoy seeing the little bit of nature there as they fly around the Loop. It would be nice to see the property preserved in its undeveloped state.

Edited August 8, 2006 by Original Timmy Chan's

[TheNiche]

The property has severe floodplain issues, which is why is hasn't been developed.

The Meyers are open to developing it...I'm sure there will be a huge uproar when they do. I think most folks enjoy seeing the little bit of nature there as they fly around the Loop. It would be nice to see the property preserved in its undeveloped state.

After all, what better spot for a public park than underneath a freeway interchange?

[Original Timmy Chan's]

After all, what better spot for a public park than underneath a freeway interchange?

Actually, we've got a public parking lot under the interchange (Metro Park & Ride lot).

How do you think that corner of the Loop would look if the trees were replaced with another Wal-Mart, or another Meyerland Plaza?

I'd rather see the trees. Judging by the posts above, it sounds like maybe I'm the only one that ever notices those trees...

[TexasFreeway.com]

We don't all share that opinion. I enjoyed walking around the old property. I would to see it become a natural park.

[TheNiche]

Actually, we've got a public parking lot under the interchange (Metro Park & Ride lot).

How do you think that corner of the Loop would look if the trees were replaced with another Wal-Mart, or another Meyerland Plaza?

I'd rather see the trees. Judging by the posts above, it sounds like maybe I'm the only one that ever notices those trees...

By "under" I meant something more like "in the shadows of". The interchange does kind of loom over it.

I'd kind of prefer to see an apartment complex or an office building. Its not large enough and probably doesn't have adequate access for a big box retail store.

I pass by twice a day, myself. The trees are nice, but so are buildings.

[TexasFreeway.com]

We have plenty of other places to build on. How about tear down Meyerpark and put up a complex.

[musicman]

How about tear down Meyerpark and put up a complex.

speaking of ghetto......Meyer Park sure has gone downhill.

[TheNiche]

We have plenty of other places to build on. How about tear down Meyerpark and put up a complex.

Sure. We can do that too.

[Willowisp]

I can definitely see how this area would have flooding problems.

I may have to get over there and see it for myself.

Maybe it got torn down around the time of the 610 being built?

I live in this "ghetto" or "hood" or whatever - Willowbend. It seems odd to live in a ghetto when the houses in my neighborhood are all appraised in the $200K and up range and seem to be increasing every year. I know it would be nice to get rid of the apartments on S. Post Oak and down further in the Willow/Gasmer area, but I don't think I'm going to go set fire to them myself. How do we go about getting rid of an apartment complex? We don't own it, we can't shut it down.

What S. Post Oak seems to be to me is a thoroughfare for people and trucks (recycling and dumping ground is at S. Main & S. Post Oak). They don't live in the area and they either drive through it or bus through it and use the area then head home, so they don't care about it. So our area around S. Post Oak (Walmart, Foodarama, Pawn Shops, Popeyes, Hunter's Pub, Wheel Rims Shop, the new CiCi's Pizza, Payless Shoes, Check Cashing Place, Dollar Stores, Drive Through Car Wash, Junk Shops) seems to cater to that element, where Meyerland gets the more upscale type places - though they also have Marshall's and Ross, not exactly Saks!

It's a shame that nicer retail and restaurants don't come to our area, but understandable since Meyerland is right down the street. Look at me, I do all my grocery shopping at the Farmer's Market at 3000 Richmond and then go to the Kroger at Buffalo Speedway and then Whole Foods in Bellaire... I just don't like the produce at S. Post Oak Kroger, and I don't like the prices at Meyer Park Randall's. I'm as guilty as anyone for not supporting local business.

I used to work at Walmart (not the one here) and I think that Walmart has the same layout as the one I worked in 12 years ago! They usually update them better than that! I will never again set foot in our Walmart. I just act like it doesn't exist. Please do the same. Go to the Meyerland Target or wherever.

Sorry for the unrelated rambling. Hope you get those pics posted.

Jason

Do any of your guys have photos or info on what I have always known as the "old Meyer property" at the NE corner of 610 Loop South & S. Post Oak, right across the freeway from the MeyerPark retail property. I know there were some scenes from a movie shot at this location, there appears to be the old footprint of a home, and there is (or was) a small retail building at the SE corner of this property that used to be a gas station ( i think ). Anyone have any citable information about this property or any photos? HCAD.org doesn't describe it at all except for the northern edge next to the bayou as being HCFCD (Harris County Flood Control District) ownership.

Kevin Jackson

[Willowisp]

here's a great historical aerial Erik (the freeway guy) has of the 610. If you go to the bottom of it you can see a house surrounded by undeveloped land. Is this what you're talking about?

I also should mention a plug for a company that Erik told me about. They're called Positive Image (on Stella Link) and they have lots of these old aerials. I went over and ordered a great photo of Willowbend from 1958. It was a great history lesson and they were very nice people. They've lived in Willow Meadows for years.

Jason

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/histor...62_bellaire.jpg

[theoriginalkj]

here's a great historical aerial Erik (the freeway guy) has of the 610. If you go to the bottom of it you can see a house surrounded by undeveloped land. Is this what you're talking about?

I also should mention a plug for a company that Erik told me about. They're called Positive Image (on Stella Link) and they have lots of these old aerials. I went over and ordered a great photo of Willowbend from 1958. It was a great history lesson and they were very nice people. They've lived in Willow Meadows for years.

Jason

http://www.texasfreeway.com/Houston/histor...62_bellaire.jpg

Erik doesn't own or maintain texasfreeway.com, Ron Jackson does.

Kevin

[neuman]

Maybe it got torn down around the time of the 610 being built?

Having known Kenny Meyer from downtown, the story is, if I recall correctly, that his parents were the last to live in the house. When they moved out, it was vacant for while and they had plans to move the corporate offices there. While still vacant, it burned down, probably due to the homeless "accidentally" starting a fire.

[TexasFreeway.com]

Here are some photos of the old home place taken back in January of 2004.

http://www.texasfreeway.com/stock/MeyerHomePlace/

[TheNiche]

Do any of your guys have photos or info on what I have always known as the "old Meyer property" at the NE corner of 610 Loop South & S. Post Oak, right across the freeway from the MeyerPark retail property.

I drove by the property this weekend along the westbound 610 feeder on my way into the Bellaire area.

Survey stakes.

[50_year_native]

I remember this site as Roy Hofheinz home before he moved into the Astrodome, or that suite on top of the Astroworld Hotel. Whoever told me that might have been wrong, but I definitely heard it from someone, 30-40 years ago.

[enviromain]

Are you talking about George Meyers property? If so, is this separate from the 6000 acres he subdivided?

[50_year_native]

No, the property bounded by Bray's Bayou to the north, 610W-Northbound feeder to the west, 610S-Westbound feeder to the south and Willow WaterHole Creek to the east. As mentioned above, there was once a auto service station on the Westbound feeder that was apparently subdivided from the property. The service station has been demolished, I'm not sure about the foundation.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&a...mp;t=h&om=1

[Willowisp]

You have just convinced me to never set foot in there again.

I worked at Wal-Mart, so I feel exactly the same way - embarrassed - about our crappy Wal-Mart. I will never set foot in that store again either.

Don't know if their managers or regional managers will ever read this, but that's all for me...

I do like the Randall's, but only for "infill" like you said. Buffalo Speedway Kroger usually doesn't have much of a line, they have excellent selection, friendly associates, and reasonable prices.

Jason

I, too, usually drive seven miles to do my big grocery shopping at the Kroger on Buffalo Speedway. But I sometimes go to the one on South Post Oak for "infill" shopping. I just got back from that store, as a matter of fact, and I feel compelled to rant.

Why oh why is a store that is right next to Meyerland--a stone's throw away from $300+K homes--so frikkin' GHETTO?!? I agree that their produce, for the most part, is crap. Today, they had only FOUR kinds of apples. Four?!? When I checked out, I handed my surly, bored-looking cashier my coupons. She tried to scan the first one, rolled her eyes, then handed it back to me and said, "it don't scan." Argh! Look, I used to be a cashier at Kroger (not this one, thank goodness) and I know that not all coupons scan, even when they're valid--AS MINE WAS. I handed it back to her and dug through my bagged groceries to prove I'd bought the product in question, at which point she finally agreed to get an override. Then, when I unloaded my groceries into the car, I discovered that the bagger had put canned goods in with my produce. Yes, the produce is bad to begin with, but why make it worse?

Grrr. That store pisses me off. And, because I used to work at Kroger, it embarrasses me. It's almost always dirty, the produce is horrible, and most of the employees are indifferent at best. (To be fair, there are a few exceptions.)

The Randall's across the street is lovely, but its prices are too frikkin' high. Foodarama is clean but its selection is underwhelming. The HEB on S. Braeswood at Chimney Rock is miniscule and has an even smaller selection than Foodarama, its fine array of Kosher products notwithstanding. Belden's is nice, and their baguettes are the best kept secret in town, but their everyday prices are just as high as Safeway/Randall's.

THIS AREA DESPERATELY NEEDS A DECENT KROGER AND/OR HEB!!!

Thank you. I feel better for having vented.

[lokithebubba]

The entire area has been leveled. I don't know what they are putting up, but all the trees are gone now. It looks like they are grading roads in the property. Must be another set of overpriced houses right up against each other in a flood plain...

[ricco67]

I was wondering what was happening at that property.

If its going to be McMansions, then they're building it in an area where not only flooding would/will be an issue, but accessibility is going to be a royal pain. It would have been even worse if they were building an apartment complex, though.

Sucks to be whoever is going to move there unless they enjoy total isolation and lousy access to support businesses.

[missjanel]

It's my understanding from tonights Meyerland board meeting that this property was purchased by the city of Houston for construction of a detention pond. I believe that some of the land around the pond will be used as a park.

I was wondering what was happening at that property.

If its going to be McMansions, then they're building it in an area where not only flooding would/will be an issue, but accessibility is going to be a royal pain. It would have been even worse if they were building an apartment complex, though.

Sucks to be whoever is going to move there unless they enjoy total isolation and lousy access to support businesses.

[TheNiche]

It's my understanding from tonights Meyerland board meeting that this property was purchased by the city of Houston for construction of a detention pond. I believe that some of the land around the pond will be used as a park.

And such a serene park it will be.

[lokithebubba]

It's my understanding from tonights Meyerland board meeting that this property was purchased by the city of Houston for construction of a detention pond. I believe that some of the land around the pond will be used as a park.

Excellent news. I'd not seen that.

[Native Son]

First of all, are there any pictures of the old Meyer estate on Brasewood, just east of Post Oak? Secondly, does anyone know what is going up there?

[ToryGattis]

Are you talking about the new flood control drainage park by the westbound 610 loop feeder, across from the Metro park and ride?

[57Tbird]

This old thread discusses that property. Another reference in this thread.

[Native Son]

Are you talking about the new flood control drainage park by the westbound 610 loop feeder, across from the Metro park and ride?

Yep, that's it..thanks, cause I could not read that sign from the loop

[NenaE]

Do any of your guys have photos or info on what I have always known as the "old Meyer property" at the NE corner of 610 Loop South & S. Post Oak, right across the freeway from the MeyerPark retail property. I know there were some scenes from a movie shot at this location, there appears to be the old footprint of a home, and there is (or was) a small retail building at the SE corner of this property that used to be a gas station ( i think ). Anyone have any citable information about this property or any photos? HCAD.org doesn't describe it at all except for the northern edge next to the bayou as being HCFCD (Harris County Flood Control District) ownership.

Kevin Jackson

I've been looking at this house on the aerial maps, it was huge! Does anyone know what style it was? What did it look like? A friend of mine from work who grew up in Bellaire said it burned down, looks like in the 1980's, maybe.

Looks like it was built after early 1950's. Didn't realize until today that the front of the house faced north, back was to the freeway.

[Fringe]

I used to sneak around the property when I was a kid in the 60's. It wasn't far from where I lived. I stayed away from the house because it was said to be haunted. ( What abandoned property wasn't haunted when you were young?) I just liked the area because it was so woodsy, unlike anything else in the area.

[readam]

I used to sneak around the property when I was a kid in the 60's. It wasn't far from where I lived. I stayed away from the house because it was said to be haunted. ( What abandoned property wasn't haunted when you were young?) I just liked the area because it was so woodsy, unlike anything else in the area.

My dad worked for Hubert Lumber Co in town and they did a lot of work for Meyer. In fact I believe that Meyer and Krist Hubert and others began the MeyerLand subdivision. Since we had an open invitation, we went to the area often in the late 50s and early 60s to go fishing at the pond on the acreage (we called it "Meyer's Lake"). It was stocked with perch and other fish so for we small fry using cane poles it was a treat to catch "the whoppers". Meyer often held barbecues on the property for companies related to the construction business. Such a bucolic place before the urban sprawl.

[57Tbird]

Is this that property in the picture in this old thread? There appears to be a house at the bottom of the picture just south of Brays Bayou?

[Fringe]

Is this that property in the picture in this old thread? There appears to be a house at the bottom of the picture just south of Brays Bayou?

That's it. The picture shows my house just west of Post Oak and my good friends house just east of Cliffwood. To get to his house meant following Braes Bayou or cutting through the Meyer property.

Edited March 7, 2011 by Fringe

[NenaE]

I have never driven through the neighborhood you speak of, Fringe, though I've passed by it a million times.

GoogleEarth shows a house at 9015 Cliffwood Dr. with a very sunken front lawn. Looks like it was a naturally occuring ravine; they probably built the original house around it. Do you recall it? From viewing HCAD documents, seems that some of the houses on that street have had flood issues.

The original house at 9015 is gone, looks like a new build took it's place, with a bridged front walk. I'll have to drive by that one, and check it out.

I really like the design of the one next door, at 9011 Cliffwood Dr. Too bad it has flood issues.

[Fringe]

Meyerland went through a couple of major floods in the 70's and 80's. I'm pretty sure many of the homes in that neighborhood suffered , especially those closest to Braes Bayou.

[NenaE]

I noticed on the historic aerials (year 1957) & freeway map, above, that two roads led out of the Meyer estate. One is labeled Meyer Forest Dr., roughly where Meyer Park Blvd. is now.

The freeway map link photo shows what looks like a sandy or dirt road that led roughly to the neighborhood where the William Jenkins house sat, on Willowgrove St., before W. Bellfort was there.

The other road led out to S. Post Oak Rd. (before the freeway took over).

Edited March 15, 2011 by NenaE

[spiderroller]

The slab was still there about a year ago. We hit it with a metal detector and found a few very old coins. That pic from the other thread does not look like this property. There has never been new development on this old Meyer estate land. The dug it all up, filled it with water, and who knows what now.... it was supposed to be a park, but looks like nothing but a big water hole of sorts.

There are older threads out here with aerial views and lengthy discussions.

[NenaE]

In post # 32's photo, you can see on the left, towards the bottom, where a strip of vacant land is, between homes, that's where the freeway (loop 610) cut through the land. It curved around the top of the Meyer house and followed the S. Post Oak Road in the right bottom, crossing over the bayou.

I watched the property, in later years, in all phases of change, until it became a water holding tank. Att one time, it was a beautiful property with nice trees and grass. Too bad it ended up like that.

I never saw the house standing. It must have burned many years ago.

Edited March 21, 2011 by NenaE

[Reefmonkey]

I took a look on historicaerials.com, it looks like the house was built some time in the mid 50s and torn down in the mid to late 70s. Here is the timeline:

 

1953 - nothing there

(no aerials between 1953 and 1957)

1957 - house is there, looks complete

1973 - last aerial where house looks intact

(no aerials between 1973 and 1981)

1981  - it looks like it had been torn down and only the driveways and a pad remained

(no aerials between 1981 and 1995)

1995 -  the driveways and pad aren't distinguishable from the surrounding land, except for being clear of trees

2002 - the first color aerial, better resolution, some of the driveways and pad are visible

2004 - no significant change from 2002

2009 - current flood detention pond is in place and looks about 1/4 full of water. all aerials since show the site as it is now

[Highrise Tower]

I have found an official address for the Meyer property.  I was reading the newspaper The Bellaire & Southwestern Texan dated November 1, 1967 and came across an article containing the address.

Statement of ownership
(Act of Oct. 23, 1962; Section 4369, Title 39, United States Code.)

The Bellaire Texan is a weekly publication located at 6622 N. 6th Street (Royalton), Houston, Texas 77036 (Bellaire Post Oak 999, Zip Code 77401), both editorial and advertising. Publisher is John K. Gurwell, P.O. Box 999, Bellaire, Texas 77401; Editor is Kate Gurwell, P.O. Box 999, Bellaire, Texas 77401.

Owner is Texas Publishing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 999, Bellaire, Texas 77401. Stockholders owning one (1) or more percent of total stock are John K. Gurwell, 5118 Evergreen, Bellaire, Texas 77041-- Frank Meyer, 9111 S. Post Oak, Houston, Texas 77035.

The official project number for the Harris County Flood Control District is D500-08.

Here's a map of all the HCFCD projects in Meyerland.

Information on the Meyer property and the flood control project:

Meyer Storm water Detention Basin Mitigation Purchase: The District purchased 39-acre feet in the 17-acre Meyer Storm Water Detention Basin (D500-08) for $3 million from the City of Houston through an inter local agreement dated March 20, 2007. The detention facility is on Brays Bayou and is located northeast of Loop 610 and south of North Braeswood Blvd. Construction was completed in September 2009.

The current city address for the Flood Control District project is 4502 South Loop if anyone wants to look it up.  Here's a few pictures.

In a 2018 Google Street View picture, you can still see the gate and brick entry way.

Present-Day 2022 the gate was removed but the brick remains.  Possibly the only remnants left of the Meyer property?

Google Earth Desktop view.

 

[Cap-N- Red]

On 3/5/2011 at 3:35 PM, readam said:

My dad worked for Hubert Lumber Co in town and they did a lot of work for Meyer. In fact I believe that Meyer and Krist Hubert and others began the MeyerLand subdivision. Since we had an open invitation, we went to the area often in the late 50s and early 60s to go fishing at the pond on the acreage (we called it "Meyer's Lake"). It was stocked with perch and other fish so for we small fry using cane poles it was a treat to catch "the whoppers". Meyer often held barbecues on the property for companies related to the construction business. Such a bucolic place before the urban sprawl.

Krist Hubert held many Stag Party’s at that location. They were mainly for the owners of businesses that did business with his lumber company. I watched some big pot poker games there after enjoying the Barbecue and beer. A couple of local politicians including Squaty Lyons played in those high stake games. This was in the early ‘60’s.