Steaming on the Coast: The Mystery of Galveston's Kettle House

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The Kettle House Galveston Texas

A teapot that survived Ike: Galveston's most resilient resident.

The Backstory

In the West End of Galveston, standing out among the traditional stilted beach houses, sits a giant rusted iron tea kettle. Built in the 1960s, the Kettle House was originally intended to be a storage tank for an oil company, but a local craftsman saw something else in the steel.

He bought the tank, cut out windows, added a wooden "handle" on top, and a "spout" on the side. For decades, it sat abandoned, a mysterious landmark for locals and beachgoers alike. Despite being made of heavy iron, it became a symbol of Galveston's quirky spirit.

📍 At a Glance

  • Location: Mirada Road, Galveston, TX
  • Survival: It has survived every major hurricane, including Hurricane Ike, without moving an inch.
  • Current Status: It was recently renovated and is now a high-end short-term rental!

Built to Last

What makes the Kettle House a true backroads legend is its resilience. While the wooden houses around it have been rebuilt many times over due to coastal storms, the Kettle House remains. The spherical shape and heavy iron walls make it nearly aerodynamic in high winds. In 2017, a team from HGTV even stepped in to restore the interior, proving that you can turn a teapot into a home.

Our Pro-Tip

The house is located on Mirada Road, just off FM 3005. It is a private residence (rental), so be respectful—take your photos from the street. If you visit in the late afternoon, the setting sun hits the rusted iron and makes the "kettle" glow like it’s actually heating up for tea.

One man's tank is another man's teapot. See you at the coast!

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