Former Hostess House manager urges Lampasas to restore grounds, allow events

Kathy Baxer addressed the council during public comment to recount her 18 years managing the Hostess House and tea room for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and to urge the city to restore and better maintain the historic property. “For those of you that do not know me, I am Kathy Baxer,” she told the council, noting she opened her tea room in January 1998 and that the House once supported a variety of rentals, fundraisers and recurring weekly events.

Baxer described operational details she managed — renting the lower floor for events, handling alcohol permits through the police department when required, arranging security proportional to event size, weekly cleaning and grounds care, and catering many functions. She said the property once drew ballroom-dancing crowds, class reunions and up to 50–80 daily guests during peak operations.

She criticized current physical conditions and urged restoration: the lawn needs new soil and grass, the building needs improved upstairs lighting and the flooring showed deterioration in places. She said the Daughters of the Republic of Texas tried to install a sprinkler system years ago and that the property remains a visible historic anchor for the downtown. “Let's please get back that gorgeous look and be proud of this historic house,” she said.

Baxer told council she would reopen the Green Frog Tea Room “in a New York minute” if the city permitted it and offered to serve as a booking agent. Councilors asked about past operational logistics (conflicting simultaneous events on two floors and how security and restrooms were handled); she replied that events were managed without conflict and that security guards helped with cleanup when needed. The public comment concluded with the speaker thanking the council; staff did not record further action tied directly to the comment during the meeting.