The Pig Stand

This wavy carport is actually the remnants of the old "Pig Stand" drive-in, just off South Congress and Live Oak. The first Pig Stand opened in Dallas in 1921 and was the country's first drive-in. Often referred to simply as "The Pig," the restaurant started the drive-in/carhop craze and some even credit it with creating Texas toast. During its heyday, the Dallas location spread to more than 120 locations across the nation, including Austin. Drive-ins eventually lost favor, though, and the locations closed, one by one, until the original location in Dallas finally shut its doors in 2006.

Until recently, an Italian restaurant called The Tree House Italian Grill stood on the Austin property. At a visit there once with my parents, they told me that they had eaten at The Pig back in the day. The Tree House Italian Grill is now closed. Here's hoping that whoever takes over the property leaves the carport in place.