The picture below was taken on my birthday (August 20) two years ago. My wife and I enjoyed a few Tecates and an amazing sunset on a deck at the Oasis. Per tradition, when the waitress rung the bell, the overflowing crowd stood and applauded the final moments of the spectacle.
Yesterday morning, a predawn fire ripped through the sprawling cliffside restaurant on Lake Travis.
We love the Oasis. Sure the food is only so-so good. And stupid-overpriced for what they’re serving. But, you don’t really go to the Oasis for the food. You go to the Oasis to sit out on one of the 40 cliff-hanging decks that overlook Lake Travis from several hundred feet above the green water.
But most of all you went for the sunsets.
Hailed as one of Texas’ top 10 tourist attractions, the Oasis drew an average of a million customers annually from all 50 states and several other countries. Theriot said he has seen people wearing Oasis T-shirts while traveling in Mexico City, Bangkok and Paris.
The restaurant hosted weddings, receptions and countless company parties. It also featured Sunday night salsa dancing and live music. Theriot likened it to a cruise-ship atmosphere.
The owner, Beau Theriot, said he will rebuild. Until then, nearly 280 employees will have to look for another job.
Nice to see who you are Robbie, as well as Mrs. Robbie. I was in Austin a couple of years ago and if I had known the Oasis was there, I definitely would have gone…alas. Glad you enjoyed yourselves, but Austin is a neat city with a lot of great restaurants that serve good steaks..almost as good as Kansas…haha
Oddly enough, I don’t think Austin is a very good ’steak’ city. Now, Houston, on the otherhand, is home of the best steak houses on the planet.