How Katy Trail Ice House Became Dallas’ Ultimate Beer Garden
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In this episode of Building Dallas, we sit down with Buddy Kramer — co-founder of the iconic Katy Trail Ice House — to uncover the wild origin story of one of Dallas' most beloved social landmarks. From nearly giving up on a risky 5-year lease to serving over 800 guests on day one, Buddy shares how a few picnic tables and an idea turned into a $350,000/week hospitality powerhouse. We dive into the expansion of the original Uptown Dallas location, the vision behind its tree-filled atmosphere, and what's next — including a massive mixed-use project in Allen, the Lucky Dog Saloon, and the upcoming Detroit-style pizza launch. Learn how real estate savvy, community focus, and atmosphere-first thinking turned a beer garden into a cultural cornerstone of North Texas.