AUSTIN, Texas — The owner of a beloved Austin business provided a positive update on its future Wednesday.
Margaret Dismukes Massad, the owner of Peter Pan Mini-Golf, said the course has extended its lease end date to Sept. 30, 2024.
KVUE reported back in August that the 75-year-old golf course has a lease with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). TJJD acts as a trustee for the trust that controls the land, with the owners of Peter Pan Mini-Golf renting out the property.
That lease was initially set to end on March 31, 2024. In August, Dismukes Massad – whose father started the business alongside his brothers in 1948 – and her husband, Julio Massad, said they were prepared to come to an agreement about the lease and keep the business in the family.
In September, KVUE reported that a petition had been launched in an effort to preserve Peter Pan Mini-Golf, with organizers hoping to make the business a historic landmark. Dismukes Massad and her husband also spoke before the Historic Landmark Commission, highlighting their efforts to keep the business where it is and noting the outpouring of community support.
Now Dismukes Massad said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has helped the business facilitate a 6-month lease extension with the TJJD. Instead of March 31, the golf course's lease has been extended to Sept. 30.
In her post on Wednesday, Dismukes Massad thanked the TJJD for processing the amendment and said once the department appoints a new trustee, she and her husband hope to work toward a new, multi-year lease.
Dismukes Massad also thanked Watson directly for his help and thanked the community for its support.
"We appreciate the well wishes and show of support expressed by our wonderful fans," Dismukes Massad wrote. "We are humbled by the affection for Peter Pan Mini Golf. Our sincere and heartfelt thank you!"
In a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, Watson said he will work with the business on a long-term solution. In the posts, Watson said:
"Peter Pan is an important piece of Austin, and I was happy to help them work with the state officials to get some certainty, at least for now, with their lease And we intend to continue that conversation in the hope of getting a long-term solution for Peter Pan.
We try to help every constituent who reaches out with an issue to get them to the right people or explaining a process or simply getting a status update on the project. I’m really pleased we could help achieve this positive result.
I want to thank @TexasJJD for working w/ us to find a solution for the immediate future. While TJDD works through the process of designating a new trustee, we will continue to work Peter Pan &, once a new appointee is designated, work to find a solution on a long-term lease."