Ronald McDonald House Central Texas has opened a new Family Kitchen and four additional guest rooms at its facility next to Dell Children's Medical Center in Mueller, growing the house from 30 to 34 rooms just as a newer sister location across town fills up almost as fast as it opened.
The renovation, which began in spring 2026, added a second-floor Family Kitchen with four cooking stations where families can prepare their own meals, according to Community Impact. The work also refreshed the shared dining room, restrooms and laundry rooms used by families staying at the house while their children receive treatment nearby.
Work on a first-floor commercial kitchen is expected to wrap up later in 2026, per the same report. The nonprofit has not disclosed how much the overall project cost.
A Rebrand to Match a Region-Wide Mission
Alongside the physical changes, the organization rebranded as Ronald McDonald House Central Texas. CEO Kristin Coulter said the new name and look reflect the growing number of families the nonprofit now serves across the region, the Community Impact report noted.
That growth is visible in North Austin. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas recently opened a second location near Texas Children's Hospital in North Austin, a 6,000-square-foot house with nine guest rooms, a full kitchen, family gathering spaces and a multipurpose community room, according to CBS Austin.
Already Full, With Dozens Still Waiting
That new North Austin house was already full within a few months of opening, Coulter told the station. The organization now carries an average waitlist of 25 to 35 families seeking a place to stay close to their hospitalized children, she said.
Beyond its two houses, the nonprofit also runs Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which give families respite space inside Central Texas hospitals, including kitchen access and other resources near their child's care, according to Ronald McDonald House Central Texas. Families may qualify for a Family Room stay if the patient is 21 or younger and receiving medically necessary care at the hospital, and there is no required cost to stay, though families may be asked for a suggested donation.
Earlier this year, Texas Children's Austin and the nonprofit announced the opening of the first in-hospital Ronald McDonald House in the Central Texas region, on March 30. That facility includes nine separate family suites, including one oversized suite for families facing more severe medical challenges, and provides a place to stay for families whose children are receiving treatment at Texas Children's Austin, according to a Texas Children's Hospital announcement.
More Expansion on the Horizon
The Mueller renovation is part of a broader push: the organization is also renovating its original house near Dell Children's Medical Center and hopes to break ground on another expansion in 2027, per the CBS Austin report. Similar growth has played out elsewhere in Texas, where a South Texas Ronald McDonald House expansion has brought larger suites and more space for families, according to KIII-TV.
For families hoping to pitch in, Meals from the Heart lets groups register by email to cook a meal for families staying at the house, and the program is currently scheduling holiday dates. The nonprofit also maintains an online wish list of pantry and household items for anyone looking to donate supplies directly.
