Texas Man Builds $61,000 Backyard Pub

Stephen Hutyra, a program analyst living in West, Texas, has completed a five-year project to build a private pub in his backyard. The project, named The Thirsty Goat, cost approximately $61,500 to complete. Hutyra, 42, was inspired to build the pub after spending three years in England with the Navy, where he developed a love for local pub culture.

The construction process involved a mix of professional contracting and personal labor. Hutyra secured a $44,320 bank loan in July 2023 to begin the build. While a contractor handled the foundation, framing, and roof, Hutyra worked alongside his father and son to install the ceilings, paint the walls, and build the bar. The pub officially finished renovations in August 2025 and now serves as a hub for family gatherings.

The idea for the backyard pub originated in November 2020 when Hutyra was scrolling through Facebook. He saw a post featuring a couple in England who had built a small pub in their backyard. Hutyra, who had been stationed in the seaside town of Newquay after joining the Navy right after high school, immediately felt nostalgic for the social atmosphere he had experienced there.

"I fell in love with all the pubs, and walking down the street to hang out with both Navy and local friends I'd made," Hutyra said. "I'd really missed that part of my life."

Driven by the Texas saying that "everything is bigger and better," Hutyra decided to create a larger version of the inspiration he saw online. He immediately began creating floor plans and a PowerPoint presentation using ideas gathered from Facebook, Pinterest, and Google. Despite not having a structure yet, he started purchasing furniture on Facebook Marketplace and decor on Amazon.

Although the idea formed in 2020, the physical work did not begin until July 2023. Hutyra secured a $44,320 loan from a bank to fund the construction. A month later, in August 2023, a contractor broke ground on the site. The construction team was responsible for the heavy lifting, including running water and electricity lines, creating the concrete base, and building the shell and roof.

Hutyra had initially estimated the total cost would be around $30,000, but he quickly realized this was a "lowball" figure. The final cost for materials, labor, and decoration reached approximately $61,500. By November 2023, the contractors had finished their portion of the work.

The remaining tasks were completed by Hutyra with the help of his family:

• Installing ceilings and painting walls
• Staining wood and adding shelving
• Constructing the bar

By August 2025, the renovations were fully complete.

The interior of the pub is designed to resemble a "Hallmark movie" scene, featuring a dark-wood bar, string-light decor, and matching stools. The space includes televisions, framed photos, and a chalkboard listing available drinks. Even the bathroom is fully themed with dark-wood paneling and decor. Hutyra noted that the most difficult part of the construction was building the bar itself, requiring precise cuts and leveling.

The pub's name, The Thirsty Goat, holds significant meaning regarding Hutyra's military background. He has served in the Navy for 24 years and is currently a chief petty officer. The name references the Navy's history; goats were historically kept on ships for meat and milk, and the area where they were kept was called the "Goat Locker." Today, the term refers to the chief's quarters.

The pub also features strong family ties. Hutyra salvaged wood from a nearby homestead barn that was built by his great-great-great-grandfather around 1880. He and his father used floorboards from the hayloft to build the bar top. Additionally, a jar from 1903 that belonged to his great-grandmother sits on the bar as a tip jar.

Stephen Hutyra's transformation of his backyard demonstrates a commitment to recreating personal history and creating a space for community. By combining his experience in the Navy with his family's carpentry skills, he successfully built a venue that honors his ancestors and serves his current social needs. The Thirsty Goat now stands as a permanent fixture for his family's holiday gatherings and weekend celebrations.