Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion: The Grimes Family’s Alamo-Style Oven in Texas
A brick front inspired by the Alamo, a Texas star seal, mini cannons, horseshoes and a homemade “Come and Bake It” sign, all under a big pavilion roof with a grill counter and a fire pit.
- Built By
- The Grimes Family
- Location
- Texas
- Oven Style
- Castable Refractory Dome
- Photos & Videos
- 15 Photos
- Homeowner Review
- ★★★★★
Build Time-Lapse
Watch This Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion Oven Come Together
From a stucco dome on a limestone base to an Alamo-style oven with a fire roaring, in about 38 seconds. Press play, or grab the slider and scrub through the build yourself.
The Grimes family built their 28" Mattone Cupola in the corner of a covered outdoor kitchen pavilion in Texas. Once the brick front went up, they thought it looked like the Alamo, so they went all in on the theme. Here is how it came together, photo by photo.
Step 1 of 5
A Stucco Dome on a Limestone Base
The 28" Mattone Cupola is a castable refractory dome. The family set it on a white limestone base with a brick-edged hearth, covered the dome in smooth stucco, and started building a brick front around the opening.
Step 2 of 5
An Alamo-Style Brick Front
The brick front rises into a stepped top over the arched opening, with a Texas star seal at the center. The open base below holds the firewood.
“We thought it looked like the Alamo so we went with that theme.”
The Grimes Family
Step 3 of 5
Stars, Horseshoes, Cannons and a Sign
Then came the Texas touches: metal stars on the brick and the limestone, horseshoes along the hearth, a pair of mini cannons on top, and a homemade sign over the seal.
“We have Texas horseshoes, stars, cannons and even a homemade sign that says ‘Come and Bake It!’”
The Grimes Family
Hover over the dots (or tap them on your phone) to see what makes this Alamo-style oven one of a kind.
- Chimney CapThe chimney rises through the top of the brick front.
- Mini CannonsA pair of cannons guards each side of the top.
- Texas Star SealThe centerpiece of the Alamo-style front.
- Metal StarsStars set into the brick on both sides of the arch.
- Castable Refractory DomeThe 28" Mattone Cupola sits behind the brick front.
- Texas HorseshoesHung along the white hearth edge.
Step 4 of 5
Pizza Night
With the coals glowing, the pizzas go in on a wooden peel and get turned with a metal one. The Cupola bakes faster than the size of its firebrick cooking surface suggests, because castable refractory holds heat and the ceiling is low.
Step 5 of 5
The Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion
The oven is one corner of a full outdoor kitchen pavilion: a metal roof, a stone grill counter, a round fire pit and plenty of seating, with a star set into the stained floor. The family dog approves.
BeforeFinished
Drag across the photo (or just move your mouse) to go from a stucco dome on a limestone base to the finished Alamo-style oven.
Good Questions
Outdoor Kitchen Pavilion FAQ
What is an outdoor kitchen pavilion?
A covered, open-sided structure that holds your outdoor cooking in one place: an oven, a grill, counters and seating, all under one roof. The Grimes family pavilion has a metal roof, a stone grill counter, a round fire pit and this Alamo-style oven in the corner.
Can you build a pizza oven inside a covered pavilion?
Yes. The Grimes oven sits under the pavilion roof, so they can bake rain or shine. Give the chimney plenty of clearance from the roof and follow your local fire codes. Our FREE plans cover the chimney and hearth details.
Which BrickWood oven did the Grimes family build?
The 28" Mattone Cupola, a castable refractory dome cast from 14 bags of castable refractory. It feeds 1 to 20 guests, and it bakes faster than the size of its firebrick cooking surface suggests because castable refractory holds heat and the ceiling is low.
Can I give my oven a custom brick front like this one?
Yes. Every BrickWood oven gets insulation and a stucco shell, and from there the finish is up to you. The Grimes family built a brick front around the opening and finished it with Texas stars, horseshoes and mini cannons. Browse more finishes in our customer photo gallery.
How long do you cure a new pizza oven?
Plan on about a week of small, gradually bigger fires to drive the moisture out. Skip it and the oven can crack. See our pizza oven curing guide for the full schedule.
In Their Own Words
The Grimes Family · Texas★★★★★
We added some decorative touches for our Texas style pizza oven. We thought it looked like the Alamo so we went with that theme. We have Texas horseshoes, stars, cannons and even a homemade sign that says “Come and Bake It!”
Your Turn
Build Your Own Backyard Showpiece
The Grimes family turned a 28" Mattone Cupola into the heart of their outdoor kitchen. Every one starts with the same kit and plans. Start with our free plans and materials list, then finish it your way. Ready to start? See 28" Mattone Cupola · Package 1, or compare all of our pizza oven kits.
