Often met with resistance, the LCRA says their objective is not to make money, or to bar homeowners from using lake water to water their lawns or use inside the home. Rather, the LCRA uses these records to monitor water use and plan in times of drought and to keep open the lines of communication between residents and the LCRA. Says Mark Jordan of River Management: “It is a common misconception that lakeside residents have a right to take and use water from the lake. This is not true. Residents are required to have contracts with LCRA to take water that LCRA has stored in the Highland Lakes. These contracts help us manage and account for water use to meet existing and future water demands.”

Lake Buchanan

The LCRA is attempting to make this easier and understandable with public awareness campaigns and an option to apply online. More information and a copy of the application are available here. The lakes involved in this contract are Lake Buchanan, Lake Inks, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis and Lake Austin.  Town Lake/Lady Bird Lake is not included (it is monitored separately by the City of Austin, not the LCRA, and not technically one of the Highland Lakes). A contract lasts for three years, and is a firm contract (meaning water will be reserved even in severe drought). Those who don’t sign a contract and take water may be subject to civil or criminal charges.

Pictured: Lake Buchanan from the Lake Buchanan Estate

Miller Creek Ranch

Yesterday, snow fell all over central Texas, turning wooded creeks and ranches into beautiful winter vistas. Rare but not unheard of through this area, the last significant snowfall was on Valentine’s Day in 2004. Yesterday, the hill country got two inches, with Austin getting closer to one inch and parts of Williamson county, north of Austin, receiving three inches.  

Miller Creek

The Miller Creek Ranch is a luxurious 4,950 square foot custom home on 68 acres of hill country in Johnson City. Already a stunning property featuring 800 feet of both sides of dammed Miller Creek, winter snow reveals a whole new side of this beautiful ranch. You could imagine relaxing in the six person spa overlooking the creek, soaking in the large jacuzzi tub looking out the window, or by one of the stone fireplaces watching the snow fall.  You can’t help but enjoy the views that this ranch has to offer.

Lake Buchanan View

This distinctive lakefront estate home on Lake Buchanan has huge waterfront views and 800 feet of shoreline, making it one of the most spectacular waterfront properties on the lake.

Sitting on 7.15 manicured acres, the 8,900 square foot main home includes cathedral ceilings, hand scraped wood floors and state-of-the-art features. Along with Lutron lighting, a whole home sound and security system, the home has an elevator running from the sub floor to second floor.

Front of Estate

Inside the gourmet kitchen are granite counters, a beautiful breakfast bar, a center island, high end appliances, and a pantry with a secret passage to the upstairs bedroom. A separate breakfast area has big windows with those stunning lake views.

The family room features a gas fireplace, built in surround and lake views from the wall of windows. The main floor balcony has a full outdoor kitchen, dining area and wood burning fireplace. The formal dining room has wood floors and entrance to covered balcony.

Deck View

A library features a gas fireplace and built-ins, and the study attached to the library has built-ins and a secret passage to the master suite. The master suite features a gas fireplace, built-ins, and doors to a private balcony with a stone wood burning fireplace. The well-appointed master bath has a walk-in shower, his-and-hers vanities and a garden tub with fantastic lake views. The master suite also features a walk-through closet, separate utility room and separate hobby room or living area.

A second bedroom suite features a living area, built-in study, sitting area and bath with garden tub and separate shower. A third bedroom also includes an en-suite bath.

The media room is wired for projector and surround system. The big game room includes wet bar, and a covered patio outside the game room with fireplace. Other features of the house include a climate controlled stone wine room, mirrored exercise room with damage resistant rubber floors, and separate entry guest apartment with kitchen and full bath.

Back of Home

Three levels of balconies, each with fireplace, offer big views of the lake and pool, with a two story waterslide. Stone decking and pergola surround the pool, waterslide and spa. There are also big lake views from the separate artist’s studio with full bath and screened in porch.

The property also includes an air-conditioned workshop with nine foot bay doors, half bath and big work area. A separate stone home includes a living room with fireplace, big kitchen, utility rooms, and two bedrooms each with en-suite bath. The manicured grounds feature wooded riding trails, mature pines and oaks, and several gardens, with an easy walk to the Lake Buchanan shoreline with main body and cove frontage.

You can take a tour right now of this amazing property.

Double Horn Ranch

Every year in August, for three days the 611 acre lake is home to Lakefest, a quarter mile liquid racetrack for drag boats. Fans enjoy the festivities on shore and the exciting show in the water.

The whole Marble Falls area has some of the most beautiful land and houses to call home, in all of Texas. The Double Horn Ranch is 305 acres of unparalleled waterfront land on the Double Horn Creek for an amazing price. One look at the pictures and you see why this area has its great reputation.

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

For the past 10 years, the Trust has named these cities that “offer an authentic visitor experience by combining dynamic downtowns, cultural diversity, attractive architecture, cultural landscapes and a strong commitment to historic preservation, sustainability and revitalization.”

Bastrop, Texas was nominated for its thriving but charming downtown and main street, filled with homes and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries, one of a kind restaurants and shopping, and two state parks. Despite being just 30 miles from Austin, Bastrop has kept its charm and is considered one of the most historic towns in Texas.

The history of Bastrop dates back to 1804, when a fort was established at the Colorado River crossing. In 1823, the Dutch businessman Baron de Bastrop received permission from the Spanish government to develop a German colony at the site, which failed. In 1827, Stephen F. Austin located a small colony of 100 families to the site and named it after his longtime friend. The town was incorporated in 1837, with 1839 as the year the city of Austin was named capital of Texas.  

For the next century, Bastrop provided Austin with lumber and other industry, and was the site of Camp Swift during World War II. In 1947, Bastrop held a homecoming celebration and rodeo for WWII soldiers, a tradition they’ve continued every year. Starting in the 1980s, Bastrop saw a revival as Austin grew and land values soared.

Even now, Bastrop is a great place to live, close enough but still away from the Austin city life, with its own unique charm. This McDade horse ranch has a beautiful 6,800 sq ft custom home on 51 private acres and many equestrian amenities. It is 30 minutes from Austin, and minutes from Bastrop and Bastrop State Park. The ranch provides phenomenal views of the surrounding hill country with beautiful pastures and sandy loam soil.

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Dizzy Rooster Ranch

Dizzy Rooster Ranch

Acres: 56.7 Acres

Location: Lampasas County approximately 10 miles northwest of downtown Lampasas and 5 miles from downtown Lometa on paved CR 2080.

House

Description: The Dizzy Rooster Ranch is a one of a kind, must-see Equestrian and Hunting Ranch. Custom gated entrance with crushed granite road, mature oak and pecan trees, and hill country views. The 1500+ square foot, architecturally unique house comes fully furnished. All improvements were made in late 2008-2009.

There is a 60X50 all steel building/pole barn with 4 large horse stalls, a work shop, garage with concrete slab and 2500 gallon water storage, as well as a carport big enough for 3 trucks. The arena is 200X150 and has light poles as well as a 12X8 custom steel press box. There is also a round horse pen. The front 16 acres is fenced with lock tight wire as well as cross fenced near the house with steel pipe fencing.

Creek

Just below the house is the beautiful spring-fed Barkley Creek. The dam holds about 6 feet of water during normal rainfall years. There is also a 1+/- acre pond that is stocked with large mouth bass, hybrid perch, channel catfish and bluegill. At the pond there is a skeet range for practice shooting. The ranch has had extensive cedar clearing yet the owner has left many trees for wildlife cover. There are also 3 deer blinds and 3 deer feeders.

Wildlife: White Tail Deer, Turkey, Hogs, Fox, Quail, Dove, Coyotes, Beaver, Hawks and some free roaming Exotics. Fish in creek and pond.

Ranch Living

Water: One well with a 2500 gallon storage tank, filter and water softener. Barkley Creek and Pond.

Improvements: House, Barn, Arena, Press Box, Pond, Pipe Fencing, Perimeter and Cross Fencing, Custom Entrance with Electric Gate, Crushed Granite Road, Deer Blinds, Feeders.

Minerals: Exact mineral conveyance to be determined at time of new title commitment.

See the Listing or Virtual Tour for more!

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Lake Travis

The next westernmost lake from Lake Austin is Lake Travis. Created when the Mansfield Dam was finished in 1941, Lake Travis has the most notoriety in the greater Austin area as a recreational destination spot. Lake Travis is a spot for beautiful restaurants and campsites, popular for marinas and watercraft, and waterfront homes are consistently in demand. 

Lake Travis is fed by both the Colorado River (as with all the highland lakes) and the Pedernales River, which flows into the southwestern portion of the lake. It is known as one of the clearest lakes in Texas, with its beautiful aquamarine tint to the water. Lake Travis serves as not only the primary flood control reservoir of the chain, but also a major source of drinking water for Austinites.

View from Rancho Estacia

The bluffs of Lake Travis provide unparallelled views, and often privacy, in any Hill Country properties. Rivercliff and Rancho Estacia are both stunning waterfront estates on the Pedernales arm, each offering opportunities to own horses and land on this beautiful lake. Another property we just recently profiled, The Falls, is 315 stunning acres on a private cove of Lake Travis.

Part One: Lake Austin

Miller Creek

Just listed: beautiful 4,950 Sq. Ft. custom home on 68 acres in Texas Hill Country. Sits on 800 ft on both sides of Miller Creek.

Home Features:

• Stone entry with custom wrought iron door & wood beam ceiling
• Full Commercial Thermador kitchen – 6 burner oven with griddle, 3 ovens, built-in microwave, ice maker, dishwasher, trash compactor, built-in refrigerator and freezer – All appliances have wood fronts to match cabinets. Kitchen also features Custom Beveled granite countertops, extra large island with breakfast bar, attached breakfast room, large walk-in pantry.
• Breakfast Room with buffet, shelves, built in TV, wall of mirrors and large stone fireplace. Formal Dining Room with Wall of windows overlooking creek, Solid wood beam and stained wood ceiling, Stone walls with arched passages. Wet Bar with Stainless steel sink, Wine fridge, built in cabinets and stone walls.
• Great Room with Huge masonry fireplace, Large stained wooden trusses with custom ironwork – 100% wood ceiling, Full glass wall overlooking pool and creek
• Master Bedroom with stone fireplace, wall of windows overlooking pool & creek, Built-in computer desk, bookcases, TV, His and Hers entrance into Bath/Dressing areas. Master bath with his & hers walk-in closets, Walk-in natural stone shower, rock walls with arches, Large Jacuzzi tub, Stone entrance to Exercise area, Vaulted ceiling with wood beams, Separate water closet.
• Exercise Room with Large windows overlooking creek, Wood wainscot, Mirrored wall, Music/TV. Utility Room with Sink, Built-in cabinets, Freezer area. Game/Media Room with 100% stain wood stairway, Wrought iron handrails, Walk-in closet, Built-in Desks, Built-in Entertainment Center, View of creek.
• Detached 4 Car Garage with Attached Breezeway to House

Miller Creek

Exterior Features:

• Stone entry gate with communal gate operations, Intercom to house, 8 foot custom iron gates.
• Stone lined custom heated pool with pebble tech plaster, 6 person Hot Tub overlooking creek. Lighted stone walkway to creek. Flagstone deck around pool.
• Large flagstone terrace the entire length of house with Built-in TV and stainless steel gas BBQ Pit on terrace overlooking creek.
• Large (20 ft x 18 ft) BBQ Cabana with Full kitchen, TV & custom Commercial wood Burning BBQ pit
• Bath with outdoor shower, Large fire pit with built-in rock seats, Wrought iron fencing around fully landscaped yard.
• Approx. 3 acres of house, pasture is irrigated. Fenced horse pasture and antique windmill. 2×2, “no climb” fenced horse pasture. All fencing is new or excellent condition.
• 3 stall stable with 2nd floor office/gameroom. Tack and feed Barn, Hay barn, fenced paddock. Round pen/roping arena with square feed lot. Wood and storage shed.
• Well house with game cleaning area. 4 wells with 25 gal per minute capacity and rainwater collection system with 10000 gal collection tank.
• 3 RV hook-ups for guests
• 1 acre stock pond. Miller Creek is stocked with bass, catfish and perch. Other spring locations on property with the availability to add multiple other water features.
• Cedar has been cleared on all but 10 acres. Ag Exempt – cattle. Wildlife abounds: Whitetail deer, turkey, Axis, Seika.
• Fenced and gated garden with limestone planters

If you are interested in this property, or one similar, contact us today.

 Take a virtual tour:

A great site for water sports, you can take one of the boat tours available, or bring your own. High cliffs provide shelter from the wind and make boating favorable, while also providing great sites for beautiful homes. It is also a spot for recreational fishing, stocked with largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish.

Mount Bonnell, the highest point in Austin, is a natural limestone feature, and has been a popular picnicking spot since the mid 1800s. From the brief hike to the top you can see over Lake Austin, the 360 Bridge (or Pennybacker Bridge), and to the downtown skyline.

Pictured: Private cove of Lake Austin from 1611 Westlake Drive