TexasWaterFrontRanches

One of Texas’ most treasured features is its Hill Country located in the central part of the state and owning a piece of it is like owning a piece of heaven. Many people think of Texas as a big desert or a dusty plain but Texas is one of the most diverse states in America. Hill Country ranches can vary from valleys with bubbling creeks to hilltops grandly displaying the countryside. Some of the most coveted Hill Country ranches even feature broad, clear limestone rivers such as the Pedernales, Frio, Comal or Blanco rivers. Common wildlife on Hill Country ranches includes whitetail deer, axis deer, turkey and feral hogs. Ranches in the Hill Country can range from just 20 acres to 20,000 acres but they all have common features of rolling limestone hills and broad oaks. Many people see the non-native ash juniper more commonly called a “cedar” as an invasive species on Hill Country ranches but the mature trees have become home to the endangered golden cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. Protecting these species through conservation easements is one way owners of Hill Country ranches can gain tax benefits and protect the land from over development. Owning a ranch in the Hill Country offers a place to escape the stress of everyday life and experience a little bit of unspoiled nature.

Find The Perfect Hill Country Ranch Here

One of Texas’ most treasured features is its Hill Country located in the central part of the state and owning a piece of it is like owning a piece of heaven. Many people think of Texas as a big desert or a dusty plain but Texas is one of the most diverse states in America. Hill Country ranches can vary from valleys with bubbling creeks to hilltops grandly displaying the countryside. Some of the most coveted Hill Country ranches even feature broad, clear limestone rivers such as the Pedernales, Frio, Comal or Blanco rivers. Common wildlife on Hill Country ranches includes whitetail deer, axis deer, turkey and feral hogs. Ranches in the Hill Country can range from just 20 acres to 20,000 acres but they all have common features of rolling limestone hills and broad oaks. Many people see the non-native ash juniper more commonly called a “cedar” as an invasive species on Hill Country ranches but the mature trees have become home to the endangered golden cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. Protecting these species through conservation easements is one way owners of Hill Country ranches can gain tax benefits and protect the land from over development. Owning a ranch in the Hill Country offers a place to escape the stress of everyday life and experience a little bit of unspoiled nature.  Visit our web site to see our Hill Country Ranch offerings.

Earlier this week I had an opportunity to see one our new listings in Dripping Springs.  The Hill Country land featured over 100 acres of stunning views, wet weather creeks, rare plants and trees, wildlife, several grottos with waterfalls and so much more.   We discovered  several stellar homestead locations where you could look out your front door and see panoramic Hill Country vistas and our amazing Texas sunsets.  With Dripping Springs schools and Austin only 15 minute away, this Lakeshore Drive property would be the perfect estate location.

Visit us at the DMTX website for more information!

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Panoramic Hill Country Views

Lake Travis

Central Texas boasts some of the most scenic lakes in all of the state. Several dams along the Colorado River form the Highland Lakes chain – a series of lakes that feature limestone canyons, big Hill Country views, blue waters and spectacular waterfalls. Check out the series of blogs on the individual lakes making up the Highland Lakes chain to learn more about each of these unique waterways:

Highland Lakes Part One: Lake Austin

Highland Lakes Part Two: Lake Travis

Highland Lakes Part Three: Lake Marble Falls

Highland Lakes Part Four: Lake LBJ

Highland Lakes Part Five: Inks Lake

Highland Lakes Part 6: Lake Buchanan

177 Main Body Lake Travis Waterfront Acres Located Across from the Confluence of Lake Travis and the Pedernales River. Very Accessible Main Body Waterfront. Additional Acres Available.

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Located on the Highland Lakes Chain between Lake Buchanan and Lake LBJ, Inks Lake is a 4.2 mile lake formed by Inks Dam.  Inks Dam, constructed from 1936 to 1938, has no floodgates and the power plant is the smallest in the Highland Lakes chain. A small amount of water can be released through hydroelectric generation, but the bulk of floodwater passes over an uncontrolled spillway.  Buchanan Dam and Inks Dam work in tandem to release water downstream.
Inks Lake is the second smallest of the Highland Lakes, measuring 832 acres.   The lake maintains a constant level of 887 ft. above sea level and is 3,000 ft. across at its widest point.  Inks Lake State Park is 1201 acres along the lake and features camping, fishing, boating, backpacking and a 9 hole golf course.   The most famous feature of Inks Lake is “The Devil’s Waterhole,” a popular place for rock climbing and cliff jumping.    Texas Parks and Wildlife has a great video about the lake here.

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.

Created in 1951 by the Max Starcke Dam, Lake Marble falls is the youngest and the smallest of the Highland Lakes. But it is not without its own share of charm. Beautiful views accompany boating and water recreation. The lake is stocked with native fish and a great spot for fishing, boasting some Texas state record catches.

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

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