TexasWaterFrontRanches

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.

Lake Travis Acreage

Just a few miles north of Lago Vista, this approx. 24.5 acre Lake Travis waterfront property features gorgeous views of the limestone cliffs along the Cow Creek arm of Lake Travis. A gentle slope leads to the very accessible 650+ ft. of waterfront which features a nice flat area perfect for a lakeside cabana or patio. Terraced land also features a wet weather creek with limestone grotto and rough roads cut to the 1,000 SF home with all utilities. Could be renovated or torn down to build your dream home. No restrictions, ability to subdivide and commercial possibilities with highway frontage.

See the listing or virtual tour for more.

Big waterfront on Cow Creek Arm of Lake Travis - over 330 feet

Last week, the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) announced they’d be sending mail to some 5,000 residents living within 500 feet of the Highland Lakes. It includes an application for a Domestic Water Use Contract, and a reminder that residents are required to have a contract with the LCRA before taking and using water stored in the lakes.

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). According to the LCRA, 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

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

The Falls: 315 Acres on Lake Travis

This stunning piece of property features Lake Travis waterfront and views, with cleared fields and mature trees.

This property includes frontage on two paved, maintained county roads with a hard corner. The land gently slopes to the approx. 3700 feet of waterfront on deep Bee Hollow Cove on the Lake. Many waterfront and lake view build sites sit on the property, that is surrounded by high-end waterfront homes and ranches.

Lake View

Located in the Lago Vista, water and sewer will be provided by the city. Lago Vista ISD is an exceptional school district, with Lago Vista High School rated as one of the top ten high schools in Central Texas (Austin Monthly). With the completion of the 183A Tollway, this area will not just be attractive to second home buyers from around Texas, but for primary residences as well.

This location would make an excellent personal ranch or land investment. Take your chance to see the listing today.

Lake Travis, Montandon Ranch

Lake Travis has risen even more since our update yesterday; it is now at 645 feet and still rising. You can see up-to-the-minute conditions here.

With Lake Travis up and the creeks flowing again, now is the perfect time to buy.  Ranch sales are still down and sellers are extremely motivated to move their property. With the recent rains and forecasts for more rain throughout the coming months, once spring time rolls around and the market really gets going sellers might not be as motivated to sell.  There are still great rates and good terms for land deals.  Capital Farm Credit is offering 30 year term and 5 year fixed rates at 6.25% with 20% down.  Give us a call and we can get you in touch with a loan officer there.

Featured Properties on Lake Travis

Rancho Estacia A luxurious waterfront gentlemen’s ranch on Lake Travis. A 6,694 Sq Ft home, guest cabana, stables and 700 ft of Lake Travis Waterfront make this Mediterranean oasis with Texas ranch comforts.

Rivercliff Frank Lloyd Wright architecture & contemporary interiors create this stunning masterpiece on bluff overlooking Pedernales Arm of Lake Travis. Can be combined with a 32 acre equestrian center and guest home to create your dream ranch.

The Montandon Ranch Looking for deep, Lake Travis waterfront? 171 Acres with 1,800 ft. of Lake Travis waterfront. Paved roads, electricity, 3 wells. One of the Largest Lake Travis Pieces on the Market.

100-459 Acres on Lake Travis Gently sloping terrain to the Lake, high bluffs overlooking the Lake, draws, pecan bottoms, spring fed creeks and pond.

0 Bee Creek Road 46.66 Acre Prime Commercial Corner Near New Lakeway Development – The Highlands. 1,000 ft. of frontage on Bee Creek Cove of Lake Travis. Panoramic Lake and Hill Country Views.

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Lake Travis

As a result of the heavy rains last week in the Austin area, the Lake Travis levels have risen six feet. Currently, the lake’s level is just over 642 feet, with more rain already coming today. 

It is still, however, 24 feet lower than average, and 39 feet lower than completely full. “El Nino should bring us more rain between now and the spring,” says LCRA Supervisor David Walker, “we’d need ten more floods like this one to do the trick.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2009 Winter Outlook and Climate Predictions expect El Nino to dominate weather patterns, bringing a cooler winter and above average precipitation for Texas, by an increase of 40%.

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Rivercliff Entry

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and contemporary interiors create this masterpiece on a bluff overlooking the Pedernales Arm of Lake Travis.

This 6,733 Sq Ft, shake roof home was built in 2008. It has 5 Bedrooms and 5.5 Baths and a cool, contemporary finish with stone floors and accents; rift cut oak ceilings, doors, cabinets and accents, and stone fireplaces.

The 5 manicured acres features a man-made stream spilling into a pond, and flowing under the entry.

Great Room

The great room, at entry with elevated foyer, has a wood arched ceiling and a granite and stone fireplace with rift cut oak accents. The dining area is open to the great room and has two story ceilings with a stone floor. There is also a wet bar with exotic granite counters, ice maker and refrigerator open to the dining area.

The kitchen is open to the family room also with exotic granite counters, rift cut oak cabinets, stone floors, two sinks and breakfast area with seamless windows looking to the pool and patio.

Master Closet

The two story NanaWall Window System opens to the Infinity Edge pool, patio, and hill country views.

The master bedroom features a stone fireplace, double doors to the patio and NanaWall Window System running the length of the room with seamless corners and folding doors opening to the private, Infinity Edge soaking pool. The master bath has exotic granite counters, stone floors, jetted tub, walk in double shower and doors to the private patio. The master suite also has a huge, custom walk-in closet with center island and granite countertops.

Kitchen

The private office in the master suite has custom built ins, and door to the private stone patio.

A family room has fireplace with granite , rift cut oak wall accents and window trim. An office or bedroom has full bath, seamless windows and entrance to patio. Two other bedrooms have full bath and doors to patio. The guest bedroom has full bath, walk in closet and private stone patio. The home also has utility room and secondary storage room, and attached 4-car garage with air-conditioned pet room.

Back, Pool

Altogether, 2,210 Sq Ft of stone patios with firepit surround the Infinity Edge pool spilling into overflow pool with spa and fountains.

The covered patio with stone decking off bedrooms leads to tram accessing waterfront. The stone path leads to arched entry with glass facade and wood ceilings.

The home is located near Austin Country Club in the gated community of Rivercliff in Spicewood, Texas, 10 minutes to the new Hill Country Galleria and 30 minutes to downtown Austin.

Equestrian Center

This home can be purchased for $3,750,000 or combined with a 32 acre horse stables, covered riding arena and 3 bed, 2 bath guest home to create your dream luxury ranch.

The 32 acres are fenced and cross fenced, with 5 contiguous 6+ acre lots all ag exempt. Electronically controlled stone and wrought iron gates create the entry, leading to 18 stall horse stables with limestone interior, each with doors to turnouts – 4 foaling stalls and 12 day stalls. Can easily be expanded to include additional stalls. Includes tack area, wash stall, store room and high bay doors on both sides for trailer or RV parking. Gates on both ends allow for trucks, trailers and RVs. The covered stone and split rail fenced riding arena is 100 ft x 200 ft.

Guest Home

The limestone guest home was built in 2006 and includes wood and tile floors with stone accents. The large living area includes a stone fireplace and open dining. The kitchen has granite counters and recent appliances. The master suite has a kitchenette, walk in closet, full bath, and sitting area. The home also features attached two car garage and pond at gated entry.

Owner will consider seller financing, call for details.

You can see the home listing here, and the stables/arena/guest home listing here. Call us today!