TexasWaterFrontRanches

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

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

Lonesome Bayou Ranch

The Lonesome Bayou Ranch is being offered up for lease. This 188 acre waterfront playground has tons of fun for the entire family. It features horseback and ATV trails, a 1 acre swimming pond, hunting areas, fishing piers along 6,000 ft. of shoreline, boat launches, boat docks and is only a short boat ride to the excellent fishing in Trinity Bay. Family and friends can stay in 2 homes totaling 8 bedrooms/4.5 baths. This is the perfect retreat right on the Texas coast, 50 minutes from downtown Houston. Available for sale too! Click here for more information on the property. Check some video of the property:

View, Montandon Ranch

The Montandon Ranch piece of property on Lake Travis just had a sizeable price reduction, to $5,900,000. It is 171 Acres of dramatic views of the lake, manicured acreage, rolling hills, mature oaks and big, deep waterfront, consisting of some cove waterfront  and main body waterfront. The perfect deal for the right buyer. Able to divide into 100 and 71 acres.

See the listing here.

A jet skiier enjoys Lonesome Bayou

Recreation with family and friends is the focus of the Lonesome Bayou Ranch. This 100 acre waterfront property is sold turnkey, down to the dishes and towels, but also is sold with a 16 foot boat (and trailer) and 2 jet skis (with trailer); and the property features a concrete boat launch and boat slip along with jet ski slip. Other waterfront recreation opportunities include three fishing docks with floodlights and aerated swimming pond.

Other items with sale include 4 four-wheelers (with trailer), dune buggy and jeep to enjoy the horse/ATV trails through the woods and green pastures.

These videos are taken from the Lonesome Bayou Ranch, one from an ATV and the second from a jetski. The last is a virtual tour.

Lonesome Bayou Listing and Photos

Views of Lake Travis From The Montandon Ranch

It’s rare to find big acreage close to the main body of Lake Travis and even more rare to find something that’s easily buildable.  The Montandon Ranch on the North Shore of Lake Travis in the Singleton Bend area features 171 acres of dramatic views, manicured acreage and big, deep waterfront across from Barton Creek Lakeside with its 18 hole Arnold Palmer designed course. This ranch is fully fenced and gated with 3 wells, stock tank and pond. Underground utilities and well are at the perfect building spot perched on a hilltop with panoramic Hill Country views and as well as Lake Travis views up and down river. Waterfront includes some cove frontage as well as main body waterfront. Keep the agricultural exemption by running cattle on portions of the land.  Bring your horses to explore the 171 acres of rolling hills, mature oaks and Hill Country vistas. There’s also the possibility of subdividing this property into a 100 acre tract and a 71 acre tract.  Either way, the Montandon Ranch is the place to build your ultimate Lake Travis Ranch.

Many properties in Lake Travis and the Hill Country area are on some significant acreage.  People refer to them as ranches but very few are actually working livestock.  These days, the term “ranch” really refers to property with some acreage allowing for privacy.

Lake Travis Estate Property

One of our listings, Rancho Estacia, is a great example of a private, luxury ranch that’s not a “working ranch.”  Although it does have excellent horse facilities, this estate was built for entertaining and recreation.  Find out more about this property by clicking on the image or going here.