Cottonwood Shores is the city on two lakes
It’s rare that a community in Texas is right next to a large body of water, but in the case of Cottonwood Shores, it’s next to three. Located over 50 miles northwest of Austin, Cottonwood Shores is directly south of the Colorado River and has houses, docks and boat ramps along the shoreline. It’s also centrally located between Lake Lyndon B. Johnson to the west and Lake Marble Falls to the east. “It’s a big draw,” local vacation homeowner Laura McMillan says. “I have several friends who relocated to Cottonwood Shores, and all of them say the same thing – ‘I love the decision I made.’” With local parks, plenty of restaurants and a variety of housing options, Cottonwood Shores lives up to its reputation as the city on two lakes.
Boating and fishing between two lakes and a river
The Colorado River is a popular spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking, while boats can navigate toward either of the lakes for water skiing and fishing. The Aspen and Noah Thompson Parks are closest to the shoreline and have playgrounds, picnic tables and walking trails. The P Squared Skate Park is free and open to the public and has obstacles where riders can pull of trick shots, while scenic trails and local wildlife can be found at the nature preserve. There’s also a splash pad next to the civic center that is open from May to September.
A semi-luxury lifestyle that keeps the cost down
McMillan says that people don’t just move to Cottonwood Shores for the scenery – they also move there for the prices. “When anybody wants to live on a lake, you know you’re going to pay a premium, but in Cottonwood Shores, it’s still affordable,” she says. “It’s a lovely community where you can live a semi-lux life without the extra cost.” While Cottonwood Shores has its fair share of longtime residents, it also has a seasonal population of vacation and second homeowners who come in during the summer. Moderate-sized homes have traditional and Spanish-style architecture with up to half-acre lots and prices ranging between $195,000 and $300,000. Newer custom homes built on the lakefront are $300,000 to $600,000, while larger homes with 1-acre lots and four-car garages range from $800,000 to $1 million.
Bayview and seafood cuisine with lakeside views
Cottonwood Shores has a rich dining scene south by the main road. “There’s Mexican, there’s Cajun, there’s pizza, burgers, Vietnamese,” McMillan says. “I was surprised to see how many restaurants there were in such a small, tiny community.” Julie’s Cocina is a popular Mexican restaurant that serves authentic street tacos, chalupas and margaritas. The LeStourgeon Seafood Company serves fresh catches such as red fish, rainbow trout and jumbo scallops in addition to fried fish and oyster po’boys. The Bay View Restaurant and Bar has stunning views of the lake and chef-prepared delights such as crab-stuffed flounder, Hawaiian short rib and tomahawk schnitzel. There’s also a few clothing stores and beauty salons between Century Oak Plaza and Plaza Del Sol, and an H-E-B grocery store is 5 miles northeast in Marble Falls.
Going to school at Marble Falls
Residents are zoned for the Marble Falls School District, which has a B-minus on Niche. Cottonwood Shores students start school at Colt Elementary, which has a Gifted and Talented program and a B rating. Marble Falls Middle School has a student-teacher ratio of 13-to-1 with a C-minus. Marble Falls High School has a 98% graduation rate with a B.
One road between Cottonwood Shores and Horseshoe Bay
Cottonwood Shores has only one road on the south side, but Ranch-To-Market Road 2147 is all residents need to drive back-and-forth between Horseshoe Bay and Marble Falls. “Cottonwood Shores is like a peninsula – one way in, and one way out,” McMillan says. The Baylor Scott & White Medical Center is about 8 miles south of the community and is open for 24 hours. The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is around 60 miles southeast.
