Luling is an oil town near Austin and San Antonio
The small town of Luling, Texas, sits about equidistant from Austin and San Antonio, in a region that's experienced significant growth in recent years. Luling is only now feeling the effects of this trend, as it's starting to receive spillover from nearby small towns like Lockhart and Seguin that are beginning to fill up. "Its low price point, low property taxes and proximity to Austin, San Antonio and Interstate 10 attract buyers to Luling," says Elizabeth Schmidtberger, a broker at TS Realty. "People move here to be near family but can actually afford this area," she says. "It's about an hour to Austin, but people are willing to drive that to be able to afford a home." Luling is an oil and gas town, which is an important factor for buyers to consider. "That's one of the things that's hit or miss," Schmidtberger says. "You either love Luling and love the low property taxes, or you hate it, because if the wind blows just so, you smell that oil and gas."
Historic homes, a new subdivision and land for sale
Luling has a charming mix of bungalows, farmhouses and ranch-style homes. "There's not a lot of cookie-cutter homes at all," Schmidtberger says. "Every house is different. It's got some very cute historic homes and mature trees." Growth in the nearby towns of Lockhart and Seguin has finally spilled over into Luling: "D.R. Horton has broken ground on a subdivision there," Schmidtberger says. Land is often available for sale for buyers looking to build their dream home. Land prices start around $45,000 and can get as high as $1.1 million. Single-family homes on less than an acre typically sell for $110,000 to $500,000, while homes on acre-plus properties go for prices between $300,000 and $2 million. Schmidtberger warns buyers: "As far as oil and gas goes, it's not a place where you come and make it rich," she says. "So many people think that if you buy 20 acres and there's an oil derrick on it, you're going to make a lot of money, but oil rights are different from land rights. You get use of the land and the home, and somebody else will get that check."
Advanced coursework in Luling Independent School District
Luling Independent School District and its three schools - Leonard Shanklin Elementary School, Gilbert Gerdes Junior High School and Luling High School – all get C-plus grades from Niche. Students at Luling High School can take Advanced Placement courses and earn dual credit through Austin Community College and the University of Texas at Austin's OnRamps.
Public parks and swimming in the San Marcos River
Luling has several public parks and a swimming pool. Blanche Square has a basketball court, picnic tables and a playground, and Longer Park has all that plus a pavilion, swings and a volleyball court. Patton Park has a one-fifth-mile walking path, and River Trail Park has swimming access on the San Marcos River. Luling Municipal Golf Course is a public golf course on the south end of town.
Barbecue and H-E-B
Two of Luling's most popular restaurants, City Market and Luling Bar-B-Q, are old-school barbecue joints. Blake's is a family-owned American restaurant serving dishes like fried shrimp, chicken-fried steak and catfish. Fast-food chains in town include Dairy Queen and Sonic Drive-In. Residents get their groceries at the beloved Texas-based supermarket H-E-B.
The Luling Watermelon Thump
Luling's most significant event is the Luling Watermelon Thump, held annually in June. "It's very Texas small-town," Schmidtberger says. "People bring giant watermelons, and there's a speed spitting contest, and the high school girls compete to be crowned the Watermelon Thump Queen." This three-day festival occurs in downtown Luling and brings in bands to play in its outdoor pavilion.
South of Austin, east of San Antonio
Luling is located about 50 miles south of Austin and 60 miles east of San Antonio. Luling has two hospitals in town: Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis Hospital and PAM Health Specialty and Rehabilitation Hospital of Luling. The closest airport options are Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, 40 miles north, and San Antonio International Airport, 60 miles west.
