Spicewood hosts rustic homes close to Lake Travis Parks
The rural enclave of Spicewood is situated on miles of rugged plains in the Texas Hill Country and is about an hour’s drive from Austin. Locals live close to several expansive natural parks along the Colorado River. Several small businesses line State Highway 71, while nearby cities like Marble Falls offer more options for shopping or dining. “It's got lots of elbow room, so it’s more for people who don’t care for that master planned community feel,” say Jacquelyn and Daniel Foreman, brokers with Foreman Property Group, with over 25 years of real estate experience between them. “It’s got areas that are a bit more affordable than nearby cities, plus it’s got a lower property tax rate.”
Plenty of outdoor activities at Pace Bend Park and Krause Springs
Pace Bend Park is a popular waterfront park where visitors can camp, hike, mountain bike or take kayaks and motorboats out on Lake Travis. The vibrant Krause Springs is a preserve that offers campsites suitable for tents and RVs, as well as several natural springs where visitors can swim. Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area features campsites, fishing areas and miles of trails suitable for mountain biking or horseback riding. Locals often visit the park in the spring to see fields of bright bluebonnets.
Wide ranging home styles in subdivisions and golf communities
Spicewood offers a diverse range of home styles and subdivisions, so the community suits a wide variety of lifestyles. There are modest ramblers, cottages and cabins, as well as larger Craftsman and rustic Contemporary-style estates, which can feature multi-acre lots and lake frontage. There are also several high-end golf communities, such as the Travis Club. “The Travis Club has a golf course and Hill Country views; it's also got waterfront options,” says Foreman. “It's going to be a super-high luxury area when it’s fully built.” Single-family homes are priced from $300,000 to $5 million, varying by square footage, lot size and subdivision. Undeveloped multi-acre lots of land are also on the market, ranging in price from $1 million to $10 million. Potential homebuyers need to be aware that there is a moderate flood risk for homes close to Lake Travis and the Colorado River.
Shopping and dining in Marble Falls and on State Highway 71
State Highway 71 is lined with numerous commercial businesses, including the Spicewood General Store, which offers convenience grocery items, and Opie’s Barbecue, which serves pit-smoked baby back ribs and jalapeno sausages. Farther south down the road is the Pedernales Farmers Market, open on Sunday mornings, where residents can browse locally sourced produce, baked goods, preserves and butcher meat. Nearby Marble Falls is home to numerous local businesses and shops, just a few miles from Spicewood.
Split between two well-ranked school districts
Spicewood is split between the Marble Falls Independent School District, north of the Pedernales River, and the Lake Travis Independent School District, south of the river. Students in Marble Falls ISD can attend Spicewood Elementary, rated a B-plus by Niche, Marble Falls Middle School, with a C-plus, and the B-rated Marble Falls High School. Students in Lake Travis ISD can attend West Cypress Hills Elementary, which has a B-plus rating, as well as Lake Travis Middle School and Lake Travis High School, both of which receive A ratings.
Austin is an hour away
Due to the limited public transit options, residents in Spicewood are largely reliant on car travel. Austin is 35 miles away along State Highway 71; commuters can reach the capital city in about an hour. Locals can catch flights from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, which is a 40-mile drive. The nearest hospital is Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Marble Falls, which is 10 miles west of Spicewood. “It’s usually more local workers around Spicewood,” says Foreman. “Most of them don’t want to go quite that far; they're usually working from home or not taking jobs that travel too far.”
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Maxwell Olarinde
