Spicewood, TX Properties

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Spicewood is an unincorporated community in southeastern Burnet County, Texas, with portions spilling into western Travis County, set along the shores of Lake Travis in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. It sits about 35 miles northwest of Austin and roughly nine miles southeast of Marble Falls, positioned on the edge of the Highland Lakes chain. There is no municipal government; the community is a collection of lake communities, rural tracts, and small commercial clusters organized around Texas Highway 71. The area's identity is tied to Lake Travis and the Hill Country landscape. Spicewood developed as a resort community in the 1960s, when summer homes, country clubs, golf courses, and water sports established it as a getaway destination for Austin and Central Texas residents. That resort heritage still shapes the housing stock, which ranges from original lake cottages to newer custom homes on acreage. Recreation defines daily life. Krause Springs, a spring-fed swimming hole and campground, is one of the region's best-known natural attractions, while Pace Bend Park and Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area offer lake access, camping, and trails. The area is also a wine destination, with Spicewood Vineyards, Stone House Vineyard, and El Gaucho Winery among the local producers, plus the Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery. Because it is unincorporated, services and schooling are split. Spicewood is served primarily by Marble Falls ISD, which operates Spicewood Elementary School, with older students attending Marble Falls Middle and High Schools; some Spicewood addresses fall within Lake Travis ISD. Residents rely on nearby towns for many services, with Marble Falls, Bee Cave, and Austin supplying the broader retail, medical, and cultural landscape. Texas 71 is the community's main artery, connecting westward to Marble Falls and eastward toward Austin, with the drive to downtown Austin typically under an hour. Spicewood suits those seeking waterfront or acreage living, outdoor recreation, and a quiet Hill Country pace while staying within commuting reach of Austin's employment and amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Spicewood, Texas in?

Spicewood is an unincorporated community in southeastern Burnet County, Texas, with portions extending into western Travis County. It sits along the shores of Lake Travis in the Hill Country's Highland Lakes region, about 35 miles northwest of Austin and roughly nine miles southeast of Marble Falls.

How far is Spicewood from Austin?

Spicewood is about 35 miles northwest of Austin, reached via Texas Highway 71. The drive to downtown Austin typically takes under an hour, and the community is roughly nine miles southeast of Marble Falls, making it a Hill Country base within reach of both.

What school district serves Spicewood?

Spicewood is served by Marble Falls Independent School District, which operates Spicewood Elementary School, with older students attending Marble Falls Middle School and Marble Falls High School. Some areas with Spicewood addresses fall within Lake Travis ISD.

What is Spicewood, Texas known for?

Spicewood is known for outdoor recreation on Lake Travis, including Pace Bend Park, Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, and the spring-fed swimming holes of Krause Springs. It is also home to Spicewood Vineyards and sits near several Hill Country wineries and the Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery.

What kind of housing does Spicewood have?

Spicewood developed as a resort community in the 1960s, and its housing reflects that: lakefront and summer homes, country-club neighborhoods, golf communities, and larger Hill Country acreage. As an unincorporated area with no city government, it offers a rural, low-density lifestyle.

City Guide

About Spicewood

Real Estate & Housing

Spicewood's housing reflects its origins as a 1960s Lake Travis resort area. The market includes lakefront and lake-view homes, original summer cottages, country-club and golf communities, and newer custom homes on larger Hill Country tracts. Many properties offer acreage, water access, or both, and the area supports a mix of full-time residents and weekend owners. Because Spicewood is unincorporated, development patterns vary, with gated lake communities, waterfront subdivisions, and scattered ranch-style homes sitting side by side. Buyers are typically seeking a primary residence with space, a second home on the lake, or a retreat property, and the area's character skews toward custom and semi-custom homes rather than dense tract development.

Neighborhoods

Spicewood is organized less around traditional neighborhoods than around lake communities, waterfront subdivisions, and rural tracts. Areas along Lake Travis, including the Pace Bend and Briarcliff vicinities, offer waterfront and water-access homes, while country-club and golf communities such as those developed in the resort era add amenity-centered living. The community is also home to larger Hill Country estates and ranchettes, where homes sit on multiple acres with native live oaks and long Hill Country views. Because it spans Burnet and Travis counties and lacks a municipal center, Spicewood's "neighborhoods" are defined by lakeshore access, gated developments, and the character of individual tracts rather than by a unified street grid.

Lifestyle in Spicewood

Spicewood's lifestyle is rural, lake-oriented, and Hill Country through and through. Days center on the water—boating on Lake Travis, swimming at Krause Springs, or fishing from the shoreline—and on the slow rhythms of an unincorporated community with no city government. The area's wineries and distilleries, including Spicewood Vineyards and Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery, give it a destination quality, drawing weekend visitors from Austin and beyond. Residents value privacy, acreage, and the landscape of rolling hills and cedar breaks. Essentials are available locally or a short drive away in Marble Falls or Bee Cave, with Austin providing the urban complement. It is a community for those who prioritize space, water access, and a quiet, outdoors-centered way of life over suburban density and city conveniences.

Schools & Education

Spicewood is served primarily by Marble Falls Independent School District, which operates Spicewood Elementary School in the community for grades K-5. Older students attend Marble Falls Middle School and Marble Falls High School in nearby Marble Falls. Some addresses with Spicewood postal designations fall within Lake Travis Independent School District, so school assignment depends on the specific property location. Because Spicewood straddles county lines and lacks a municipal government, families should confirm district boundaries for a given address. Higher education is accessible through institutions in Austin, including the University of Texas, and through community colleges serving the Highland Lakes region.

Getting Around

Texas Highway 71 is Spicewood's main transportation corridor, running west toward Marble Falls and east toward Austin, with downtown Austin about 35 miles away and typically under an hour's drive. The corridor provides a less congested alternative to Austin's Interstate 35 for Hill Country commuters, though it remains a two-lane rural highway through much of the area. There is no fixed-route transit in Spicewood, so residents depend entirely on personal vehicles. Marble Falls, about nine miles to the west, offers the nearest concentration of services, while Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is reachable within about an hour, making the community a rural base with workable access to the region.

Parks & Recreation

Spicewood's recreation is anchored by Lake Travis and the Hill Country's natural features. Krause Springs, a family-owned swimming hole with spring-fed pools and waterfalls, is a signature destination, while Pace Bend Park and Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area provide lake access, cliff-lined shorelines, camping, mountain biking, and hiking. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours adds zip-line and treehouse adventures nearby. The area's wineries and distilleries—Spicewood Vineyards, Stone House Vineyard, El Gaucho Winery, and Iron Wolf Ranch and Distillery—offer tastings and events that draw visitors year-round. For boaters and anglers, Lake Travis supports a full range of water sports, and the surrounding Hill Country roads are popular for cycling and scenic drives toward Marble Falls and the Highland Lakes.

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