The Highland Lakes are a chain of reservoirs the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) built along the Colorado River between the 1930s and 1950s, originally for flood control and hydroelectric power. Six of the seven (Lake Buchanan, Inks Lake, Lake LBJ, Lake Marble Falls, Lake Travis, and Lake Austin) are LCRA-managed; the seventh, Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, is city-managed and usually counted as an honorary member of the chain. If you’re thinking about a move here, this is the geography that shapes everything from home prices to what your weekend actually looks like.
The Ten Towns That Make Up This Area
“Highland Lakes” isn’t one town. It’s ten, spread across the upper part of the chain, each with its own character:
- Marble Falls: the area’s commercial hub, on Lake Marble Falls
- Horseshoe Bay: a gated resort community on Lake LBJ built around golf and marinas
- Kingsland: where the Colorado and Llano Rivers meet to form the north end of Lake LBJ
- Granite Shoals: the largest population center directly on Lake LBJ, known for its public parks and boat ramps
- Cottonwood Shores: a small city on Lake Marble Falls just below the LBJ dam
- Burnet: the county seat, inland near Inks Lake and Lake Buchanan
- Sunrise Beach Village: a small, mostly retirement/vacation community on Lake LBJ
- Meadowlakes: a gated community built around Hidden Falls Golf Club, on Lake Marble Falls
- Highland Haven: a small incorporated city on Lake LBJ
- Sherwood Shores: an unincorporated community on Lake LBJ near Granite Shoals
Why the Lake You Pick Actually Matters
Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls are constant-level lakes: LCRA keeps them within about a foot of full year-round, so docks, boathouses, and waterfront landscaping stay predictable. Lake Buchanan is a fluctuating water-supply reservoir instead, which is a real factor if you’re evaluating a waterfront property near Burnet: shoreline distance can change with the season. This is the kind of detail that matters once you’re comparing specific listings, not just towns.
What Draws People Here
Most people relocating to the Highland Lakes fall into one of three groups: retirees looking for a slower pace within reach of Austin’s hospitals and airport (Austin is roughly an hour away from most of these towns), second-home buyers who want lake access without living on it full-time, and people leaving Austin’s traffic and prices for more space and water. All ten towns give you some version of small-town pace with real lake access, but what differs is HOA structure, dock permitting, school district, and how built-out the town already is, which is exactly why it’s worth talking through which of the ten actually fits before you start touring houses.
Working With Someone Who Covers the Whole Chain
Robbie English, Broker and REALTOR® with Uncommon Highland Lakes Realty, works across all ten towns rather than specializing in just one. That matters if you’re not sure yet whether Horseshoe Bay’s gated golf-course lifestyle, Kingsland’s river-confluence setting, or Marble Falls’ walkable downtown is the better fit, since a single-town agent can only tell you about their own town. Robbie is also a national real estate instructor who trains other agents and brokers, and holds ABR, AHWD, CRB, C2EX, E-Pro, GRI, MRP, NHC, PSA, RENE, RPR, SFR, SRS, TBS, TLS, and TAHS designations.
If you’re ready to talk through which of the ten Highland Lakes towns fits what you’re looking for, reach out or call 830-953-5571.
More Resources
- Highland Lakes Real Estate Market Update
- Highland Lakes Real Estate Broker – Robbie English
- Highland Lakes Realtors – Robbie English
- Highland Lakes Real Estate Agent – Robbie English
- Highland Lakes Listing Agent – Robbie English
- Highland Lakes Homes Not Sold – Now What?
- Highland Lakes TX Sell My Home Fast
- Receiving Lowball Offers on Highland Lakes home
- Highland Lakes TX Sellers Securing a Competitive Price
- Why move to Highland Lakes TX?
- About Highland Lakes
- Listings & Updates
- Market Update
