The Highland Lakes is a chain of six reservoirs — Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis, and Austin — built by the Lower Colorado River Authority along the Colorado River in Central Texas. It’s not one town, it’s a whole region: Marble Falls, Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals, Burnet, and a handful of smaller lake communities all fall under the “Highland Lakes” umbrella. I work this entire area, so this page is meant to give you the lay of the land before you narrow in on a specific town.
Every town in the Highland Lakes is oriented around water — boating, fishing, and lake views are the common thread. But the towns themselves are pretty different from each other: some are quiet and residential, some have real downtowns with shopping and restaurants, some lean upscale with golf and resort amenities. Lake LBJ, which runs through Kingsland, Granite Shoals, and Horseshoe Bay, is the one constant-level lake in the chain, so waterfront buyers there get predictable docks year-round in a way they don’t on some of the other lakes.
What the housing looks like
Across the region you’ll find everything from small lakeside cottages to large custom estates. Homes here tend to be built to take advantage of the setting — open floor plans, big windows, decks and docks — but the price point and style vary a lot town to town, which is exactly why it’s worth talking through what you actually want before picking a specific market.
What life here is like
This is a region people move to on purpose, not by accident — most residents are here for the lake, the pace, or both. You’re also not cut off: Austin and San Antonio are both a reasonable drive, so you get the quiet without losing access to a bigger city when you want it.
Three towns worth knowing: Marble Falls, Cottonwood Shores, and Horseshoe Bay
These three sit close together and illustrate how different the Highland Lakes towns can be from each other.
- Marble Falls is the commercial hub of the region — real shopping, real restaurants, a genuine downtown — while still being a lake town at its core.
- Cottonwood Shores is quieter and mostly residential, a short drive from Marble Falls for anything you need beyond your own neighborhood.
- Horseshoe Bay is the upscale end of the spectrum — golf courses, a resort, and waterfront homes on Lake LBJ that run well into the luxury range.
What there is to do
- Boating and fishing: Lake LBJ and the other Highland Lakes support everything from motorboats to kayaks, with a good variety of fish species for anglers.
- Golf: Horseshoe Bay Resort alone has four championship courses, including three designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
- Hiking and trails: The Hill Country surrounding the lakes has plenty of trails for hiking and biking beyond the water itself.
Where to start
If you’re new to the Highland Lakes, the first real decision is which town fits — not just which house. I can walk you through how Marble Falls, Kingsland, Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals, and Burnet actually differ day to day, then help you narrow the search from there. Reach out and let’s talk through what you’re looking for.
