Applehead Island is an 80-acre private island on the south shore of Lake LBJ, reached by a single bridge with a 24-hour manned guardhouse. It’s the most secure, most exclusive address I show buyers in Horseshoe Bay. Homes here are built to make the most of the water, with private boat docks, outdoor living spaces, and sunset views over the lake.
I’m Robbie English, a REALTOR and Broker at Uncommon Horseshoe Bay here in the Highland Lakes.
Applehead Island at a Glance
- An 80-acre gated island on the south shore of Lake LBJ, connected to the mainland by a single bridge with 24-hour guarded entry.
- Homes generally run from the mid $400,000s into the high $1 millions, with most falling between 3,000 and 7,000-plus square feet.
- Lots come in two distinct types, protected canal sites and open-water positions, and the difference affects both price and day-to-day boating.
- The island borders Apple Rock, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course, but owning a home here does not automatically include a Horseshoe Bay Resort Club membership.
- A small number of buildable lots remain, so building new is still on the table alongside buying resale.
Why Buyers Choose Applehead Island
When a client tells me they want the most private, most secure address on Lake LBJ, I take them to Applehead Island first. The single bridge and manned gate mean there’s no drive-through traffic and no wondering who’s coming and going. Most of the homes were built with the water as the whole point: docks sized for a boat and a couple of jet skis, outdoor kitchens, and covered porches oriented so the sunset is part of the evening routine rather than something you catch by accident.
The architecture leans Mediterranean and modern, and owners here tend to treat the home as a long-term retreat rather than a flip or a rental. That shows up in how the island feels when you drive across the bridge. The landscaping is maintained consistently across the community, and the pace is noticeably slower than the mainland side of Horseshoe Bay.
Homes, Lots, and What They Actually Cost
Prices on Applehead Island move around more than a single number can capture, because the lot matters as much as the house. Recent listings have ranged from roughly $450,000 for smaller or interior homes up past $1.6 million for larger waterfront estates, with the average sitting somewhere around $1 million. Square footage typically falls between 3,000 and just over 6,000, though a handful of homes push past 7,000.
The bigger variable is the lot itself. Some homesites sit on protected canals, which give you calmer water, easier dock conditions, and usually a smaller price tag. Others sit on open water facing the main body of Lake LBJ, which means bigger views and better boat access, but also more wind and wake to plan around. If you’re buying primarily to fish or paddle, a canal lot is often the more comfortable choice. If you want to pull a ski boat straight out onto open water, you’ll want to prioritize an open-water position and budget accordingly. A few undeveloped homesites are still available for buyers who’d rather design their own house than take on someone else’s floor plan.
The Golf Course Everyone Asks About
Applehead Island sits right against Apple Rock, an 18-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. that opened in 1986 as the last of his three courses at Horseshoe Bay Resort. His son, Robert Trent Jones Jr., renovated the layout in 2018, and the updated course reopened in 2019. It plays to a par of 72 across nearly 7,000 yards, with real elevation change and water coming into play on seven holes. Apple Rock is one leg of what the resort calls the Texas Triangle, the only three-course collection in the continental U.S. all designed by the elder Robert Trent Jones.
Here’s the part that surprises almost every buyer I work with on the island: owning a home on Applehead Island doesn’t come with a Horseshoe Bay Resort Club membership or automatic golf privileges. Club access is a separate agreement with its own initiation fee and monthly dues, on top of what you’ll pay the island’s own homeowners association. If golf access matters to you, budget for it and confirm current membership costs directly with the resort before you write an offer, not after closing.
Touring and Buying on Applehead Island: What Actually Happens
Getting onto the island to look at a home isn’t a drive-by. You’ll need to go through the guardhouse, which usually means scheduling the showing ahead of time rather than swinging by on a whim. If you found a listing on your own through Zillow or a similar site and want to see it, keep in mind that Texas law generally requires a signed buyer representation agreement before an agent, mine or anyone else’s, can show you a specific house. It’s worth understanding what that agreement actually commits you to before you sign one.
Once you’re seriously considering a property, ask for the HOA’s governing documents and the most recent financials, not just the current dues amount. On an island community, special assessments for bridge maintenance, shoreline work, or amenity repairs can come up, and you want to see the association’s track record before you’re the one paying for it. If the home has a private dock, confirm it’s properly permitted and find out whether any dredging or lake-level issues have affected boat access in past years. Lake LBJ is a constant-level lake, which helps, but it’s still worth asking rather than assuming.
A Few Things Buyers Get Wrong About Applehead Island
The name makes people picture something isolated, but Marble Falls is about ten minutes away for groceries, restaurants, and everyday errands, and the rest of Horseshoe Bay Resort’s amenities are a short drive or golf-cart ride from the bridge. This isn’t a place you’re cut off from the world. It’s a place where the world is easy to step away from when you want to.
Buyers also tend to assume every home here has the same kind of water access, and that’s not accurate. A canal lot and an open-water lot can sit a few streets apart and behave completely differently once you own a boat. And as covered above, the HOA dues you pay to live on the island are not the same thing as a resort club membership. I’ve seen buyers work through the whole purchase assuming golf access came with the address, only to find out at the club that it didn’t. Ask early and you’ll avoid that surprise entirely.
Other Horseshoe Bay Options
If you want water access without the island’s gate and premium, I also show buyers The Cape, another gated waterfront section of Horseshoe Bay, Summit Rock for golf-course frontage instead of lakefront, or Blue Lake Estates for a quieter, less exclusive price point. My full Horseshoe Bay community guide covers every neighborhood side by side, my guide to everyday life in Horseshoe Bay covers what it’s actually like to live here beyond the real estate, and Marble Falls is about ten minutes away for everyday shopping and dining.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does buying a home on Applehead Island include a Horseshoe Bay Resort Club membership?
No. Club and golf membership at Horseshoe Bay Resort is a separate agreement with its own initiation fee and dues, on top of the island’s HOA fees. Confirm current membership costs with the resort directly before you write an offer if golf access is part of your decision.
What’s the price range for homes on Applehead Island?
Recent listings have run from roughly $450,000 to $1.6 million or more, with the average landing around $1 million. Price depends heavily on lot type, home size, and whether you’re on a protected canal or open water.
What’s the difference between a canal lot and an open-water lot?
A canal lot sits on calmer, protected water, which usually means an easier dock setup and a lower price. An open-water lot faces the main body of Lake LBJ, with bigger views and better boat access, but also more wind and wake to account for.
Are there still lots available to build on?
Yes, a small number of undeveloped homesites remain on the island. If you’d rather design a custom home than buy an existing one, it’s still an option, though availability changes as those last lots sell.
How secure is Applehead Island?
The island is reached by a single bridge with a 24-hour manned guardhouse, and there’s no through traffic since it’s not a route to anywhere else. It’s the most secure address I show buyers in Horseshoe Bay.
How far is Applehead Island from shopping and dining?
Marble Falls is about ten minutes away for groceries, restaurants, and everyday errands, and the rest of Horseshoe Bay Resort’s dining and amenities are close by as well.
Reach out anytime if you’d like to tour Applehead Island or talk through how it compares to the other lakefront communities here. I’ve walked enough buyers through the differences between the island’s canal lots and open-water lots to save you a few wrong turns.
Robbie English, REALTOR, Broker at Uncommon Horseshoe Bay.
