Spicewood

 

Spicewood is an idyllic unincorporated town located at the northern end of Lake Travis in Texas Hill Country’s Burnet County. Located along Highway 71, around 45 minutes northwest of downtown Austin, this quiet community is famously the home of legendary musician Willie Nelson. Spicewood’s picturesque Hill Country landscape is full of beautiful outdoor areas and recreation spots. The Pedernales River and Colorado River meet in Spicewood, and the popular destination of Pace Bend Park is located on cliffs overlooking Lake Travis. Spicewood also offers stunning waterfalls and swimming holes, plus numerous nearby vineyards and distilleries. 

 

Spicewood offers luxurious contemporary homes in upscale gated communities. Housing options also include stunning riverfront homes.

Spicewood’s combination of Hill Country scenery and Lake Travis recreation make it one of the top destinations for recreation in the Austin area. Activities around Spicewood include boating and fishing on Lake Travis, golfing on a picturesque Arnold Palmer course, and ziplining through a canopy of soaring cypress trees. With rolling scenery extending in all directions, it's little wonder that Willie Nelson chose Spicewood as the location for his sprawling 700-acre Luck Ranch.

Opie’s Barbecue is the quintessential Hill Country BBQ joint. Housed in a giant metal structure on Highway 71, this classic spot serves mouthwatering meat smoked and slow-cooked to perfection. Opie’s specialties include sweet and spicy baby back ribs, jalapeno sausage, brisket, and freshly sliced pork chops. Poodie’s Hilltop Roadhouse is another favorite on Highway 71, boasting the best burger in Texas. This laidback country spot features live country music plus an outdoor deck offering captivating sunset vistas. The roadside Yellow Dog Coffee Co. stand offers a great mix of hot and iced coffees, lattes, and teas alongside delicious muffins and kolaches. 

 

The towns of Texas Hill Country are famed for their wineries, and Spicewood is no exception. Spicewood Vineyards produces fantastic merlots and sauvignon blancs and offers tastings Wednesday through Sunday. The beautiful 32-acre vineyards also serve as a popular wedding site. The 15-acre Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery provides a fine selection of award-winning bourbon, whiskey, vodka, and gin. On weekends, Iron Wolf Ranch hosts food trucks and live music. The Ranch also has a nine-hole disc golf course, a kids’ playground, and games, including bocce ball, corn hole, washers, and life-sized bourbon pong.

Krause Springs is a gorgeous area with 32 natural springs, several of which feed into a clear blue swimming hole. This beautiful site also features numerous waterfalls, natural caves, and a butterfly garden. Stretching along nine miles of Lake Travis’ shoreline, Pace Bend Park is an ideal camping destination with designated swimming coves and three boat ramps. 

 

Lakecliff Golf Club on Lake Travis features an incredible 18-hole public golf course designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer. The golf course’s magnificent landscaping takes in 12 man-made lakes, several waterfalls, and sweeping Hill Country views. Other amenities at Lakecliff Golf Club include seven tennis courts and the 19th Hole Grill serving gourmet burgers, salads, and strong cocktails. The exciting recreation destination of Cypress Valley offers zipline canopy tours and sky bridges running between cypress trees that can reach 100 feet tall.

The Marble Falls Independent School District serves Spicewood.