Archives for August 2014

Labor Day Weekend in the Lake Travis Area

Written by Todd Hower | August 29, 2014

Labor Day weekend is here! The holiday created for workers — and to fill the holiday-free gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving.

It’s your weekend to rest, put all your white clothes away, watch football, or do all the things you wanted to do before summer is officially over.

Be sure to check out all the live music in the area including a show at The Backyard and the 5th Annual Be Brave Benefit with Clint Black at The Oasis. Or head downtown for the Texas Longhorns season opener this Saturday.

Whatever you decide, enjoy the 3-day weekend and the short week ahead. We’ll see you out and about!

Cheers & Jeers for Back-to-School in the Lake Travis Area

Written by Cathy Hale | August 28, 2014

It’s the first week of school in the Lake Travis area, so parents, students and teachers are getting back into the swing of things like early mornings, homework and, of course — traffic. The snack-packed, Under Armour-clad, manicured, sun-kissed and savvy leaders of tomorrow are ready to see their buddies and hit the books (and the cafeterias, playgrounds, gyms, fields). In the spirit of back-to-school season, here are our cheers & jeers:

360 Overlook at the Pennybacker Bridge: Undeniably Austin

Written by Mandy Spivey | August 27, 2014

Ask an Austinite about their favorite part of the city — a place that is undeniably Austin.

Some locals favor the South Congress Bridge and its noctivagant bat guests that make an appearance each night at dusk. Others will cite the numerous parks, such as Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores as their favorite place to take in the city.

Out of the many picturesque places around town, one of the choice spots to enjoy is a scenic lookout over Lake Austin at the 360 Bridge, also known as Pennybacker Bridge. Located along the Capital of Texas Highway, this legendary bridge fully connects the North and South sides of Austin. Everyday, upwards of 50,000 vehicles pass over Pennybacker Bridge, using the throughway for commutes to work, home and everything in between. Indeed, it’s difficult to imagine just what Austin would be like without this historic bridge which was opened and dedicated in late 1982.

Lake Travis Area History: Village of Volente

Written by Todd Hower | August 26, 2014

The Lake Travis area is home to some of the most picturesque lake towns around. One of these communities is the Village of Volente in Northwestern Travis County, which sits on the north shore of Lake Travis. It’s just a short 18 miles from Austin and located on Farm Road 2769, also known as Volente Road.

There is a lot of interesting Lake Travis area history that led to the development of the greater Austin area. In the latter part of the 19th century, downtown Austin was thriving, and as city dwellers grew in numbers, some residents began to turn their attention to the outer parts of Austin to start life anew.

Two of these people were Thomas and Lucy Anderson, who were settlers from Virginia. Thomas had worked as a miller in the past and was drawn to the open space that this new land outside of the city spaces had to offer him. They settled on Cypress Creek, just a few miles upstream from the Colorado River. He had chosen the space as the plot to build his mill that would be used to make gunpowder for the Texas State Military Board for the purpose of using during the Civil War.

Lake Travis Area Trails: Bull Creek Greenbelt

Written by Mandy Spivey | August 25, 2014

When you’re in search of a little hike and time alone in nature, take a short drive up Capital of Texas Highway to Bull Creek in West Austin. Here you will find what many locals hail as the most scenic greenbelt around, complete with limestone cliffs, babbling creeks, seasonal wildflowers and natural flora and fauna.

The history of Bull Creek goes back to prehistoric ages, namely the Early Archaic to Late Prehistoric phases, however the early Anglo settlers of this era were Will Preece, wife Elizabeth Gideon, and sons Richard Lincoln Preece and Will Jr.. The Preece family owned a few thousand acres of land in central Texas in the areas of Austin and Cedar Park, and after settling in the Bull Creek area in 1838, the plot began to earn its reputation as one of the prime spots for hiking and swimming.

Archives for August 2014

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