Have you noticed how happy everyone’s been in the Lake Travis area lately?
We think it’s because the clouds, cooler temps and summer showers are keeping Lake Travis residents from losing their minds … AKA roasting in the sun. Sure, the humidity sucks, but look on the bright side — it’s not 101 degrees!
There’s a lot of news buzzing about the ground breaking ceremony that took place this past weekend at The Backyard. Ever wonder what a “creative business campus” is? Did you know the phrase “techno-luxury” is a thing? Evidently it is.
And speaking of luxury, have you been to Gumbo’s on the Lake yet? If not, you’re missing out on a chic spot to satisfy your Cajun cravings complete with an amazing view of Lake Travis as pictured above.
Let’s take a look at what’s what in the LT area, shall we?
Real Estate
Who remembers when the The Backyard was an off-the-beaten-path music venue where you could enjoy everything from jazz to country to hip hop under the stars in the breezy Hill Country?
Ah, fun memories.
For years, our beloved Backyard has sat quietly as folks have debated what to do with it. News stories about potential development have come and gone. Now a firm plan seems to be in place. Firm enough, at least, for shovels to make their debut.
This past weekend, developers John Paul DeJoria and IDM President and CEO Christopher Milam gathered with The Backyard’s original producer, Tim O’Connor, and Bee Cave Mayor Caroline Murphy to finally break ground on The Backyard.
The new concept is lofty — “The New Hub of the Silicon Hills” — and it will transform the land into a 50-acre entertainment venue. It will have everything you’d expect to find in a “techno-luxury” infused campus like two live music venues, a recording studio, restaurants and bars, and totes normal other stuff like self-sustainable data centers with a Distributed Energy Center.
However, there is one hurdle that still needs to be jumped and that’s road work. Bee Cave City Council is demanding access to Highway 71 (and withholding a certificate of occupancy until then), because right now all traffic to and from The Backyard will land on Bee Cave Parkway. And I think residents would agree that’s more like The Great Gridlock of the Silicon Hills.
Food + Drink
Last week, we introduced you to Vicecreme, a vegan ice cream shop that opened in The Oasis. If we piqued your interest in heading that way to check out Lake Travis’ sunset capital, bring your appetite with you. Gumbo’s on the Lake, another new tenant at The Oasis on Lake Travis, is open and ready for business.
Gumbo’s on the Lake opened in April (remember Soleil?) and features menu items that boast the chefs take on modern Cajun cuisine. The atmosphere is fresh, inviting and sophisticated. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of table seating for parties of all sizes and plenty of sunlight and sweeping lake views.
What you might not expect is the plush velvet lounge seating inside and the lounge seating outside, making it a great place to enjoy a lakeside sunset with friends. The patio is expansive and sits up one floor higher than The Oasis restaurant, so the view is breathtaking.
Outdoors + Pet Safety
Lake Travis residents have been spotting coyotes a lot lately. Thanks to online neighborhood networks, we’ve seen alerts in Steiner Ranch and The Hills of Lakeway from residents who are seeing coyotes during the day.
One resident noted the coyote she spotted was in close proximity and when it saw her, it didn’t run. Not saying LT coyotes are getting more aggressive, but they seem to be strolling with enhanced confidence.
Coyotes, just like other Texas critters, will nibble on dog food, trash and sadly, small pets. Make sure your bring your four-legged-friends inside at night to keep them safe. Also, hot weather means rattlesnakes, so check your yard for potential hiding spots to keep everyone safe this summer.
