Location

This property is located within Lake Travis ISD just minutes away from everyday necessities in Bee Cave and less than 45 minutes from downtown Austin on Hamilton Pool Road, Travis County, Texas. The property is approximately 10 miles from Dripping Springs, 84 miles from San Antonio, and 186 miles from Houston. Situated in the heart of the Hill Country, the property is adjacent to the active project, Preservation Ranch, and the two future projects known as “Peacock Preserve” and “Kozmetsky.”  The nearby active developments such as Sweetwater, Belvedere, West Cypress Hills, and Rough Hollow are all actively selling higher-end homes and properties from the mid-six figures to well into seven figures.

conservation easement

A carefully constructed conservation easement managed by The Nature Conservancy exists on Hamilton Pool Hilltop Ranch. The easement conserves the land and water on which all life depends and preserves the current uses, including ranching, wildlife management, residential and recreational activities. There is also allowance for commercial use consistent with the conservation values. Three significant building envelopes present a unique opportunity for a special purpose/boutique-type “hotel/retreat” developer. The easement allows for the right to construct additional structures such as a residence, barns, sheds, studios, and guest quarters, along with related roads, improvements, and utilities within the three building envelopes, two of which may not exceed 10 contiguous acres each and one of which may not exceed 20 contiguous acres OR the building envelopes can be combined into one contiguous 40 acre envelope. These areas shall be limited to primarily residential, light commercial, ranching and/or recreational purposes and must be approved by Holder and Managing Grantee. One building envelope can include facilities for hosting guests and groups that temporarily visit the property such as a lodge, camp, museum, retreat, educational center, or research facility. That being said, the landowner has the right to engage in and permit others to engage in recreational and research uses of the property, whether for personal or commercial use, including, without limitation, recreational activities like hunting, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife observation, hiking, biking, and approved research activities. The easement also allows for the construction of up to 9 active water wells and up to 3 earthen stock tanks or ponds/impoundments.

Hamilton Pool Hilltop Ranch provides a rare opportunity for a special-purpose developer to operate in the heart of the Hill Country with close proximity to downtown Austin. The only other conservation-scale development in the area that is on its way to fruition is the Mirasol Springs development, located a short distance away. Owners of Hamilton Pool Hilltop Ranch have the extraordinary potential to share in preserving and protecting the land while enjoying all that it has to offer.

Topography, Rangeland & Habitat

This 738 acres consists of dramatic topography allowing panoramic views, hilltops, ravines, unique private spots, and a good mixture of wooded and open areas providing habitat for a variety of hill country wildlife species. As you travel throughout the property, you are able to appreciate the spacious and private feeling it has to offer. Some juniper management has been completed in recent years enhancing a couple of ideal building sites. Live oaks flourish throughout the property. The property exhibits unparalleled topography ranging between 880-1,240 feet with multiple areas consisting of over 15% slope. As a result, the hilltops provide outstanding long-distance views in many directions. The low-elevation spots offer exceptional private locations that would be suitable for the building site of your ideal home. 

Water

A spring-fed creek meanders along the northwestern boundary line, resulting in minimal floodplain, approximately 17.2 acres. The creek holds water in several places regardless of rainfall or season. With creativity in mind, you could dam up a section of the creek to make a wonderful water hole. Bee Cave’s annual rainfall (in inches) is about 35 inches, which is very similar to the Austin annual rainfall.

Area History

Bee Cave is a quintessential destination when it comes to enjoyment, relaxation, and entertainment. Bee Cave continues to be a highly sought-after location especially as Austin continues to grow west. The area has grown exponentially in the last decade, resulting in about a 78.2% population change since 2010. The majority of Bee Cave residents are established well-educated, well-traveled married couples. Popular attractions such as Hamilton Pool Preserve, Milton Reimers Ranch Park, Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center, and Pedernales Falls State Park are all a short distance away. 

other

The property is currently accessed by an easement through the adjacent neighbor’s property while a new driveway is in progress off Hamilton Pool Road and driveway plans are available. The property has low annual property taxes due to wildlife management tax valuation; 2022 Travis County taxes were $1,247.49. Hamilton Pool Hilltop Ranch would make a spectacular weekend getaway, primary residence, or retreat-oriented hospitality development that aligns with the conservation easement.

Co-listed with Republic Commercial Land & Brokerage, LLC