OFFICIAL Visitor Guide
In the middle of everywhere. marblefalls.org
1.888.906.2725 1 Location Marble Falls is located in the Highland Lakes Region of the Hill Country, right in the middle of the great state of Texas.
Austin: 45 mi Killeen: 67 mi Corpus Christi: 229 mi Midland: 275 mi Dallas/Ft.Worth: 190 mi San Angelo: 162 mi Fredericksburg: 52 mi San Antonio: 85 mi Houston: 210 mi San Marcos: 75 mi
Population 7,200 people within Marble Falls city limits 30,000 people within a ten-mile radius
Climate Average Daily Summer: 90°F Average Daily Winter: 55°F Average Annual Rainfall: 30 inches Average Annual Snowfall: Trace
2 www.marblefalls.org The History of Marble Falls Founded in 1887 by General Adam R. Johnson, Marble Falls is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country on the Colorado River. Before the dam was built to form Lake Marble Falls, water cascaded over 20-foot ledges which resembled marble, providing a name for the new city. The falls are now under water and only visible on those rare occasions when the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) lowers the lake for repairs to the dam and boat docks.
The first city officials were elected in 1907 when a mayor/ alderman form of government was instituted. In 1917, the all- male voting population of Marble Falls (women hadn’t yet won the right to vote) elected Ophelia “Birdie” Crosby Harwood one of the first female mayors in the United States. However, it was the 866-foot stone monolith called Granite Mountain looming on the town’s western edge that secured Marble Falls’ place in Texas history.
It was here that the famed “Texas Pink” granite was quarried to construct the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin. The stone was a donation from progressive area citizens in exchange for a rail connection with Austin. The Austin and Northwestern Railroad built an extension to Marble Falls from Granite Mountain in 1889, and a post office was also established that year. Granite Mountain is still actively quarried, and a variety of granite products are shipped all over the world.
Today, it is the natural setting of lakes and hills that makes the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ area one of the most attractive and popular tourist and retirement destinations in all of Texas. Renowned for its scenic beauty, visitors come to this area to experience our beautiful waterways and lush, rolling hills. Indigenous species include everything from American Bald Eagles during winter months to great old live oaks that shade the landscape throughout the seasons. Spring brings a burst of color with a multitude of wildflowers including our state flower, the bluebonnet. Fields and back roads are covered with blossoms as far as the eye can see. Many amateur and professional photographers and artists come to capture the natural beauty of the Highland Lakes area.
1.888.906.2725 3 The Highland Lakes The Highland Lakes welcome visitors from all over the world. Lake Marble Falls and Lake LBJ are nestled in the Texas Hill Country on the Colorado River. Since they are usually constant-level lakes, water activities abound year round, making the lakes popular for boating, fishing, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing, swimming, wading, camping and just plain relaxing. Famous Texas sunrises and sunsets are even more magnificent when reflected off our lakes.
Watercraft Rental Buchanan Horseshoe Bay Marina Adventure Tours Horseshoe Bay 16942 RR 2341, Burnet 830.598.2511 512.756.4700 Just Yakin’ Kayak Rental El Rio Marina Marble Falls Kingsland 325.665.1208 325.388.3376 Tropical Hideaway Granite Beach Vacation Rentals Horseshoe Bay Granite Shoals 830.693.9172 800.662.4431
4 www.marblefalls.org Golf Courses Some of the best golf in the world is right in our backyard. Designers like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Tom Kite and Robert Trent Jones have all used the natural resources in our area to construct magnificent tracts that challenge scratch golfers, yet remain playable for casual duffers. The courses in the Highland Lakes area feature wet creeks, massive granite outcroppings, lakeside lies, plenty of trees and stunning vistas. Best of all, because of our mild climate our courses are open year-round.
Apple Rock Golf Course (18-hole, private), Horseshoe Bay Barton Creek Lakeside (18-hole, private), Spicewood Blue Lake Golf Course (9-hole, semiprivate), Deer Haven Delaware Springs Municipal Golf Course (18-hole, public), Burnet Escondido (18-hole, private), Horseshoe Bay Hidden Falls Country Club (18-hole, semiprivate), Meadowlakes Lakecliff (18-hole, private), Spicewood Legends on Lake LBJ (18-hole, semiprivate), Kingsland Packsaddle Golf Course (18-hole, public), Kingsland Ram Rock Golf Course (18-hole, private), Horseshoe Bay Slick Rock Golf Course (18-hole, private), Horseshoe Bay
1.888.906.2725 5 Art Without question, there is a burgeoning arts scene in Marble Falls. From live music venues to a growing public art program to galleries and studios, we have much more to offer than a town our size should be able to justify. At the center of it all is our historic Main Street district and Sculpture on Main, an international collection of large-scale works that grows every year.
We enjoy vistas of the hills and the lake from many points in town; being surrounded by such beautiful scenery shapes our natural association with aesthetics. We exist at a stylistic and cultural intersection, with cowboy artists from the west, Austin’s eclectic influences from the east, and San Antonio’s long and rich heritage from the south.
Burnet Art Haus 208 East Jackson, Burnet 830.613.0692
Elaine Leedy Pastels 301 Main Street 830.220.2166
Highland Arts Guild 318 Main Street 830.693.7324
Pogue Sculpture Gallery and Foundry 7670 Highway 1431 E. 830.693.9544
Riverbend Fine Arts 710 First Street 830.693.6632
Sculpture on Main Main Street 830.693.9544
6 www.marblefalls.org Wineries Whether it’s the wild grapes that naturally thrive in the area or the influence of European immigrants who planted cuttings from their homeland, today’s vintners take advantage of our ideal climate for producing award-winning wines. Area wine connoisseurs can visit five different and unique vineyards. Some of the local vineyards have been established for decades, while others were only conceived a few years ago.
Not surprisingly, however, all our local wineries have received awards and praise in local, national, and international competitions, as well as well- known magazines and publications. Combine that with our genuine Texas hospitality, the beautiful Hill Country setting and a true passion for producing and sharing truly great wines, and it’s easy to see why so many people plan vacations around wine- tasting tours in the area.
Fall Creek Vineyards Spicewood Vineyards 1820 County Road 222 1419 County Road 409 Tow Spicewood 325.379.5361 830.693.5328
Flat Creek Estate Stone House Vineyards 24912 #1 Singleton Bend East 24350 Haynie Flat Road Marble Falls Spicewood 512.267.6310 512.264.3630
1.888.906.2725 7 Outdoor Activities Backbone Valley Nursery Marble Falls 830.693.9348
Bosstriper Fishing Guide Service Lake Buchanan 512.567.6147
Lakeside Park/ Buchanan Johnson Park Adventure Tours Marble Falls 16942 RR 2341, Burnet 830.693.1769 512.756.4700
LBJ Yacht Club/ Colbert Ranch Granite Beach Horseback Riding Horseshoe Bay Bertram 830.693.9172 512.355.3225
Silver’s Trails Cypress Valley Horseback Riding Canopy Tours Spicewood 1223 Paleface Ranch Road 512.577.4791 Spicewood 512.264.8880 Sweet Berry Farm Marble Falls Denney Ranch 2 830.798.1462 Burnet 512.756.9636 Tours of Marble Falls Marble Falls Edwards Ranch (Hunting) 512.755.4664 Llano 806.799.5783 Westside Park Disc Golf Course Jerry Moore’s Fishing Marble Falls Guide Service 830.693.1769 Lake Buchanan 512.756.7333
8 www.marblefalls.org Area Attractions Balcones Canyonlands Inks Lake State Park/ National Wildlife Refuge Fish Hatchery Marble Falls Burnet 512.339.9432 512.793.2223
Black Rock Park Krause Springs Lake Buchanan Spicewood 512.389.8900 830.693.4181
Blanco State Park Longhorn Cavern Blanco Cave Tours 830.833.4333 Burnet 877.441.2283 Canyon of the Eagles Burnet Nightengale 800.977.0081 Archaeological Center/ LCRA Park Enchanted Rock State Kingsland Natural Area 830.598.5261 Fredericksburg 830.685.3636 Pedernales State Park Johnson City Exotic Resort Zoo 830.868.7304 Johnson City 830.868.4357 Shaffer Bend Recreation Area Hamilton Pool Marble Falls Nature Preserve 800.776.5272 Bee Cave 512.264.2740 Vanishing Texas River Cruise Hill Country Flyer Buchanan Dam Steam Train 800.728.8735 Burnet 512.477.8468 Westcave Preserve Round Mountain 830.825.3442
1.888.906.2725 9 Wildflowers & Wildlife
The Texas Hill Country becomes a rainbow of magnificent colors every spring as over 48 species of wildflowers grace the landscape. The wildflower season opens in March with the famous bluebonnets covering roadsides and fields. They are soon joined by Indian paintbrushes making seas of blue and red across the Texas hills.
As these beautiful flowers begin to wane in late April, the Indian blanket flowers renew the hillside color with bursts of red, pink, and yellow from late April through May. Additional species of flowers such as the yellow greenthread, primrose, winecup, prairie verbena, prickly pear cactus, phlox, daisies and other flowers bloom into June.
Just as impressive is the abundant wildlife that calls our area “home.” Texas longhorns graze amid rolling pastures, and white-tailed deer can be seen around just about every corner. Look to the trees and sky to spot some of our more than 240 avian species, including hummingbirds, golden-cheeked warblers, painted buntings, red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons and bald eagles.
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