The Central Texas Hill Country has always been beautiful, but only recently has the area been recognized as a prime luxury travel destination. The region has become a world-class home for top-tier winery tours and barbecue aficionados are making devout pilgrimages to the Highland Lakes area for smoked-meat nirvana. Add, too, the allure of the constantly-full 6,500-acre Lake LBJ into the mix and you see why this resort area has become a prime vacation choice for so many sun and fun seekers.
At the center of it all is the invigorating AAA-four diamond lakefront Horseshoe Bay Resort, the golf-rich, 7,000-acre paradise just a scenic 45-mile trek west of Austin. Home to three acclaimed- and each very different Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf courses- the resort has been drawing a distinguished golfing crowd for four decades, but this tropically-adorned Shangri La offers something for all ages and interests.
With an innovative slate of signature seasonal events, the resort is now an entertainment destination, bringing unique experiences like April’s Third Annual Balloons Over Horseshoe Bay Resort hot air balloon festival. “Our events engender a special kind of loyalty. Some guest’s first experience here could be seeing hot air balloons in the air or meeting a celebrity chef at October’s Wine and Dine Festival, watching Jack Ingram play at our Beer by the Bay festival or seeing a former British Open champion sink a 15-foot putt at an event like The Shootout here,” Chief Marketing Officer Bryan Woodward says. “You can’t put a price on those experiences and the guests who enjoy them are more apt to come back for our golf and recreation. They’ll be repeat guests and, ultimately, brand ambassadors and Club members at the resort.”
Lake LBJ is incorporated well into the resort’s host of recreational amenities. Near the lake, on the lake or while admiring its fetching views from the golf courses, LBJ is everywhere you turn. “We have a full-service marina on this full level lake,” Woodward says. “Whether you’re into jet-skiing or stand-up paddle boarding, or you want to try and kayak or rent a pontoon boat, we have all those options available to our guests, and then we have Bayside Spa, which is a full service spa that offers all sorts of massage treatments, facials, you name it.”
A stay at the Horseshoe Bay Resort is a much-needed communion with nature. The Horseshoe Bay Tower offers 249 rooms and suites, many with spectacular lake or Hill country views. The 100-unit Paseo vacation suites are conveniently located adjacent to the hotel and offer one-, two- and three-bedroom accommodations that are perfect for families are large groups. The Waters at Horseshoe Bay Resort offers luxurious lakefront living with spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans, thoughtfully designed and decorated with the finest furnishings, gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and top-of-the-line appliances.
With 54 holes of golf- plus the exclusive and acclaimed Jack Nicklaus Signature design, Summit Rock- tumbling through the Central Texas Hills, Horseshoe Bay Resort sees a healthy percentage of guests who stay multiple days to be sure they play them all. The Ram Rock course is best known of the three Robert Trent Jones designs, having earned a reputation as one of the most difficult layouts in the state. There just isn’t much margin for error on Ram. Not on the island green fourth hole or on the short-but-extremely-narrow 10th, a 344-yard par four that can yield either stolen birdie or a disaster score.
Slick Rock, a pleasant parkland layout that stretches across 170 acres, is the property’s original 18-hole design (built the 1971). It features “The $1 Million Hole,” the short par-four 14th adorned with a winding, waterfall-walled bridge. Apple Rock is the only course of the three that touches the crystal shores of Lake LBJ. The short, par-three 12th is played across an inlet of shimmering lake. Bring your camera maybe even a fishing pole! Membership director Karen Moore calls the golf offering at Horseshoe Bay Resort “the best golf product in the Texas Hill Country and the best all-around country club value in Texas. It’s not just golf, but a gathering place with diverse social and recreational opportunities.”
The breathtaking and tropically-landscaped Whitewater Putting Course, designed like a miniature regulation golf course with fairways bunkers and water hazards on the finest of putting services, is an unforgettably fun par-72 experience.
“One of the great things is that you never have to leave the resort, even for meals,” says Woodward. Dining options include the Yacht Club, offering sophisticated lakeside dining and an intimate indoor dining space reminiscent of the Hamptons with nautical decor, elegant table settings and the occasional conversation nook, perfect for an after dinner cocktail. The Yacht Club specializes in seafood, steak and an array of seasonal fare. Lantana, located in the heart of the hotel, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a nod to the Southwest. The Slick Rock clubhouse features a bar and grill is home to one of the best hamburgers in Texas.
The resort features four pools, including the Yacht Club Pool, an outdoor lagoon style pool with an adjacent 27-person hot tub. The resort pool is heated with fiber-optic lights as well as a hot tub and adjacent kids’ pool. White sand beaches line the lake shore near the Yacht Club Pool. Adults can lounge and relax why children play on nearby Turtle Beach, a child friendly wading area. Adult-friendly Stargazer beach has soft white sand where gently-lapping of the lake waves create the ultimate romantic destination.
With more than 27,500 ft. of indoor meeting space, including a 12,000 square-foot ballroom, the resort has a distinct advantage with its lush setting and ample space. “Meetings make up a huge part of our resort and our business model,” Woodward says. “What separates us is just our ability to host indoor and outdoor events, both waterfront and then under the tropical palms and among great architecture and water features at our other venues. In addition to meetings, Austin Wedding Style named us one of the best wedding venues in Texas.”
For those who want the Horseshoe Bay Resort lifestyle for longer than a weekend, a host of real estate options, including custom homes with astounding views near the exclusive Summit Rock course, are available. “People from all around the United States want an elevated quality of life. In the Hill Country and here near Lake LBJ, you have it. The proximity of the recently-opened Baylor Scott and White Hospital will also be a draw for homebuyers who want all the conveniences of city life with none of the hassles in an unmatched lifestyle and scenic natural setting,” says Mike Gordon, Director of Real estate.
The Club at Horseshoe Bay Resort continues to be one of the most vibrant private social Clubs in the state of Texas and has grown its membership roster over the last several years. Families continue to value social gatherings and the new connections that are introduced through the Club’s robust social calendar.
An easy drive from the Austin airport (or a direct flight into the Resort’s own Horseshoe Bay Airport, one of the largest private airports in the United States), the Horseshoe Bay Resort awaits with a gentle breeze, knockout scenery and a peaceful setting unlike anything in Texas. “We’re a short drive from Austin, but you feel thousands of miles away when you get here,” says Woodward. “This environment allows you to take time off and really relax. It feels tropical and peaceful even though you’re not in the Caribbean or in some destination that would cost you thousands of dollars to experience.”
Visit hsbresort.com or call 844-532-7306 to book your next visit.
