Market Overview for Spicewood
There are 25 active listings in Spicewood with a median list price of $875K and a median sold price of $700K.
Homes average 73 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 0 homes have sold, with 27 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $341.
About Spicewood
Spicewood is an unincorporated community in southeastern Burnet County, with portions extending into Travis County and Blanco County, about 35 miles west of downtown Austin along State Highway 71. The community is not an incorporated city — it has no mayor, city council, or municipal boundaries, and governance falls to Burnet County and the relevant county for each parcel. The Spicewood area (ZIP 78669) encompasses approximately 11,000 to 12,000 residents, though the postal zone covers a broad three-county area that extends well beyond the historic community center at the intersection of County Road 404 and Spur 191.
The community takes its name from the spicewood timber (a native shrub, Lindera benzoin) that grew along nearby Little Cypress Creek. A post office was established in 1899 with James B. Pangle as the first postmaster. Before that, surrounding settlements — Corwin, Clover, Rockvale, and Haynie Flat — gradually consolidated their populations around the Spicewood area. The Spicewood school replaced the Rockvale school in 1919, consolidated with the Haynie Flat school in 1949, and merged into Marble Falls ISD in 1952. Until the 1940s, when Farm Road 93 (now Highway 71) was built through the area, the only crossing of the Pedernales River nearby was by ferry.
Spicewood sits on the southwestern shore of Lake Travis, the largest of the Texas Highland Lakes, and the surrounding Hill Country terrain of rolling limestone, live oak, and cedar draws buyers seeking lake access, acreage, and relative proximity to the Austin tech corridor. Real estate ranges from waterfront estates on Lake Travis to Hill Country ranch tracts and newer subdivisions along Highway 71 and Bee Creek Road. School district assignment is a key consideration: homes in the Burnet County portion attend Marble Falls ISD, while homes in the Travis County portion attend Lake Travis ISD.
Living in Spicewood
Daily life in Spicewood centers on outdoor recreation, with Lake Travis as the primary draw. Pace Bend Park, a 1,368-acre Travis County park on the shores of Lake Travis, offers over nine miles of shoreline, three boat ramps, improved campsites, and swim coves. Krause Springs, a privately owned 115-acre property on County Road 404, features 32 natural springs feeding a man-made pool and a natural pool that flows into Lake Travis, with spring water at a constant 68 degrees year-round. Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, an LCRA park on County Road 414, provides 471 acres with 10 miles of multiuse trails and tent camping along the Lake Travis shoreline.
The Spicewood area has no traditional downtown or central commercial district. Groceries, retail, and most services are in Marble Falls (about nine miles northwest) or Bee Cave and Lakeway (about 15 miles southeast on Highway 71). Several wineries operate in the area, including Spicewood Vineyards, a 32-acre estate vineyard on County Road 409 that is open daily, and Stone House Vineyard on a bluff overlooking Lake Travis.
Commute patterns vary by employer location. The drive to downtown Austin is about 35 miles via Highway 71 through Bee Cave, typically 45 to 60 minutes without heavy traffic and up to 75 minutes during rush hour. Many residents work remotely or on hybrid schedules. School district boundaries split the community: Marble Falls ISD (approximately 4,066 students across seven campuses) serves the Burnet County portion, with Spicewood Elementary physically located in the community on Spur 191. Lake Travis ISD (approximately 10,771 students) serves the Travis County portion, with Lake Travis Middle School, Rough Hollow Elementary, and West Cypress Hills Elementary all carrying Spicewood addresses.
Things to Do in Spicewood
- Swim and camp at Krause Springs: A privately owned 115-acre property on County Road 404 with 32 natural springs feeding a man-made pool and a natural pool that flows into Lake Travis. Spring water holds a constant 68 degrees year-round. The property includes primitive tent camping, 24 RV sites, a butterfly garden, and walking trails, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Explore Pace Bend Park on Lake Travis: Pace Bend Park is a 1,368-acre Travis County park with over nine miles of Lake Travis shoreline. The park has three boat ramps, 20 improved campsites, designated swim coves, and multi-use trails. The interior is managed as a wildlife preserve accessible by foot, bicycle, or horse.
- Hike and camp at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area: An LCRA park on County Road 414 with 471 acres on Lake Travis. The park has 10 miles of multiuse trails across eight paths, with the Great Escape Trail extending 6.5 miles. Tent camping is available along the Lake Travis shoreline, and the park is open for kayaking and fishing.
- Tour Spicewood Vineyards: A 32-acre estate vineyard on County Road 409 that produces Hill Country wines and is open seven days a week. The property includes an event center that accommodates up to 200 guests.
- Zip-line through Cypress Valley Canopy Tours: An eco-adventure operation on South Paleface Ranch Road offering zip-line tours through the Hill Country canopy. The property also offers five custom treehouses, a ranch house, and glamping tents for overnight stays, plus a ceremony platform over a spring-fed creek for weddings and events.
- Golf at Pedernales Golf Club: A public nine-hole course originally built in 1968 as the Briarcliff Yacht and Golf Club. Willie Nelson purchased the property in 1979. The course remains open to the public and sits adjacent to Nelson's Luck Ranch and the former Pedernales recording studio.
Major Employers in Spicewood
- Lake Travis ISD (Travis County portion) (Education): Lake Travis ISD serves the Travis County portion of Spicewood with approximately 10,771 students across the district. Several LTISD campuses carry Spicewood addresses, including Lake Travis Middle School, Rough Hollow Elementary, and West Cypress Hills Elementary.
- Marble Falls ISD (Burnet County portion) (Education): Marble Falls ISD serves the Burnet County portion of Spicewood with approximately 4,066 students across seven campuses. Spicewood Elementary, located on Spur 191, enrolls about 310 students.
- Tourism and recreation services (Hospitality & recreation): Lake Travis marinas, boat rental operations, wineries, camping venues, and short-term rental management form a substantial local employment base tied to the area's outdoor recreation economy.
- Residential construction and real estate (Construction & real estate): Ongoing development of subdivisions and custom homes along Highway 71, Bee Creek Road, and the Lake Travis shoreline drives construction, trades, and real estate brokerage employment in the area.
Spicewood Schools
Spicewood is split between two school districts based on county lines. Homes in the Burnet County portion attend Marble Falls ISD; homes in the Travis County portion attend Lake Travis ISD. This dual-district situation is a significant consideration for home buyers.
School District: Marble Falls ISD / Lake Travis ISD (split by county line)
Public Schools
Marble Falls Independent School District
Lake Travis Independent School District
Johnson City Independent School District
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spicewood an incorporated city?
No. Spicewood is an unincorporated community with no mayor, city council, or municipal boundaries. Governance falls to Burnet County for most of the area, with portions in Travis County and Blanco County. The community has a post office (ZIP 78669) and a volunteer fire department, but no municipal services.
Which school district serves Spicewood?
It depends on which county your property is in. Homes in the Burnet County portion attend Marble Falls ISD, which has Spicewood Elementary on Spur 191 in the community. Homes in the Travis County portion attend Lake Travis ISD, which has several campuses with Spicewood addresses including Lake Travis Middle School on Bee Creek Road. Check your property's county and district assignment before purchasing.
How far is Spicewood from Austin?
Spicewood is approximately 35 miles west of downtown Austin via State Highway 71 through Bee Cave. The drive typically takes 45 to 60 minutes without heavy traffic, extending to roughly 75 minutes during rush hour on Highway 71.
What outdoor recreation is near Spicewood?
Spicewood sits on the southwestern shore of Lake Travis and offers Pace Bend Park (1,368 acres of Travis County parkland with over nine miles of shoreline), Krause Springs (32 natural springs on a 115-acre property), and Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area (471 LCRA acres with 10 miles of trails). Wineries, a public golf course, and zip-line canopy tours round out the outdoor options.
What is the population of Spicewood?
Spicewood does not have a single official population count because it is an unincorporated community without fixed municipal boundaries. The ZIP code 78669 area encompasses approximately 11,000 to 12,000 residents across portions of Burnet, Travis, and Blanco counties, but this postal zone extends well beyond what most people consider Spicewood proper.
