About Muleshoe Bend
Muleshoe Bend is a rural residential area located in an unincorporated portion of Travis County, Texas, near the northwestern shore of Lake Travis. The community sits roughly 35 miles northwest of downtown Austin, accessed primarily via RR 1431 and Singleton Bend Road. The area takes its name from Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers property along the Colorado River arm of Lake Travis. The 78654 zip code covers the surrounding region, which straddles the Travis and Burnet county lines.
Properties in Muleshoe Bend consist of large-acreage homesites and custom-built residences on lots typically ranging from 1 acre to 10 or more acres. Home prices vary widely based on lake access, acreage, and construction quality, generally ranging from $400,000 to $900,000 for improved residential properties. Homes in the area feature Hill Country construction materials including native limestone, metal roofing, and stucco exteriors. Many properties include detached workshops, horse facilities, or agricultural structures.
The Muleshoe Bend area is served by Marble Falls Independent School District. Students typically attend Highland Lakes Elementary School, Marble Falls Middle School, and Marble Falls High School. Highland Lakes Elementary serves grades pre-K through 5. Marble Falls Middle School enrolls students in grades 6 through 8. Marble Falls High School serves grades 9 through 12 and competes in UIL Conference 4A athletics, offering career and technical education programs and dual-credit courses through Central Texas College.
Access to Muleshoe Bend is primarily via RR 1431, which connects east to Cedar Park and Leander in approximately 20 to 25 minutes and west to Marble Falls in roughly 15 minutes. The drive to downtown Austin takes 40 to 50 minutes via RR 1431 to US 183 or SH 71. The area has a rural character with no public transit service, and residents rely on personal vehicles for daily transportation. Marble Falls and the US 281 commercial corridor provide the nearest full-service grocery, medical, and retail options.
Living in Muleshoe Bend
Muleshoe Bend attracts residents seeking rural Hill Country acreage with proximity to Lake Travis. The area includes a mix of full-time residents and owners with weekend or seasonal properties. Median household incomes in the broader area are approximately $70,000 to $85,000. Many property owners maintain agricultural exemptions for livestock or hay production, which reduces property tax obligations. The unincorporated setting means no city services, with residents relying on well water, septic systems, and volunteer fire department coverage.
Daily life in Muleshoe Bend centers on the natural landscape. Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area offers shoreline access to Lake Travis for fishing, kayaking, and swimming when lake levels permit. Pace Bend Park, operated by Travis County, is roughly 10 miles south along the lake with 1,368 acres of hiking trails, cliff access, and primitive camping. Grocery shopping and medical appointments require a drive to Marble Falls (15 minutes west) where H-E-B, Walmart, and Baylor Scott & White clinic are located, or to Cedar Park (25 minutes east) for additional retail and dining options along US 183.