Overview
While only about a 45-minute drive west of Austin, the 7,000-acre Horseshoe Bay Resort feels a world away. It is located along the banks of Lake LBJ, a massive constant-level lake immune from droughts. This makes the resort a perfect getaway for Austinites when their lakes dry up due to drought (as they did in 2009).
The resort is tucked in the rolling Hill Country and is a peaceful place with a slow pace. Horseshoe Bay was founded in 1971 and was purchased by its current owners, the Jaffe Group, in 1996. Martha Heagany, Chief Marketing Officer, say, “There is something for everybody for every season.”
Some people live at Horseshoe Bay year-round and others stay here seasonally. Most of all, it is very popular with travelers and it has several types of accommodations for guests. Heagany says in the summer, the Horseshoe Bay Resort is very popular with families, many of whom stay in the multi-bedroom condos and villas. During spring and fall, it is most popular with golfers and couples who want a getaway, some of whom stay in the hotel. There are weddings here year-round. Anyone who is an official overnight guest at the resort has access to all of the resort’s amenities.
The Feel
The first thing that struck me about Horseshoe Bay was how friendly and happy everybody was, from the front desk attendant to the chef at the omelet station at breakfast. At first I thought it was because they knew I was there, but people who didn’t know who I was (and people I eavesdropped on) showed true Southern hospitality, and after a while, I got the feeling that’s just how people are there. Everyone I spoke to raved about how much they lived living and working in this area. The guests also seemed to all be having a wonderful time. While Horseshoe Bay is a posh resort, it is not stuck-up or pretentious in the least. Expect a family-friendly place with plenty of Texas charm.
Charlotte Buikema, the concierge and guest services supervisor, made me feel even more at home. A self-described “mother hen,” Charlotte sits near the hotel entrance and has more knowledge of and passion for the Hill Country than anyone I have ever met. Not only can she help you navigate the resort, but she used to manage a Texas winery, so she can tell you about all of the 30-something wineries in the Hill Country (in addition to the best place for breakfast in nearby Marble Falls, every site you must see in Fredericksburg, and so on).
Golf
If you are a golfer, you will be in heaven at Horseshoe Bay. Golf Magazine has named Horseshoe Bay one of the best golf resorts in America for to its three 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr, who has designed hundreds of courses. The three courses at Horseshoe Bay are Slick Rock, Ram Rock, and Apple Rock. Ram Rock is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in Texas. Slick Rock is easier. You can find golf gear and attire at the Cap Rock and Slick Rock Pro Shops.
Just a short walk from the Marriott is Whitewater, a beautiful and tropical-themed 18-hole putting course that is par 72. It is made of real Bermuda grass and has waterfalls along the way. If you’re lucky, you will spot some flamingos. Heagany says there are only a handful of other putting courses like this in the country.
A Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course is currently under development at Horseshoe Bay, so the resort will soon have four full golf courses.
Other Amenities
The grounds around the Marriott are beautifully sculpted with plentiful amenities to keep both residents and guests busy. Next to the pool is a gorgeous hot tub, which Heagany says is large enough to fit 27 people. There are tall rocks throughout it that look like petrified wood and some have bronze life-size statues perched above them; this in combination with the churning water makes it look like a miniature mythological ocean. Nearby is a small and popular white sand beach alongside Lake LBJ. Adults can lounge in the beach chairs and kids can play at Turtle Beach, a child-friendly wading area. Around the corner is the activity lawn, a large rectangle of lush grass frequently used for planned programs for children, such as Easter egg hunts, bobbing for apples on Thanksgiving, and so on. There are many programs throughout the year for children, and there is even a kids club.
The Bayside Fitness Center features every type of equipment you would need, and there are even televisions on the treadmills. A new, 10,000 square foot fitness center is in the works. Horseshoe Bay also features 16 tennis courts, some specifically for kids (these are the first tennis courts in the country to be specifically designed for children up to age 10). The resort also has a large marina, so if you love water sports, you can rent Waverunners, Cobalt boats, and a variety of other high-end boats and watercraft.
The resort’s Bayside Spa features a resistance pool, steam rooms, and dry saunas. Guests can receive a variety of spa treatments, such as massages and manicures. The resort will soon be adding a 20,000 square foot spa that will replace old tennis courts.
One of the resort's most unique amenities is the Horseshoe Bay Resort Airport and Jet Center. It has a terminal building with a luxury passenger lounge in addition to a 6,000-foot lighted runway, which is one of the largest private airstrips in Texas. There are some private homes near the airport that have their own hangars, which look like giant garages attached to the house. This is the first time I have seen such a thing, and it’s quite a sight! If you don’t have your own private jet to fly in on, you can fly Air Horseshoe, which is a charter jet service.