Zilker Park
Hi, Morgan Smith here with The Austin Street Beat, brought to you by the Shannon Schmitz group and Supreme Lending Title Company. Today I would like to talk about The Zilker Neighborhood of Austin; a relaxed, eclectic neighborhood in the heart of Austin’s Greenbelt Area.
Just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Austin, but still only a 5 minute cab ride away, Zilker Park is the heart of Austin’s festival lifestyle. Originally donated by Andrew Jackson Zilker in 1917, the land was developed into a public park in the 1930’s. Its proximity to Lady Bird Lake, The Barton Creek Greenbelt and Natural Springs, and miles of hiking and biking trails make Zilker Park one of Austin’s premier attractions. With over 350 acres of publicly owned land Zilker has become the home of such events as The Zilker Kite fest, Blues on the Green, and the World Famous Austin City Limits Music Festival. Surrounding attractions include the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, The Zilker Botanical Gardens and Barton Springs Pool, a popular hang out in Austin’s long summers.
With so much natural beauty around, it is tempting to overlook the nightlife, but Zilker has it in abundance. Local businesses such as Uchi, Saxon Pub, Barley Swine, Lick Ice Cream, and Restaurant row on Barton Springs are icons of the area, and coming soon, the all-new South Lamar location of Alamo Draught House, the gold standard for cinephiles. For a more romantic, authentic experience, hillside theatre can be enjoyed at Zilker on a summer’s eve, or walk down to the Long Center for a world-class ballet production. All of this, plus the enticement of being a short walk from South Congress, the heart of Austin’s ‘Keep Austin Weird’ movement, make Zilker one of the hottest spots in Austin.
Centering on the Natural Springs of Barton Creek, the Zilker neighborhood grew up around one of the oldest home in the area, 802 Barton Blvd. The longevity of the neighborhood is reflected in the changing architecture, ranging from AD Stenger to now Modern Homes. This diversity is a direct reflection of the relaxed, eclectic residents of Zilker. A mix of Artists, musicians, students and professionals, the typical Zilker resident loves the outdoors, enjoys biking to the farmer’s market, and hikes the shady Greenbelt on a sunny afternoon. They Are often found working in their garden or raising chickens in their yard, and of course taking advantage of the many dog parks in the area.
With so many amenities, it is easy to see why Zilker is one of the hottest areas of Austin. With homes ranging from the $400k to $1 million, Zilker is a great place to call home.
Thank you for joining me today. I hope you found it informative. If you have any questions about Zilker or any Austin Community, please feel free to contact me. For Austin Street Beat, brought to you by The Shannon Schmitz Group and Supreme Lending Title Company, this has been Morgan Smith.