The 13th Annual
Heritage Homes Tour
Travis Heights
Mother's Day Weekend
Saturday, May 7, 2005
10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
History of Travis Heights
Travis Heights, one of Austin’s older and more culturally and aesthetically diverse neighborhoods, is the site of the 2005 Heritage Homes Tour. With its beautiful mature trees and streets that wind through the hilly landscape, Travis Heights has become one of Austin’s most appealing districts to explore. The 2005 Heritage Homes Tour celebrates the past and present of this beloved Austin neighborhood.
The tour will feature seven of Austin’s loveliest historic homes representing the varied architectural styles in the neighborhood. Houses in Travis Heights are one and two stories in height, largely constructed between the two World Wars as bungalows or in eclectic architectural styles – Colonial, Spanish Colonial, and Tudor Revival styles. While several fine estates exist, more typical are modest to medium style homes, with designs from lumber yards or pattern books rather than architect-designed
Map of featured homes
Neighborhood History
The development of South Austin was slow, considering its proximity to downtown and the Capitol. Ferries crossed the rivers from its earliest days and after the Civil War a pontoon bridge transversed the Colorado. Only in 1883 was a six-span truss bridge on stone piers built at Congress Avenue to open the city to the south, and that remained the major vehicular bridge spanning the Colorado for some years.
The Travis Heights subdivision was opened for sale in 1913 by Gen. W.H. Stacy, a former commander of the Texas National Guard. The Stacy family was pivotal in the development of northern South Austin in the 1890-1940 period. Gen. Stacy was instrumental in the creation of Fairview Park, Austin’s first real suburb, which is located directly to the west of Travis Heights. He and his sons and investor R. Brown Robbins worked together on the development of Travis Heights, and the family is remembered today for their donation of Stacy Park as well.
The Travis Heights subdivision was an interesting mixture of old and new planning ideals. The terrain was hilly, of a sort earlier developers might have spurned, and many of the roadways within the neighborhood wind pleasantly through the area. The Travis Heights neighborhood is bordered by Riverside Drive on the north, Oltorf Street on the south, South Congress Avenue on the west and IH-35 on the east.
To promote the properties on the newly developing south bank of the Colorado River, General Stacy ran streetcars full of prospective buyers out to Travis Heights from the Capitol. With the neighborhood’s grand views and variety of lot sizes and prices, the venture was an immediate success. While the Great Depression slowed the development of the neighborhood and perhaps lowered expectations, many fine, handsome houses were constructed and later infill has been generally sympathetic.
Ninety years after the first Travis Heights homes were built, Gen. Stacy would doubtless be pleased with his efforts. Travis Heights has matured well, with fine homes, trees and views, much sought after for their beauty and convenience. Doubtless both the prices of the homes and downtown view across the river would amaze him."
Travis Heights history compiled by Peter Flagg Maxson, architectural historian.
All images courtesy Shoehorn Design.
