Horseshoe Bay Resort, built along the shores of Lake Lyndon B. Johnson, is just over an hour away from downtown Austin but provides a getaway as good as many that require a plane ticket and a lot more travel to enjoy. The resort has private home and condo rentals as well as rooms in a main hotel tower.
During a stay at Horseshoe Bay guests can spend a day on the water or on the green. There are paddleboards, kayaks and Sea-Doos available to rent and take out on the lake or for a hosted experience, guests can charter a fishing boat tour or book a wakeboarding or wakesurfing lesson. Pro tip – for first-timers the latter is easier to learn.
For those who rather relax, there’s a spa with a sauna, resistance pool and menu of services and they recently debuted the only Floating Pool in North America. The pool floats on the edge of Lake LBJ and has a neighboring sandy beach where guests can get cocktails and light bites from The Shack, Sand Bar, and H2O Bar. Kids and thrill-seeking adults will like the Splash Safari Aqua Park with a floating obstacle course, climbing walls, slides, balance beams and more.
Out of the water, people come to the resort to take a swing at their three golf courses designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and a signature Jack Nicklaus members-only course. There’s also an 18-hole neon-lit course that’s fun for veteran and amateur golfers alike. And, this summer Horseshoe Bay became home to the Mouratoglou Tennis Center, an esteemed tennis program named after Patrick Mouratoglou, a tennis instructor known for producing world-ranked tennis stars including Serena Williams and Coco Gauff. The tennis center offers lessons in tennis and pickleball and weekend camps for each.
To stay fueled for through all the activities the resort there are several dining options. J’s Bar & Restaurant in the main tower has an abundance weekend brunch buffet with everything from an omelet station to a donut bar for a reasonable price. For a lakefront view, guests can dine at Waterfront Bar & Grill. But, the real culinary prize is Cap Rock, generally reserved for Horseshoe Bay members. The kitchen is helmed by Chef Miguel Ortiz and the dining experience is delightful. Chef shared that the redfish with spatzle is a family recipe and we see why it has a place on the menu. Other favorites are the Roasted Tomahawk Porkchop with smoked cheddar Barton Creek stone ground grits and brussels sprouts and the rich but rewarding Chateaubriand for two, served with mashed potatoes, carrots and lobster claws. While it’s a perk of membership, membership is something to consider for golf and/or tennis aficionados. It also includes year-round events and the resort boasts it’s “one of the friendliest memberships in Texas.” Find more information about the resort and membership at www.hsbresort.com