1118 Gillespie Pl, Austin, TX 78704

Striking Mid-Century Modern in Travis Heights This architecturally captivating mid-century modern home blends iconic design with elevated contemporary style. Rebuilt, updated, and thoughtfully expanded in 2013 by a previous owner, the home showcases clean lines, geometric forms, and curated interiors featuring designer wallpaper and modern finishes that create a warm yet sophisticated atmosphere. A dramatic oak tree welcomes you in the front yard and sets the tone for the open-concept living, dining, and kitchen areas filled with natural light. The kitchen, beautifully updated in 2025, showcases new cabinetry, polished concrete countertops, and a stylish backsplash. Premium Viking appliances add a professional touch to the space. The main floor offers two spacious bedrooms and two full baths, including an ensuite with a walk-in shower. The primary suite is privately located on the second level and features dual vanities, a walk-in shower, and a custom walk-in closet. A flexible layout allows the upper portion of the home—with its own bedroom, bath, and living area—to be closed off with a private entrance, ideal for guests or potential Airbnb income. Enjoy seamless indoor-outdoor living through a private breezeway and three separate balconies. The heated pool with lighting and swim jet, installed in 2021, provides a resort-style retreat surrounded by lush greenery. With a durable metal roof and timeless mid-century aesthetic, this Travis Heights gem offers style, comfort, and versatility in one of Austin’s most sought-after neighborhoods.

Travis Heights is home to Big Stacy Pool, a free, spring-fed swimming hole that most Austinites have never visited because they are too busy fighting for space at Barton Springs. That hidden quality defines the entire neighborhood. Travis Heights has been here since the 1920s, sitting on the bluffs above Lady Bird Lake, and it has managed to stay more residential and quiet than the buzzing corridors on every side. South Congress is one block west. Rainey Street is a short walk across the bridge. And yet the interior streets still feel like the Austin people romanticize.

The neighborhood occupies the high ground east of South Congress and south of Lady Bird Lake, running from the lake to Oltorf Street, with I-35 on the east. The streets climb and wind along bluffs, creating a layered landscape of old trees and homes with views toward downtown. The Congress Avenue Bridge bats are a five-minute walk. Downtown is across the bridge, ten minutes on foot. Perla's and June's All Day anchor South Congress to the west. Elizabeth Street Cafe serves Vietnamese-French pastries. Lenoir offers a farmhouse wine garden. Odd Duck does farm-to-table small plates. Otoko is one of the most exclusive reservations in the city. Emmer and Rye rounds out with inventive tasting menus.

Craftsman bungalows from the 1920s and 1930s make up the largest category, with wide porches and original wood siding. Tudor homes add steep gabled rooflines. Contemporary builds appear on teardown lots. Mid-Century homes fill blocks farther from the lake. A bungalow needing work starts around $700,000, while renovated or new construction with lake views can exceed $2.5 million. Lots are modest - a tenth to a quarter acre - but tree coverage and topographic variation make them feel larger.

Travis Heights Elementary carries a reputation for strong community involvement and a diverse student body. Students feed into Fulmore Middle School and Travis High School. The schools attract families who actively choose an urban public school experience: diverse populations and neighborhood identity. Parent engagement runs high. Private options are plentiful nearby, including Austin Montessori.

Blunn Creek Greenbelt runs through the interior, providing a shaded corridor for walking and nature play. Big Stacy Park has both the spring-fed pool and a neighborhood gathering point. Lady Bird Lake's boardwalk connects the south side to the east side. The Congress Avenue Bridge bats are part of the nightly routine March through October. Weekend mornings might start with coffee on a front porch, a walk to the South Congress farmers market, or a jog along the Butler Trail.

Travis Heights sits between South Congress's commercial energy and the quieter feel of Bouldin Creek. South Congress properties near the avenue carry a premium but sacrifice residential calm. Bouldin Creek offers similar vintage stock on flatter terrain with less lake proximity. East Austin has seen rapid appreciation but lacks the established canopy and topographic character. Travis Heights benefits from being close to everything without being consumed by it.

Travis Heights is for buyers who want the real, historic Austin experience with a ten-minute walk to downtown and South Congress. It fits families who value Craftsman bungalows and front-porch living, couples who want to walk to world-class restaurants, and anyone who believes the best neighborhoods are the ones that have been quietly getting it right for a hundred years.