1133 Gillespie Pl, Austin, TX 78704

Tucked into a gently curving block of Travis Heights, this transcendent residence is the latest stunner from Moore-Tate. Approaching the front door, deeply inhale, as the dramatic entrance will take your breath away. Soaring ceilings draw you into the heart of the house – the large living and dining area. Handsome beams set off the room’s remarkable volume. Cleverly designed built-ins wrap the transition from living room to chef’s gourmet kitchen. The kitchen island is the perfect size for form and functionality, where no detail has been overlooked. You have to see the Miele coffee bar, huge pantry, and a special under-stair supplementary storage area Harry Potter would love. As you stroll outside to the covered back patio overlooking the sparkling, cannonball-friendly swimming pool, you’ll appreciate the dedicated pool shower and separate bath. The large lot still has plenty of room for a game of catch or corn hole. Raised steel beds provide areas for flowers and native plants to add ambiance. The floorplan is ideal for any family – with the primary suite tucked into the back of the lot and the secondary bedrooms and office thoughtfully placed at the other end of the home. Upstairs features a magical room where skylights bathe the space in light, which is a perfect play area, exercise spot or home office. The primary owner’s suite has two separate spaces conducive to spa-like zen and happiness. More built-ins, storage galore, and privacy where needed perfect the layout. The suite features a dedicated sitting area overlooking private views of the garden and pool. With oversized windows, lofty ceilings, and automated window treatments, the suite is filled with natural light, and also features black-out automated window treatments perfect for sleeping.

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.