Sitting at their favorite table in one of the several dining rooms at the Austin Country Club, two women gaze over the golf course’s meticulously manicured greens as they catch up on family news. Over tea and light snacks, they discuss the dinner party one of the women will soon host at her distinguished Davenport West home. The gathering will celebrate her daughter’s acceptance to an Ivy League university, and her companion, a graduate of the same school, is thrilled to help with the planning.
The two women, longtime friends and neighbors in Davenport West, cherish their time at the private historic club, so close to their upscale neighborhood. They’re especially looking forward to tomorrow’s doubles tennis match at the club with their husbands. Will it be couple vs. couple or men vs. women? Maybe a little of both, the women decide, as they leave the dining room for a leisurely walk down to the marina, where they can watch boaters pulling into their slips after a day on Lake Austin. “We love to see the water, and we like that we can easily walk to the lake,” says Davenport West resident Laura Gruber. “It’s a wonderful place to walk or run with our dogs.”
Well-Appointed Homes Minutes from a Magnificent Nature Preserve
Davenport West is situated 20 minutes northwest of downtown Austin, just across the highway from the esteemed Austin Country Club and down the road from the famous Pennybacker Bridge. Davenport West neighbors can be at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in about 25 minutes.
Development in Davenport West began in 1992 and continued through 2007 with custom, luxury homes featuring chef’s kitchens, spas, wine cellars and boat docks. Architectural influences here cover a range of styles, from traditional, Mediterranean, Tuscan to French Tudor. Davenport West homes feature many premier amenities such as guest quarters, outdoor kitchens and living rooms, billiards rooms, media rooms, exercise rooms, heated stone floors, elegant landscaping, and gated lots. Many of the homes also have vaulted ceilings, custom woodwork, elevators, cherrywood walls, wainscoted archways, and of course, magnificent views. The peaceful but fun-loving community hosts a variety of neighborhood events, including the annual Halloween gathering that brings out costumed partygoers of all ages.
Cradled in Nature’s Embrace, with the Country Club Minutes Away
In addition to enjoying their luxurious homes, neighbors often explore their own nature’s wonderland at the spectacular 22-acre Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, just a few minutes from home. Vast expanses of grassland, woodland and wetland habitats protect hundreds of species of native plants and animals, and well-maintained trails make for an exhilarating hike.
Just minutes away and beneath one of the most iconic and beautiful sites in Austin — the Pennybacker Bridge — lays the Austin Country Club. Founded in 1899, the storied Austin Country Club is one of the oldest existing golf clubs in Texas. Famed instructor Harvey Penick called it his home club. Its setting is dazzling, lush and beautiful, on the south shore of Lake Austin. The stated mission of Austin Country Club is “to provide a tradition-rich, outstanding private country club known for the quality of its membership and for service that exceeds expectations.”
The Club includes an 18-hole Pete Dye-designed course, Harvey Penick learning center, 10 lighted tennis courts (including two clay-surfaced courts), a heated pool, fitness facility and 57 boat slips. Members have the luxury of access to an assortment of dining venues, a large ballroom, meeting facilities and plush men’s and ladies’ locker rooms inside the large clubhouse.
Luxurious Shopping and Exemplary Schools
Austin’s poshest shopping center, The Domain, hosts Barney’s, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, and about 100 other upscale and mainstream retailers just over than 15 minutes from Davenport West. Eight other major shopping centers are all within about 15 minutes or less of the neighborhood. Together, they host about 500 fine department stores, movie theaters, national brand retailers, services, restaurants, and local merchants.
Homeowners are also attracted to Davenport West for the highly-rated schools. Children who live in Davenport West attend schools in the excellent Eanes Independent School District — Bridgepoint Elementary School, Hill Country Middle School and Westlake High School. Each has earned the highest “Exemplary” rating conferred by the Texas Education Agency. “There are lots of kids all around the same age,” says Gruber, who’s lived in Davenport West for 10 years. “They have fun playing together.”
Sumptuous Living Among Longtime Friends
Davenport West offers its residents a sumptuous atmosphere characterized by impressive luxury homes on tree-shaded, beautifully landscaped lots. Many of the community’s homeowners are members of the prestigious Austin Country Club, and actively enjoy golf, tennis and boating. Near the country club, a generous selection of upscale shops and restaurants offer additional convenience.
Neighbors relish the expansive, glittering views of Lake Austin, and exploring the trails that allow easy access to the water. And they look forward to occasionally visiting the nearby Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve to experience nature’s untamed beauty.
People who live in Davenport West appreciate the kinship they share with their neighbors; the kids have fun playing and attending top-notch schools together, and the parents enjoy social time together, too. “We have a great feeling of camaraderie with our neighbors. We’re all very compatible,” says Gruber. “Our kids are all the same age and they have grown up together.”