Nature Lovers Delight in the Lush Vegetation and Large Parcels of Land

Driftwood is an unincorporated village of about 2,500 residents. Established in the 1880’s, it is a quiet community with a mix of real estate listings for sale of older homes and more upscale, recently constructed custom homes. Many of listings are situated in popular subdivisions such as Howard Ranch, Lanier Ranch, Onion Creek Ranch, Vineyard Estates and Woodland Estates. These sought-after neighborhoods boast grand homes on large parcels of land and appeal to custom home buyers who want to make their home in a place rich with country atmosphere and lifestyle, as well as convenient proximity to Austin.

“We are smack-dab in the middle of nowhere, and that’s part of the beauty of it,” says Will Jones of The Salt Lick, Driftwood’s most famous restaurant. “Real estate here is an oasis of lush vegetation and wildlife that people really love.”

Breathe the Clean Country Air and Savor a Sip of Fine Wine

As if the beautiful hill country real estate covered with open fields, live oaks and primitive grasses weren’t enough to please local residents; there are several other popular attractions. The historic Texas Hill Country Trail wanders through the town’s real estate, and both bird watchers and wine tasters enjoy Driftwood. Driftwood Estate Winery is a local vineyard that grows and makes wine in Driftwood and offers tasting days and sunset events.

Camp Ben McCulloch was first organized – with a membership of just 17 – in the summer of 1896 on the scenic shores of Driftwood’s Onion Creek. By about 1930 it was the largest United Confederate Veterans Camp in the South. Today, the site offers camping facilities year round and features beautiful stone buildings for group outings. Camp Ben McCulloch invites everyone to come for eight days of family fun and entertainment at the annual Reunion. The Reunion features music, dancing, camping, swimming, food, a carnival, bingo, games, washer pitching, and plenty of quality time to catch up with friends and family.

Feast on World-Famous Barbeque, Tuscan Classics and New American Cuisine

By far, the most famous draw in Driftwood, is the world-renowned Salt Lick. The Salt Lick is an award-winning barbecue restaurant that has been featured on a number of national television programs and magazines. The restaurant, under the shady canopy of shady old trees, has grown from humble beginnings to a restaurant seating 800 people, and serving about 2,000 people on an average Saturday. People Magazine said, “The best pork ribs I had anywhere were a The Salt Lick in Driftwood.” Mentions in Southern Living included “This is where we would go if we could visit only one place.” And, The Salt Lick was listed in “31 Places to Go This Summer” in the New York Times.

Weekends at the Saltlick bring busloads of out-of-towners willing to wait in the breezy shade beneath cottonwoods to have a seat at one of the restaurants long wooden tables and enjoy a feast of brisket, ribs, chicken and sausage family-style. Salt Lick Cellars sells bottled wine and tasting flights of a wide variety of Texas wines and some made from its own vineyard-harvested grapes. Residents, who are in the know, head over early and visit the take-out window to skip the lines.

Other dining options in Driftwood include the popular Italian restaurant Trattoria Lisina serving fine Tuscan classics in a relaxed family atmosphere – favorite menu items include Osso Buco and Bistecca alla Fiorentina, a top-quality ribeye steak prepared with potato puree & roasted tomatoes with oregano and ricotta salata. Driftwood’s highly regarded Creek Road Café serves a New American menu with standout dishes like Lonesome Lamb Chops, lamb chops grilled and served with wild mushroom parmesan risotto and a Cabernet-Bing cherry reduction and the vegetable of the day.

Get Your Groceries and Everything Else on Your Shopping List at HEB and SouthPark Meadows

Locals pick up their last-minute or ordinary, routine groceries – as well as a remarkable hamburger or sandwich – at Driftwood’s Hays City Store. For major grocery shopping, there’s a large and complete HEB just about 10 minutes away in Dripping Springs.

For a more extensive shopping spree, take the 25-minute drive to Southpark Meadows, which features 99 stores and 29 restaurants – enough to keep shoppers busy for an entire day. Some of the more popular stores include Ross, Bed Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Dress Barn, JC Penney, Lane Bryant, Marshall’s, Men’s Wearhouse, Office Max, Payless Shoes, PetsSmart, Super Target, Hobby Lobby, Ashley Furniture, as well as Walmart, Sam’s Club and many more.

SouthPark also features a variety of restaurants including the authentic Tex-Mex of Serranos, mouthwatering steak, chicken and fish at the Longhorn Steakhouse, as well as popular favorites Chili’s, Trudy’s and Friday’s among others. For a dinner and movie date night, locals take advantage of the 14-screen Cinemark movie theater followed by something sweet from Amy’s Ice Cream. Both are also conveniently located in SouthPark.

Local Schools and Nearby Medical Care

In addition to the beautiful countryside, gorgeous homes and selection of popular restaurants, homeowners in Driftwood appreciate the area’s schools and nearby medical care. Students living in Driftwood attend Wimberley Independent School District’s Scudder Elementary, Danforth Middle and Wimberley High School. Seton Southwest Hospital, less than 15 minutes away in southwest Austin, is a 33-bed state-of-the-art facility serving the needs of Driftwood and all of the southwest Austin region. As an acute care hospital, Seton Southwest provides high quality care and a complete range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical, obstetric and rehabilitation services.

Make Your Home under the Romantic, Starry Skies in Driftwood

Finding a piece of real estate to call home “Deep in the Heart of Texas” can be an exciting opportunity. For home buyers in search of a high-end custom home on a large parcel of land in a small country town that also offers convenient access to Austin, there’s plenty to choose from in Driftwood. Just as in the lyrics to the song, a home in Driftwood offers romantic, starry nights with a charming small town lifestyle. A smart home buying plan will help you find the right home at the right price, and make your move to Driftwood a pleasant experience that you’ll sing about for a long, long time.

Contact a Driftwood Specialist

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