Barton Creek Neighborhood Guide
About Barton Creek
Barton Creek is a quiet, safe, upscale neighborhood in west Austin where wealthy Austinites who like a little bit more land and safety reside. While there are some houses directly off the main roads, Barton Creek Blvd and Lost Creek Blvd, most houses are within separate gated communities creating dozens of private enclaves within Barton Creek. These include Amarra, Verano, Calera, Governor’s Hills and others, each with their own distinct feel. At the center of it all is the Barton Creek Country Club/Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa which we’ll dive into more detail further below.
Things to Do in Barton Creek
Barton Creek Market
Want something quick to eat or don’t want to deal with the masses at HEB? Check out the Barton Creek Market right on Barton Creek Blvd. You can get a freshly made sandwich for lunch or grab that bottle wine for dinner.
Marigold Market + Cafe
Talk about a great neighborhood spot right off Southwest Parkway. Perfect to grab a quick breakfast after dropping the little one off at school or grabbing a six-pack for the UT game.
Velvet Joe’s Coffee House
A boutique coffee shop within the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa serving specialty coffee blends, espresso, cappuccino and latte beverages as well as fresh baked goods.
Barton Creek Square Mall
Head here for a day of shopping and lunching in the luxury stores and restaurants.
Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa
Featuring multiple golf courses, dining, swimming, tennis, and spa facilities.
Want a personalized tour of a particular area, route or home?
Are Barton Creek Schools Good?
Public Schools
Barton Creek is zoned to the Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD). This is the main school district that serves the greater Austin area with 116 schools and more than 74,000 students. However, some residents have found success requesting a transfer to Eanes ISD which is the top school district in Austin.
Quick Stats for AISD
Average ACT Score: 23.1 (State: 20.2)
Average SAT Score: 1058 (State: 1019)
Graduation Rate: 94.4% (State: 90.3%)
Schools vary quite a bit within the district, though, so children living in the Barton Creek neighborhood will attend the following schools:
Elementary - Oak Hill Elementary School
Middle - O. Henry Middle School
High School - Austin High School
See how they compare - click here
The public schools in Barton Creek are rated A by Niche.
Private Schools
Barton Creek is certainly an affluent area of town so it is no surprise many parents choose to enroll their kids in private schools. Fortunately, there are a number of top-rated options for kids of all-ages and you will certainly see yard-signs throughout the communities boasting of the son’s or daughter’s recent graduation.
Westlake Hills Presbyterian Preschool - WHP Preschool welcomes all kids of ages 17 months - 5 years old, regardless of religion. Note, all students do participate in Music, Spanish and Chapel. They also offer part-time and full-time classes so this is a wonderful option for any stay-at-home mom or dad looking for a few hours of break and some socialization for their little one(s). The proximity right at the corner of Barton Creek Blvd and Bee Caves Rd makes it especially convenient.
Wonderwell - Wonderwell embraces the Reggio Emilia philosophy which is similar to Montessori with a key difference being Reggio Emilia focuses on group learning vs independent learning. Wonderwell welcomes all kids ages 2-6 y.o., but be certain to sign up early as they often have a waitlist.
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School - St. Andrew’s welcomes all faiths and all kids from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Note, the lower and middle schools are located at 1112 West 31st St, 78704 while the upper school is located at 5901 Southwest Pkwy, 78735 (a quick drive from Barton creek). Just like everyone in town knows Westlake High School (Eanes ISD) is the top public school in town, everyone knows St. Andrew’s is arguably the top private school in town.
St. Michael’s Catholic Academy - SMCA is a Christ-centered, college preparatory learning community focused exclusively on grades 9th - 12th grade. With 100% college attendance rate and it being located in the middle of Barton Creek Blvd, it becomes a default school for many families in Barton Creek.
Commute Times
Barton Creek to the Airport - 22 min. by car (Google Maps link)
Barton Creek to Downtown - 23 min. by car (Google Maps link)
Boundaries
East to West: Bee Caves Road to Southwest Parkway
North to South: Barton Creek to Lost Creek
Nearby Neighborhoods
Blog Mentions
The Barton Creek Lifestyle
Living in Barton Creek is about enjoying one’s family, friends and neighbors all while being a relatively traffic-free 20 minutes from downtown and the airport, and 15 minutes from Bee Caves and Westlake Village. All residents have access (as part of the mandatory social membership) to the Barton Creek Country Club and everything the Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa have to offer. Families are certain to take advantage of the heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools (when their own personal pool heaters break), the amazing holiday spectaculars (Easter Egg hunts, Halloween Spooktacular, Christmas with Santa, etc), and the huge fitness center. Upgrade your membership to the Tennis and/or Golf membership and enjoy year-round tennis leagues and access to four professional-level golf courses (3 of which are within Barton Creek (Fazio Canyons, Fazio Foothills, Coore Crenshaw) and one overlooking Lake Travis in Spicewood, TX (Palmer Lakeside)).
If you’re a biker, then you are in luck as the mostly 35-mph speed limit is welcoming on Barton Creek Blvd, and the rolling hills will certainly give the Colorado and California natives something to remember home with. For those nature lovers, head over to the Lost Creek Country Club and right past the entrance, underneath the bridge, you will see a trail. This trail crosses Barton Creek (the actual creek) and connects to the Barton Creek Greenbelt which offers a seemingly unlimited number of trails to hike or trail run on. Take a dip and pose for a selfie in Sculpture Falls.
Why You’ll Love Living in Barton Creek
You’ll fall in love with the drive home during sunset when you enter through Bee Caves Rd onto Barton Creek Blvd. The warm hues casting rays on the gorgeous Omni resort and amazing houses dotting the sprawling hills. You definitely see why some call this part of town the hill country.
You’ll also love the sense of community with your neighbors since the neighborhood is broken up into individual, gated communities. It may be Halloween night when all the kids in the neighborhood go trick or treating while the parents follow behind catching up on how fast their kids are growing or the Verano women who are all on a group chat.
Homes in Barton Creek
Homes in Barton Creek range from the 1970s up to the 2020s, including the newest and final development, Holden Hills, being built on the corner of Southwest Parkway and Barton Creek Blvd by Stratus Properties. Most homes are single-family homes and range from .25 acre to several acres, and $1m - $5m. There are a limited number of luxury villas and apartments in the area, and the Querencia which is an upscale retirement home (where a number of elderly family members may reside if not in their own guest houses/casitas).