Spring 2008 is an exciting time at Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay as it prepares for the release of two new neighborhoods and the addition of the community’s newest amenity.

The first of these latest openings is Water Lily. Released in early April, this neighborhood will offer approximately 52 homesites situated around Skywater’s beautiful “Fish Camp.” Consisting of an 8-acre fishing pond, 1-acre breeding pond and 1-acre children’s pond, “Fish Camp” joins an already abundant outdoor amenity line-up.

The fishing ponds will be stocked primarily with bass and will allow only small boats to navigate the waters so as not to disturb the developing habitat or homes surrounding the ponds. Ponds will be ready for fishing by next spring. 

“Skywater’s Fish Camp is an amenity that is truly unique to this area,” said Molly Biglari, owner of Lakes and Hills Development, developers of Skywater.  “It will take homeowners back to a time when the pace of life was much slower and fishing could define a Saturday afternoon.”

The second opening this year will be Skywater’s fifth neighborhood. Yet to be named, homesites will be available for purchase later this summer and will highlight some of Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay’s best features – rolling hills and lake and golf course views. 

The sales for the first three neighborhoods for Skywater over Horseshoe Bay have been extremely successful – Azure, Bravetop and Blue Canto. Azure and Bravetop are virtually sold out with utilities and infrastructure nearing completion.  Blue Canto was released in part last fall with tremendous success; additional homesites will be released this spring. Infrastructure in this third enclave is underway and is scheduled to be completed by August. 

“We strive to set Skywater apart from all other communities through responsible development, amenities and overall lifestyle,” said Biglari. “We are so pleased that our buyers have responded so positively to what we are doing here.”

Fast Facts About Skywater

Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay, listed by Skywater Realty - A DMB Realty Company, has more amenities to offer its residents than any community of its kind. At 1,600 acres, Skywater represents the last large-acreage custom home community in the Horseshoe Bay area. 

• Four 18-hole championship golf courses, including a new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course
• Three clubhouses
• Seven miles of hiking trails
• Four resort-style pools
• Whitesand beaches
• Skywater Deck House, with direct, private access to Lake LBJ
• Sky Harbor Club, with its own private fleet of rental boats, equipment and concierge services

For more information on Skywater, visit www.skywatertexas.com or call 830-596-7600.

Structure first of its kind within community — Sets sustainable design standards for real estate development 

Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay, listed by Skywater Realty - A DMB Realty Company, recently opened The Stone House, the community’s real estate sales office and its first step toward becoming the only project of its scope and size in the country with such a comprehensive level of sustainable design. The Stone House was designed by Tim Blonkvist of San Antonio-based Overland Partners in collaboration with Skywater owners and developing partners, Armand Biglari and David Gersten.

Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay will employ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) initiatives throughout the entire development, from the master plan to the individual public buildings. The Stone House is the first of these structures to be completed and has set the standard to which all other Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay structures will be held.

Developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green building master planned communities. Certification is based on a scoring system of performance in sustainable site development; water savings; energy efficiency; materials selection; and indoor environmental quality. Applicants receive points for each aspect of compliance, with totals denoting a level of certification. These levels are certified, silver, gold and platinum.

The Stone House is LEED-registered and poised to be either gold or platinum certified, which will make it one of only a few buildings in the United States to achieve this level of sustainability. Highly innovative techniques will prove to produce the lowest amount of emissions and limit the amount of refuse emitted during the building phase and beyond, all while remaining one of the most energy and water efficient buildings in Texas. Examples include:

• Use of building materials obtained within a 150 mile radius of the structure, cutting down on transportation and the resulting emissions. These include stone, lumber, lighting and all landscaping.
• In an effort to cut down on waste, the Stone House was designed for adaptation. Currently the sales office, the Stone House at Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay will eventually become Skywater’s private club.
• The roof of The Stone House was constructed as a water catchment system that drains into a 160-gallon cistern. Water obtained from the cistern will be used to care for an on-site organic garden, all landscaping and to flush toilets. The garden will be used to supply food for community gatherings.
• Indoor and outdoor spaces offer residents and visitors ample opportunity to meet, greet and develop lasting relationships.

While the technical features of the structure are impressive, designers of The Stone House at Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay also wanted to ensure that the building offers something tangible back to the community. With that in mind, and wanting to extend the idea of sustainability beyond nature and into relationships, designers have developed an education and resource center within The Stone House. This extensive library will be open to the public and will offer numerous materials on green building master planned communities and living, hopefully encouraging others to employ some of the same initiatives.

About the Skywater Development

Skywater Over Horseshoe Bay is a new community in the Texas Hill Country, just 45 minutes west of Austin. At 1,600 acres, it represents the last large-acreage custom home community in the Horseshoe Bay area and at build-out will have 1,000 homesites, custom homes and villas. The community offers residents 7 miles of hiking and biking trails, tennis courts, private neighborhood pools and gardens, and lush Hill Country landscape as well as a new Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and Clubhouse.

In addition, extensive amenities are available at the neighboring Horseshoe Bay Resort, one of the most highly-sought-after Texas vacation destinations. All residents of Skywater will have the opportunity to become members at the highest level of the resort, which boasts three championship Trent Jones Sr. golf courses, two clubhouses, a private jet center, fitness center and spa, Yacht Club with white sand beaches, resort-style pools and full-service marina. Skywater residents will have the standard resort initiation fee waived, a value of $75,000.

For more information on Skywater, visit www.skywatertexas.com or call 830.596.7600.