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Riverboats
were very popular at the turn of the century and made regular excursions
to what was then known as Lake McDonald. A paddleboat called the Ben
Hur used to take people up to Camp Chautauqua for parties before the
Colorado River
was dammed. The water level is fairly constant. At 1,830 acres
and twenty-two miles long, Lake Austin is ideal for water-skiing,
boating and swimming.
What is now Lake Austin was once a thriving area of early settlements.
The water has since covered up several springs. Power House Springs
was discovered during the construction of one of the dams in 1893.
Bee Springs, just above Tom
Miller Dam, is under the convergence of Bee Creek and Lake Austin.
Mormon Springs was the site of a Mormon settlement in 1846 and was
also used for a gristmill. Mount Bonnell Springs is a cluster of water
sources near the mountain. Santa Monica Springs was also a popular
watering hole and many artifacts were found there. The waters of Lake
Austin, being rich in minerals, were once bottled by early settlers
in the 1890s.
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Lake
Austin
Photo Courtesy of Chandra Moira Beal |
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Stradling
Lake Austin
Photo Courtesy of Chandra Moira Beal |
Walsh
Boat Landing
This
is a great place to stop and rest on Lake Austin Boulevard just north
of Oyster Landing-a very popular little strip of trendy restaurants
and shops. The boat launch has a dock where you can swim up to fifty
feet out from the shore. An open water swim is held here each September.
There are a couple of picnic tables and bathrooms for public use.
The LCRA headquarters is located across the street and has information
about Lake Austin and other facilities.
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Fritz
Hughes Park
This
park is off of RR 620 on Low Water Crossing Road (turn left on Fritz
Hughes Road). It's a five-acre day use park with rest rooms, picnic
tables and grills, a playscape and sports courts. The park is faced
by residential housing on one side and the lake on the other. The
access road winds around to the lake front. It's not a great swimming
spot because the water can be swift, but it is allowed.
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Mary
Quinlan Park
This
park at the very end of Quinlan Park Road, has the only boat ramp
within several miles. It is 5.8 acres and for day use only. The park
has rest rooms, a few picnic tables and grills, sports courts, and
easy access to the lake.
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Selma
Hughes Park
Photo Courtesy of Chandra Moira Beal |
Selma
Hughes Park
This
park off of Quinlan Park Road on Selma Hughes Park Road is a quiet
five acres for day use only, with rest rooms, picnic tables and grills.
It is a small shaded park with a sandy beach.
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Hwy.
360 Boat Ramp
Located
just under the Percy
Pennybacker Bridge, there is a three-acre grassy area where picnicking
is allowed. The boat ramp and park are for day use only, and rest
rooms are available. This park has gained a reputation for moonlight
skinny-dipping. Swim at your own risk.
Access is limited to the narrow, northern portions of Lake Austin.
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