Stay in a mansion at Villa Buchanan, which overlooks 10 acres of beautifully landscaped, terraced yard and 1,000 feet of shoreline. Courtesy photo
Turn your family reunion into a one-of-a-kind waterfront experience. These charming vacation homes and resorts off Lake LBJ and Lake Buchanan will be a getaway to remember. Families come back year after year to these four gems. Each are large enough to host the extended family and feature fun amenities and modern comforts.
Throughout the surrounding Highland Lakes, you will find a friendly local vibe. Family-owned businesses, homestyle restaurants, and quaint shops offer delightful adventures on the town. Experience true “lake life” at these impressive waterfront properties.
Villa Buchanan
Vacation like royalty at Villa Buchanan with a stay that truly takes your breath away. This luxurious, 10-acre property has a main house and a guest house with 1,000 feet of lakefront. The property is leased to only one group at a time, so the whole 10 acres is devoted to you.
The 7,000-square-foot main house — better described as a mansion — has seven large bedrooms and one super-large master suite. Most of the bedrooms have double French doors that lead to a private balcony. The guest house has two bedrooms, one bath, full kitchen, and a large billiards room.
Each bedroom is stylishly decorated with comfortable throws and decadently soft linens. The bathrooms have modern fixtures and are impeccably clean. The property has a covered patio, a picnic area, and a jetty.
If you think the daytime views are stunning, just wait until night falls and the stars come out. Stargaze all night and wake up to an easy Texas sunrise.
The houses are situated on a hill overlooking the lake and the beautifully landscaped grounds. There is a gently tiered walk down to the serene edge of Lake Buchanan.
Villa Buchanan is located at 206 Forest Drive in Buchanan Dam. For more information, visit villabuchanan.com
[image id="25130" title="River Oaks Retreat Lake LBJ"] River Oaks Retreat can fit the whole family and offers an exciting experience to guests of any age. Courtesy photo
River Oaks Retreat
Make River Oaks Retreat your home for the weekend and enjoy stunning lake views and the expansive Hill County landscape. This vacation rental boasts “the smoothest water on the lake” for good reason. Located on the Llano River arm of Lake LBJ, the house is perched above the water’s edge with 50 feet of waterfront.
River Oaks Retreat is outfitted with modern fixtures, contemporary furniture, and tasteful decorations throughout. A large patio includes an outdoor kitchen, a 50-inch television, a ping-pong table, and plenty of seating. The five-bedroom, 4½-bath house sleeps 16 guests — perfect for multiple families with lots of kids.
There is a bunkhouse — better described as a “kids’ retreat” — on the top floor with four bunk beds. The bunkhouse also has its own balcony (with a foosball table!) overlooking the property.
Out toward the water’s edge is a stone fire pit and seating area. The double-decker boathouse has an area up top with lounge chairs to catch the sun’s rays and a rope swing to fly into the wonderfully inviting water.
River Oaks Retreat is located at 2602 River Oaks Drive in Kingsland. View the online listing or email debby@villasonthelake.me for more information.
[image id="25129" title="Valentine Lakeside Resort Kingsland"] Take your family on a fishing retreat to Valentine Lakeside Resort, which has 19 comfortable units that can host a reunion of any size. Courtesy photo
Valentine Lakeside Resort
If you’re lookin’ for a family fishin’ trip, you’ll fall in love with Valentine Lakeside Resort! This spot is located on the ultra-calm and quiet Llano River arm of Lake LBJ. Buy your bait and tackle from the on-site Essentials Store and cast a line off the lighted fishing house.
The property has lush grounds with trees shading the wide expanses of grass. There are plenty of lawn games and a heart-shaped pool. Guests can also rent kayaks, standup paddleboards, and 15-foot swim mats.
The resort is also B.Y.O.B. — Bring Your Own Boat. Launch into the lake from a private concrete ramp and dock your craft in one of the covered boat slips. Most have lifts to raise your boat out of water. There are also ramps for personal watercraft and ample parking for your trailer.
Valentine Lakeside Resort has 19 comfortable units. Each is equipped with all the standard comforts as well as fully equipped kitchenettes, charcoal grills, and picnic tables. Each unit, from the cabins to the lakeside suites, houses four to 20 guests.
For the nomadic travelers, there are 11 RV spaces with full hookups.
Valentine Lakeside Resort is located at 814 Euel Moore Drive in Kingsland. For more information, visit valentinelakeside.com or call (325) 388-4418.
[image id="25125" title="Cedar Lodge Lake Buchanan"] Cedar Lodge offers the best lakeside cabin rentals in the Texas Hill Country with 13 authentic, hand-built log cabins. Courtesy photo
Cedar Lodge
The best cabin rentals in Texas can be found at Cedar Lodge on Lake Buchanan. Cedar Lodge has 13 hand-built, authentic log cabins on site. The cozy cabins vary in size and can sleep anywhere from four to 14 people.
Have a large get-together to host? Rent the whole resort — the total sleeping capacity is 91 people. Cedar Lodge accepts reservations up to one year in advance, so get a head start on planning your next family reunion or company retreat.
Cedar Lodge has the whole shebang for your buck for a fun time on Lake Buchanan. It offers boat rentals exclusively for lake cabin guests, so you won’t have to deal with an outside party. Rent a pontoon boat or a Sea-Doo as well as kayaks and standup paddleboards.
If you’d rather have someone else in the driver’s seat, ride along with Capt. Kim. Cedar Lodge hosts three pontoon cruises from which to choose: the Bald Eagle Cruise, the Sunset Cruise, or the Scenic Waterfall Cruise.
Cedar Lodge also has two gathering halls for family meals and meetings of any size. Each hall has fully quipped kitchens, tables, chairs, and outdoor picnic areas.
The 1-acre park has volleyball, basketball, washers, horseshoes, a swimming pool, and more. There is also a game room with ping-pong, foosball, a pool table, a TV, and Wi-Fi.
Cedar Lodge is located at 1400 Texas 261 in Buchanan Dam. For more information, visit cedarlodgetexas.com, call (512) 793-2820, or email info@cedarlodgetexas.com.
