Welcome to South Congress
It wasn’t until reliable bridges were built across the Colorado River that this tiny subdivision on the city’s south side began to thrive. With a surge of development in the 1920’s, Travis Heights was soon attracting Austin’s well-to-do who liked its roomy lots, winding streets, and mini forest of trees.
Fashioned after the “garden suburbs” popular during the City Beautiful Movement, Travis Heights has always benefited from its close proximity to downtown and to now-bustling I-35. But this elegant respite has never absorbed the hectic pace of life just beyond its comfortable borders.
You’re seemingly close to it all in Travis Heights, which means you can ditch your car and just stroll to Lady Bird Lake, South Congress Avenue, or a cluster of green spaces. Or, since I-35 is on the neighborhood’s edge, you can be en route to the city’s farther-out suburbs in no time.
Residents can easily enjoy the scenic route along the Hike-and-Bike Trail or Boardwalk that run alongside beautiful Lady Bird Lake. Bordering the neighborhood along the west is South Congress Avenue, a bustling stretch of indie and nationally known retailers as well as places to grab a quick, and often al fresco, bite to eat or cup of coffee.
Built in the twenties and thirties, Little Stacy and Big Stacy parks were named for Travis Heights’ early developers. Connected by the Blunn Creek Greenbelt, the former features a wading pool for tots, while the latter welcomes older swimmers to its year-round public pool.The picnic tables and tennis and basketball courts are hotspots, too.
An 1800’s Victorian here, a mid-century modern looker there, a just-built glass-and-wood knockout across the street. Travis Heights stands out with its eclectic collection of attractive homes. It also boasts the city’s first Local Historic District south of the river.
Travis Heights is bordered by the section of South Congress Avenue that is Austin’s most vibrant stretch. The tourist-magnet blocks are chockablock with only-in-Austin shops and national-brand flagships, superlative restaurants (many with patios), and several of the city’s grooviest landmarks, like the 1955 Continental Club.
