Spicewood, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spicewood, Texas
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Spicewood Community Library
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 Spicewood, Texas
Location in Texas
Spicewood, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Burnet |
| Elevation | 778 ft (237 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 512 & 737 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1368896 |
Spicewood is a small community in Texas, United States. It's not a city with its own government, but an "unincorporated community" that spreads across parts of Travis County and Burnet County.
In 2000, about 2,000 people lived here. By 2011, the population grew to 7,666! Spicewood also reaches into Travis County, near Highway 71. The main part of the community has a center and a former schoolhouse. You can also find a church here. Famous musician Willie Nelson has lived on his Luck Ranch in Spicewood. He even held his Fourth of July Picnic concert here in 2003.
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Exploring Spicewood's Location
Spicewood is located about one mile north of State Highway 71. It sits in the southeastern part of Burnet County and the western part of Travis County. It's about nine miles southeast of Marble Falls. The big city of Austin is about 35 miles southeast of Spicewood.
Spicewood's Weather Patterns
The weather in Spicewood is known for its hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, you might see it labeled as "Cfa."
A Look at Spicewood's Past
Spicewood was settled in the late 1800s. However, some families living there today can trace their history back to settlers from the early 1800s. The name "Spicewood" might come from the spicewood trees that grew along Little Cypress Creek nearby.
A post office opened in Spicewood in 1899. Over time, the post office moved and now serves a large area. This area covers parts of Burnet, Blanco, and Travis counties. Because of this, many people think they live in old Spicewood, even if they are a bit further away.
As other small communities nearby became less active in the early 1900s, Spicewood became a central spot for local life. A Baptist church was started in 1908. In 1919, the Spicewood school took over from the Rockvale school. The population of Spicewood was about 100 in the mid-1920s and grew to 125 by 1933.
Local businesses did well when State Highway 71 was built through the area in the 1940s. In 1949, the school in Haynie Flat joined with Spicewood's school district. A few years later, Spicewood became part of the Marble Falls Independent School District. The population grew from about 100 in the 1970s to an estimated 2,000 by 2000. It then reached 4,000 in 2010.
Spicewood has its own post office with the ZIP code 78669. The local telephone service was taken over by GTE in the early 1970s. Now, Verizon and cellular phone services are available.
Many local businesses are located about a mile south, at "Hollingsworth Corner." This area has a general store, marine services, a used car lot, real estate offices, and a Bar-B-Que restaurant. A popular outdoor spot is Krause Springs. It has a spring-fed pond, a swimming pool, and areas for picnics and camping.
Spicewood also has four privately owned airports. One of them, the old "Austin Air Ranch," is open to public use during the day.
In September 2011, wildfires caused a lot of damage in the Spicewood area. Many homes were destroyed or damaged. Over 150 firefighters worked to control the fires, which affected at least 10 square miles of land.
In 2005, Cypress Valley Canopy Tours opened in the community. This offers a fun way to explore the trees.
Music Recorded in Spicewood
Many famous studio albums have been recorded in Spicewood. These recordings took place at Pedernales Country Club and Bee Creek Studios. Some of the albums include:
- 10, Half a Hundred Years, and Pasture Prime by Asleep at the Wheel
- Angel Eyes and Partners by Willie Nelson
- Spend a Night in the Box by The Reverend Horton Heat
- Summerteeth by Wilco
- Zooma by John Paul Jones
- A River Ain't Too Much to Love by Smog
- Seashores of Old Mexico by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson
- Music from Songwriter by Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson
- The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family by The Carter Family
- Wave on Wave by Pat Green
- King of the Road: The Genius of Roger Miller by Roger Miller
- This Will Destroy You by This Will Destroy You
- Duets: Friends & Memories by Juice Newton
The song Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other by Ned Sublette was also recorded here.
Learning and Education in Spicewood
Public schools in Spicewood are part of the Marble Falls Independent School District. Students attend:
- Spicewood Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
- Marble Falls Middle School (6th to 8th grade)
- Marble Falls High School (9th to 12th grade)
Some schools in the Lake Travis Independent School District also have Spicewood addresses.
Spicewood's Community Libraries
The Lake Travis Community Library (LTCL) in Lakeway serves areas in Travis County with Spicewood addresses. This library first opened in 1985. In 2004, voters approved creating a special library district. The library moved to its current building in February 2013.
In 2007, local residents started the Spicewood Community Library. It is located on Spur 191, near Spicewood Elementary School. This library is run by volunteers, and all its books and materials are donated.
Spicewood in Movies
Several films have been recorded in Spicewood, including:
- Waiting for the Miracle to Come
- Ned Blessing: The True Story of My Life
- The Ballad of the Sad Cafe
Famous People from Spicewood
Many interesting people have connections to Spicewood:
- Dave Pelz: A golf coach who teaches at the Pelz Golf Institute.
- Kimmie Rhodes: A singer-songwriter who recorded her first album at Willie Nelson's studio.
- Katy Kirby: A musician who grew up in Spicewood.
- James Oakley: A politician.
- Ashley Weinhold: A tennis player who lives in Spicewood.
- Lian Lunson: A filmmaker who filmed Waiting for the Miracle to Come here.
- Texe Marrs: A writer and radio host.
- James Dickey: A politician who lives in Spicewood with his family.
- Meredith Shaw: A singer.
- Jeff Kent: A retired professional baseball player who owns Lakecliff Country Club.
