Zilker, Austin, Texas facts for kids
Zilker is a cool neighborhood in south central Austin, Texas. It's located just south of Lady Bird Lake. The neighborhood's edges are roughly marked by the Union Pacific Railway to the southeast and south, Barton Skyway to the south, Rabb Road and Azie Morton Road to the west, and Lady Bird Lake to the north.
Right next to Zilker, to its northwest, is the Barton Hills neighborhood. You can easily get from Barton Hills back to Zilker Park using the Barton Creek Greenbelt, which is a fun outdoor trail.
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A Look Back: Zilker's History
How Zilker Park Began
The story of Zilker starts in 1918. A man named Andrew Jackson Zilker gave 35 acres (about 14 hectares) of land around Barton Springs to the City of Austin. This generous gift helped create what we now know as Zilker Park, a very popular spot in Austin.
Early Homes and Land Changes
The first houses in the Zilker area were built in the late 1920s. Later, in the 1940s, a large part of western Zilker was owned by Vincent Canizzo. The City of Austin needed some of his land for a new school. They used a process called eminent domain, which allows the government to buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell. This is how the land for Zilker Elementary School was acquired.
After that, the rest of Canizzo's land, from Ann Arbor Road to Rabb Road, was divided into smaller lots. This area became known as the Canizzo Subdivision, where more homes were built.
A Road Name Change
In 2018, a road in the neighborhood that was once called Robert E. Lee road was officially changed to Azie Morton road. This change honored Azie Morton, a notable figure.
Cool Places to Visit in Zilker
The Zilker neighborhood is home to many famous Austin spots that people love to visit.
Umlauf Sculpture Garden
One of these places is the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. It's a beautiful outdoor museum where you can see many amazing sculptures by artist Charles Umlauf. It's a peaceful place to walk around and enjoy art in nature.
Matt's El Rancho
If you love food, you might know about Matt's El Rancho. It's a historic Tex-Mex restaurant that has been serving delicious food for many years. It's a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.
Zilker Park and Barton Springs Pool
A huge part of the Zilker neighborhood is Zilker Park itself. This big park has lots of fun things to do. Inside the park, you'll find Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring-fed swimming pool that stays cool all year round. It's a great place to swim, especially on hot Texas days.
Zilker Park also hosts some big events:
- The Zilker Holiday Tree lights up during the holiday season.
- The Trail of Lights is a popular holiday light display.
- The Austin City Limits Music Festival is a huge music event that brings many famous artists to Austin every year.
