Neighborhood Spotlight: Rollingwood

This neighborhood offers the benefits of small-town charm, while also providing easy access to the city of Austin. It is situated between West Lake Hills and Austin proper with its boundaries being Mo-Pac Expressway/Loop 1 to the East, Bee Cave Road to the South and Stratford rive to the North. All homes in Rollingwood are zoned for nationally acclaimed Eanes Independent School District. Rollingwood is one of the most desirable areas because of its short distance to Zilker Park, Barton Springs and Lady Bird Lake.

Homes are built on large lots and because of its densely wooded areas, deer and other animals tend to roam along neighborhood roads and in backyards. Most of the homes were built in the 1950’s and you can see this reflected by their distinct Mid-Century Modern style, with one and two-story brick homes being the most prevalent. In the 1970’s and 1980’s other homes began to be built along with some modern mansions. Many of the homes in Rollingwood have had extensive remodeling done, which allows the original beauty of the neighborhood to shine through while providing modern amenities.

History: Ironically, in the 1900’s the area that now encompasses Rollingwood was part of a poor community known as Eanes. Families struggled to survive by raising livestock and chopping cedar. During the 1930’s, the area began to change as electricity and telephone services began to emerge. These modern conveniences made the area more attractive to affluent families that were looking to be outside of the city.

In 1946, A.B. and George B. Hatley bought 300 acres of land between Bee Cave Road, Colorado River and Zilker park. In 1955, a village was formed with 28 homes. Presently, many roads in Rollingwood are named after the Hatley family. These include, Hatley Drive, Riley Road, Farley Trail and Vance Lane. The village became a city in 1963 with their own mayor and court system. The town’s population doubled by 1970 and today, Rollingwood has more than 1,500 residents.

This affluent area boasts highly rated schools and a blend of traditional ranches and ultra modern mansions. Homes sell for more than $1M in this area and are mostly owner occupied.