A sprawling 777-acre compound on the south shore of Lake Travis is up for grabs, and the seller is not shy about the price: $100 million. The property stitches together two long-held family ranches, boasts more than a mile of private shoreline, has its own marina and serious built-out infrastructure, and sits near Pace Bend Park only about a 30-minute drive from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. In a region where open waterfront land is vanishing fast, this is one of the last big, highly visible undeveloped tracts within striking distance of Austin.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the listing is handled by Cord Shiflet of Moreland Properties. Shiflet has described the combined Baker Family/Resort Ranch and Wiley/Batte Family Ranch as "the last tract of its size on the south shore of Lake Travis," and the Chronicle notes that early interest is coming largely from major developers. Marketing materials float possible futures that range from an ultra-private family compound to a luxury resort or long-term conservation play.
What's on the ranch
The listing from Moreland Properties details the nuts and bolts: two connected tracts totaling 777 acres, with roughly 237.5 acres in the Baker/Resort Ranch and about 541 acres in the Wiley/Batte parcel. There is more than a mile of shoreline, a marina with a ship store and fuel station, and an internal network of paved and unpaved roads.
Moreland also highlights significant utilities already in place, including a 50,000-gallon water storage tank, more than 3 miles of wastewater mains and an on-site treatment plant. The property carries a Lower Colorado River Authority permit for about 150 acre-feet of water per year, roughly 48.87 million gallons, with renewal available through 2064. Brokers say that combination of entitlements and infrastructure could allow a new owner to move more quickly than usual compared with similarly sized raw Hill Country tracts.
Why it matters now
The timing is not an accident. Large, developable parcels in Travis County are getting harder to find as the county buys up land for parks and open space. Recent acquisitions include the 475-acre Castletop tract and the 1,506-acre RGK purchase, moves that Community Impact reported have taken potential development sites off the market.
This ranch sits right next to Pace Bend Park, a roughly 1,368-acre Travis County park with miles of shoreline and trails that the county promotes on its own site. That mix of protected public land on one side and private waterfront on the other makes the remaining big ranches especially tempting for buyers who want sweeping views, easy recreation and a level of exclusivity that is getting harder to buy.
What could happen next
Because the property already has permits and utilities in place, brokers say a buyer could push ahead quickly, whether the plan is a resort, gated residential enclaves, or a conservation-focused legacy project that still monetizes the waterfront access. The listing appears on several high-end platforms, including Forbes Global Properties, and agents expect interest from both major development groups and ultra-wealthy private buyers.
What ultimately gets built, or preserved, will likely depend on whether the top bids come from those looking to carve the land into smaller pieces or from buyers who see more value in keeping a rare, contiguous waterfront ranch intact.
Legal and water-rights note
The listing specifies that the existing permitted water rights, including an LCRA intake permit, transfer with the sale, a detail the broker says should calm some water-supply worries for a large waterfront project. According to Moreland Properties, that permit is renewable through 2064.
Still, any substantial build-out would face further regulatory steps, including approvals for wastewater systems, subdivision plans and shoreline work, along with coordination with the Lower Colorado River Authority and Travis County. Potential conservation easements would add another layer of decision-making, shaping what a future owner can realistically and legally do with the land.
The property is being actively marketed by Cord Shiflet of Moreland Properties, and brokers say the combination of existing infrastructure and long-term water rights could turn this sale into a test case for how much Hill Country terrain near Austin can still be purchased in one piece. Whether the winning bidder is a developer, an institutional conservation buyer or a private family, any sale at this scale would mark a major shift for the Lake Travis shoreline and for one of the region's last large legacy ranches, as the Houston Chronicle reported.
