Lake Marble Falls

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Down the Colorado

Lake Marble Falls, adjacent to the city which bears the same name, is an unassuming hamlet outside Austin. The 5.75-mile-long lake, with 611 acres of water surface, spans 1080 feet wide at its widest point. The reservoir can be found in Burnet County and is managed by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA).

Essentials

Lake Marble Falls’ proximity to the city of Marble Falls means plenty of amenities are available nearby. 

15 minutes away, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Marble Falls offers emergency medical care. The nearest major airport is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, about an hour away.

Life on Lake Marble Falls

Marble Falls is a full-pool lake equipped to handle water-based activities! Lakes with communities built on them always have the added advantage of having superb recreational opportunities on and around the lake. Lake Marble Falls also has two public boat ramps available.

For anglers, the lake floweth over with fish! At Lake Marble Falls, expect to find channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, white crappie, sunfish, and largemouth bass! There are also reports that the lake teems with white bass in the springtime.

For avid birdwatchers, some of the typical avifauna in the Highland Lakes Chain of Lakes can include bald eagles and osprey. Most striking of all, however, is that the Highland Lakes is home to two particular species of bird. The black-capped vireo and golden-cheek warbler are only found on Lake Marble Falls.

Not-So-Marble Falls

In 1887, Adam Rankin Johnson, a former Confederate general, founded the town of Marble Falls following the American Reconstruction era. Before the town existed, there was the geological feature of Marble Falls, a 50 ft tall waterfall armored with vibrant limestone. Due to its bright and inviting luster, it was mistaken for marble. Despite this, the potential for the valley to serve as a reservoir outweighed the beauty of Marble Falls. The Marble Falls Dam was built in 1951 and was renamed the Max Starke Dam in 1962 in honor of the second general director of the Lower Colorado River Authority. Although the jutting cliffs of the original Marble Falls now sit submerged, when the waters recede and the sun rises high, people still see the shining limestone.

Rise and Waterfalls

As timeless as the glassy stones from which it gets its name, Lake Marble Falls’s allure emblemizes the budding nature of the surrounding community.

Lake Information

  • Deepest Depth: 60'
  • Acreage: 611
  • Water Level: Full Pool Year Round
  • Ownership: Private
  • Dam Managed By: Lower Colorado River Authority
  • Dam Year Built: 1951
  • Counties: Burnet County
  • Fish: Blue Catfish, Largemouth Bass, White Crappie
  • Condos Available: No
  • Notable Events: Lake Marble Falls Lakefest drag boat races

  • Permit is not required to use the lake.

  • Jet skis are allowed.

  • Motorized boats are allowed.

  • Houseboats are allowed.

  • Boating restrictions – Must take boating safety course if born after 1993. http://tpwd.texas.gov/faq/warden/boatinglawfaq.phtml

  • Dock restrictions – Must obtain permit to construct or enhance. http://www.lcra.org/water/recreation-and-safety/Documents/water_boat_dock_guide.pdf

    • Resources Nearby

    Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    Address: 3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719

    Burnet Municipal Kate Craddock Field

    Address: 2302 S Water St, Burnet, TX 78611

    Lakeside Park

    Phone: (830) 798-6250
    Address: Beuna Vista, Marble Falls, TX 78654

    Hidden Falls Golf Club

    Phone: (830) 693-3300
    Address: 220 Meadowlakes Dr., Marble Falls, TX 78654

    Bay Marine and Sports Center

    Phone: (830) 598-8763
    Address: 1 S Wirtz Dam Rd., Horseshoe Bay , TX 78657

    Baylor Scott and White Medical Center

    Phone: (830) 201-8000
    Address: W 810 Tx-71, Marble Falls, TX 78654