Learn More About Lake Travis in Austin, Texas

Lake Travis History Lake Travis Resort Activities at Lake Travis

Lake Travis. "Of all the endeavors on which I have worked in public life, I am proudest of the accomplishment in developing the Colorado River.” - Lyndon Johnson, 1958

Lake Travis History. Lake Travis is a 63.75 mile long lake in Austin, Texas covering more than 18,000 acres. Lake Travis was created when Mansfield Dam was constructed over the Colorado River in 1937- 41. The Mansfield Dam, built with the support of a young Lyndon Johnson, is 266 feet high and over 7,000 feet long, and holds back 382,092,882,600 gallons of water to create Lake Travis. Mansfield Dam is the main flood-control dam on the Colorado River.

The design and bidding process for the Lake Travis project was utilized information gathered from the Grand Coulee Dam, which was under construction on the Columbia River and was a similar size. The massive lake was finally finished in 1941 and filled in the steep cedar-filled canyons that were primarily remote ranch lands. [Top]

Activities at Lake Travis. With 270 miles of shoreline, the lake’s clear, aquamarine water and variety of outdoor activities make it a natural choice for water sport enthusiasts. You’ll find fishing, boating, parasailing, a public swimming pool, lakeside beaches, boat rentals, mountain biking, and much more. From multi class sailboat and windsurfing regattas to competition ski boat, cruisers, cigarettes and mansion-like houseboats, Lake Travis maintains the marina facilities, public parks, boat ramp access. The area’s glorious hot summer weather makes Lake Travis a destination summer resort for outdoor enthusiasts from around the state and the country. www.laketravis.com. [Top]