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Is It Legal To Get High In Graveyard Point?

Strange title, right? OK, so I baited you. The real question is how can I build if my land is in the new Lake Travis floodplain? Here is one way I just found today.

Building high on Lake Travis

This is in Graveyard Point. Anyone who knows Lake Travis knows that Graveyard Point is one of the first areas to flood when the lake gets over a certain level. In fact, many Graveyard Point homes are still airing out from our last round of flooding.

Graveyard Point sits pretty low in terms of elevation. Building on land inside the floodplain has to start with the first level of the house one foot above the floodplain. In the case of this house, you can see just how high that is compared to where dry ground is.

Another view of this Graveyard Point house showing the level of the lake.

In this shot, you can see the level of Lake Travis in relation to the main level of the house. Lake Travis is still high, thanks to the flooding rains of June and July. The lake is currently somewhere around 682 feet above sea level. Full is 681. The new floodplain is 722 feet. Can you see the challenge this presents?

The people building this place did a nice job disguising the steel beams holding the house up. They have also either hidden the sewage pipe to the septic tank if they have put it in. Notice anything else missing? How about stairs? It makes me wonder how they plan on getting people into and out of this house. OK, it is really new construction and I;m sure they will erect some kind of stairs.

Back to reality for a minute. Lake Travis land prices have gone through the roof and for good reason. It is a gorgeous lake. Land prices in Graveyard Point aren't as high as areas that don't flood. The result, however, is something like this.

So in Graveyard Point, you do have to get (build) high.

Posted by Sam Chapman on 09/05/2007 05:05 PM

Comments (12)

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This post has been included in Texas Information Travis County, TX Information Austin, TX Information

12 Comments on Is It Legal To Get High In Graveyard Point?

Ok Sam so I was roped in by the title. Or should I say hemped in. That house is really funky looking. Looks like they have great view from up there, right over the tree tops. I sure would hate to have the lug the groceries up though:)

09/05/2007 05:52 PM

by Bryant Tutas-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc

Hi Sam,
This is so funny! Talk about a bird's eye view, this should do it.

09/05/2007 09:15 PM

by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)

Dang!! The guy who built that must have been 'Higher' than 10 hippies.

Looks like one of those homes you get passed around in an email.

LOL

09/06/2007 09:01 AM

by Tom Burris | Texas Home Loan Expert (DallasLoanGuy.com)

Wow..I don't think I could live in such an odd house...being high all of the time would make me...dizzy?

09/10/2007 08:13 AM

by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake)

What a great solution to a common problem. Thanks very much for posting this! Love it!

09/10/2007 10:44 AM

by Dan Hartman (Province Mortgage Associates)

Sam, Love your post and that house is a hoot! Thanks for sharing!

09/10/2007 11:05 AM

by Candy Henthorne- Spring Texas Real Estate (Results Realty)

Sam, how high is high? I sure hope they put in an elevator

09/10/2007 11:54 AM

by Dianne Barody - Pensacola Florida Real Estate (Century 21 AmeriSouth Realty)

How high is high? My guess is the that the house sits abour 25 feet up. I should have taken a shot of a house around the corner also on stilts. It didn't look hardly as goofy because of the design.

09/10/2007 12:13 PM

by Sam Chapman (Keller Williams Realty)

That is a funky looking house. I bet the views are awesome but I would hate the climb up every day. Can you imagine moving in furniture?

09/10/2007 03:34 PM

by Albuquerque Real Estate | Ashley Drake Gephart (Keller Williams Realty)

Hi Sam - great title! I can't imagine building or living in a house like that! A definite candidate for an elevator for sure. What happens in high winds - would that house have a problem? A little too weird for me - not sure I'd be able to sleep there.

Ann

09/10/2007 06:49 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

I was wondering about acess too and if there was an elevator, can't imagine climbing up the steps.

09/10/2007 09:07 PM

by Debbie Small, CRS, GRI (Long & Foster Realtors)

Hi Ann - your posting remids me that last June was the 31st year since my graduation from PHS!

09/11/2007 05:49 PM

by Sam Chapman (Keller Williams Realty)

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