A Colorado River Gem
Some towns feel like they were designed by a movie set decorator working from a concept called "perfect small Texas town." Smithville is that town — except it's entirely real, and it's been this way for over 150 years.
Sitting on a sweeping horseshoe bend of the Colorado River, Smithville's historic district has been featured in films for good reason. The architecture is preserved, the streets are walkable, and the people who live here have made a conscious choice to be somewhere genuine. The River Road along the Colorado offers some of the most beautiful driving in Central Texas, and the river itself provides kayaking, swimming, and fishing that draw visitors from across the state.
Smithville has cultivated a small but thriving arts scene, an excellent farmers market, and restaurants that punch well above the town's weight. It's the furthest of Lisa's communities from Austin — that extra 15 minutes beyond Bastrop is the price of admission for the most authentic small-town experience on this list. Most of Lisa's Smithville buyers don't consider it a compromise. They consider it the point.
Best For
Creatives, retirees, remote workers, and anyone who wants the fullest expression of small-town Texas life — with river access.
Why People Choose Smithville
- Colorado River access — kayaking, swimming, fishing
- Beautifully preserved historic district
- Thriving local arts scene and galleries
- Weekend farmers market and local dining
- River Road — one of Texas's most scenic drives
- Highly authentic small-town culture
- Lower price points than Bastrop