Great Hills

Great Hills, Austin

Great Hills is a Northwest Austin neighborhood in ZIP 78759, set around the private Great Hills Country Club on Lost Horizon Drive and next to The Arboretum. Custom builders put up its homes from 1972 to 2012, and a 2012 count found 1,089 houses ranging from 1,496 to 5,609 square feet. Great Hills Neighborhood Park adds creek channels and trails.

Great Hills at a glance

Homes in Great Hills

Homes went up from 1972 to 2012 with various custom builders rather than a single developer. As of the 2012 count there were 1,089 homes, from 1,496 to 5,609 square feet. Streets in the homeowners association include Lost Horizon, Rain Creek Parkway, Painted Valley, Floral Park, Grand Teton, Ivy Hills, Mercedes Bend, Rising Hills, Sans Souci Place, Sausalito, Amberly Place, Brannon Cove and Costas Cove.

The golf course, designed by Don January, dates to the early 1970s. Members bought the club in 1985 and made it a private social club with 501(c)(7) status, and in 2018 it announced a $12 million, roughly 27,000-square-foot clubhouse replacement.

The Arboretum opened next door in 1985, followed by the hotel now known as the Renaissance Austin in 1986 and Arboretum Market across the street in 1987.

HOA, rules and districts

The Great Hills Homeowners Association operates under recorded Restrictive Covenants, Bylaws and HOA Rules adopted Sept. 22, 2020. An Architectural Review Committee reviews projects, and the Board handles enforcement. In 2022, the City of Austin asked GHHOA to enforce its own rules first on a code-violation property.

Ask GHHOA for current dues, and confirm whether a given address falls inside the association. Great Hills Country Club is a private, member-owned social club with membership by referral and a social membership tier, and GHHOA has listed the club as a guest speaker rather than an amenity, so ask the club directly about membership. City tree and floodplain rules apply as well.

Parks, trails and nature

• Great Hills Neighborhood Park: a City park with trails, creeks and creek crossings, near Rain Creek Parkway, Floral Park Drive, Painted Valley Drive and Sausalito Drive.
• St. Edwards Park, 7301 Spicewood Springs Rd.: about four miles of hill and creek trails, small waterfalls after rain and a creek swimming hole.
• Bull Creek District Park, 6701 Lakewood Dr.: 48 acres, created in 1971, with swimming, hiking and fishing on Bull Creek.
• Great Hills Country Club swim club: a year-round pool for club members.

Dining and shopping

The Arboretum, at 10000 Research Blvd., marked its 40th anniversary in 2025. Tenants as of late October 2026 included Amy's Ice Creams, Barnes & Noble, Cava, Five Guys, Juliet Italian Kitchen, Pottery Barn, Jos. A. Bank and Ao5 Gallery, and The Cheesecake Factory was open as of June 2025.

Jetset Pilates opened in early October 2026, and Peachy is due in spring 2027. The center's cinema was a SXSW launch venue, and its green space is where Blues on the Green began.

Schools

Great Hills is split between Austin ISD and Round Rock ISD. A 2012 profile listed Hill Elementary, Murchison Middle and Anderson High on the Austin ISD side, and Kathy Caraway Elementary, Laurel Mountain Elementary, Canyon Vista Middle and Westwood High on the Round Rock ISD side.

In Austin ISD's 2026-27 feeder chart, Hill Elementary feeds Murchison Middle, which feeds Anderson High. None of the three was among the 10 schools approved for closure in 2025, and Austin ISD's Phase 2 districtwide boundary changes are planned for fall 2028.

Because that school list dates to 2012, check both districts' school finders. Confirm zoning for the exact address with the district before you buy.

Getting around

US 183 (Research Boulevard), Loop 360, MoPac and Anderson Lane converge near The Arboretum. Jollyville Road, Duval Road and Rain Creek Parkway border Great Hills Neighborhood Park.

MetroRapid 803's northern terminus is The Domain, where CapMetro's North Burnet/Uptown Red Line station is under construction, with completion expected in mid-2027.

What's changing

• Great Hills 2030: the country club's $22.3 million master plan, including a full golf-course redesign led by Chet Williams, with completion planned for spring 2027.
• The Arboretum: Asana Partners took ownership in February 2026. A 14,000-square-foot retail outparcel is set to start construction in spring 2027, with tenants targeted to open by fall 2028, along with new patios, play areas and wayfinding.
• Spicewood Springs Road: widening from two to four lanes, with completion expected in late 2026 ($31 million, 2016 Mobility Bond).
• North Burnet/Uptown station: the Red Line stop near The Domain is expected in mid-2027.
• Parks bond: Austin voters approved a $260 million parks bond on Nov. 3, 2026.

What to check in Great Hills, whether you're buying or selling

• HOA coverage: confirm the property is within GHHOA and request its governing documents and any resale certificate.
• Architectural review: make sure past exterior changes went through the Architectural Review Committee.
• School district: confirm whether the address is in Austin ISD or Round Rock ISD.
• Floodplain: check creek-side lots on ATXFloodPro.
• Trees: protected trees are 19 inches or more in diameter, and heritage trees of listed species are 24 inches or more.
• Club membership: it is by referral, so ask the club rather than assuming it comes with the house.
• Permit history: check City of Austin permit records for the address.

If you already own here, request the GHHOA documents and resale certificate early, confirm your school district in both districts' finders, and gather records of Architectural Review Committee approvals and permits for past work.

Current Great Hills homes for sale appear below.

Working with Albert Allen

Albert Allen is an Austin native and Luxury Real Estate Advisor with Compass, with more than a decade of experience helping clients buy and sell across Austin.

Albert represents buyers and sellers in Great Hills and throughout Northwest Austin. Schedule a Walk & Talk, request a home valuation or ask about private listings.

Common questions about Great Hills

Where is Great Hills in Austin?

In Northwest Austin, ZIP 78759, around Great Hills Country Club on Lost Horizon Drive and next to The Arboretum, near where US 183, Loop 360, MoPac and Anderson Lane meet.

Which school district serves Great Hills?

Great Hills is split between Austin ISD and Round Rock ISD. Confirm zoning with the district for the specific address.

Does Great Hills have an HOA, and what are the dues?

Yes, the Great Hills Homeowners Association, with recorded covenants and rules adopted in 2020 and an Architectural Review Committee. Ask GHHOA for the current dues.

Does buying a home include country club membership?

Great Hills Country Club is private and member-owned, with membership by referral. Ask the club directly about joining.

What should I have ready before selling in Great Hills?

The GHHOA governing documents and any resale certificate, records of Architectural Review Committee approvals, and confirmation of your school district.

Sources: City of Austin, Austin ISD, CapMetro, Great Hills Homeowners Association, Community Impact, CultureMap Austin, Golf Course Industry, Golfn, Nature Rocks Austin, KEDT, KUT, Austin Chronicle, Wikipedia. Albert Allen, REALTOR®, Compass RE Texas, LLC. Information is believed reliable but not guaranteed.