Chap 1 - Hx of WLH - Epis 4 - Bee Cave Road Land Deals

Our Westlake

Emmett Shelton Sr. (1905-2000) tells of the early development of Westlake Hills along Bee Cave Road prior to the 1980s. He had to pay $1500 for the land where Eanes School is now. They doubled our community bingo games to raise the money.
Emmett tells about the landowners 100 years ago along the Bee Cave Road. Families like Delanie, Hatley, Euing and Dollie Bryant owned major parcels along the eastern area. Amazing story of drawing lots out of a hat.
Emmett explains the inspiration for Westlake Hills was a story from his stonemason, Tom Short, that all of Westlake was State Land. Emmett doubted it and started researching abstracts. He found it was land from large land grants and heirs, many did not know where their land was located.
Emmett bought his first 500 acres for $4 an acre - $2,000 with a $500 loaned down payment. Westlake Drive and Red Bud Trails where, in 1976, one acre sold for $60k.
He continued to abstract the abandoned land and research the owners and contact the heirs and build our community. Along the way, he occasionally could not pay the bill when it came due - but a few kind souls helped him along the way.

For maps and other info check out our Facebook page: Our Westlake
Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.