Posted: Fri, 28 May 2010 10:36 AM - 12,541 Readers

By: Suzannah Gonzales

Some say Lago Vista used to be a well-kept secret. Some say it still is.

Those who have discovered this small community on the north shore of Lake Travis — with its rolling green hills and expansive lake views — say they are glad they did.

Now, the city of 6,500 is marking 25 years .

This weekend's festivities include a birthday bash with dancing, music and food from 6 to 10 p.m. today in front of Lago Vista City Hall , 5803 Thunderbird St. And as part of the Pirates of Lake Travis Festival at Bar-K Park , city leaders will cut a birthday cake at 4 p.m. Saturday .

"It's a significant threshold," Lago Vista Mayor Randy Kruger said. "But we're still young and growing, and we look forward to celebrating many more anniversaries."

The story goes that when the City of Austin tried to annex land into its extraterritorial jurisdiction — area outside a city's limits where some city rules apply — leaders of four villages — Bar-K , Highland Country Club , Highland Lake Estates and Lago Vista — came together in 1984, and with voter approval, the City of Lago Vista incorporated in 1985.

Bill Smith , who was general manager of the Lago Vista Property Owners Association at the time , recalled how the association's security force became the Lago Vista Police Department , the chief of security became the chief of police, Smith became acting city manager for about six months, and, after renovations, an old building on the campgrounds became the first City Hall. Smith said the population at the time was not more than a couple of thousand.

Lago Vista, about a 35-mile drive from downtown Austin, was developed as a resort community in the 1960s primarily for retirees drawn to the lake, golf courses and outdoors, longtime residents say. In the past 10 to 15 years, younger families started to move in. And now there are commercial businesses and two traffic lights.

"We still have old codgers like me here, but it's a more diverse population now," said Smith, who moved to Lago Vista in 1977 with his wife, Saundra , and their two young sons after he saw a developer's advertisement and retired from the Air Force. Their sons still live in Lago Vista; their oldest, Danny Smith , is now police chief.

Having the lake, outdoors and beauty while being so close to Austin, Smith said, "We always felt we had the best of both worlds."

Kruger said officials are trying to emphasize the city's quality of life and expand recreational facilities, such as ball fields and parks, to serve the younger families and visitors. Kruger also said the city recently bought two golf courses: the Lago Vista and Highland Lakes courses.

There are plans for a new police station, and the library and City Hall will expand in the future, City Council Member Dale Mitchell said.

"We call Lago Vista the beginning of the Hill Country," said Shirley Davis of the North Shore Heritage and Cultural Society .

"It is a well-rounded community," Mitchell said. "It's a neat community that's really coming together."

"I think you've nailed it," Davis said. "We're very content with the beauty of the city."

*  Story Contributed by: Suzannah Gonzales