Posted: Sat, 31 Jul 2010 09:48 AM - 13,807 Readers
By: Nicole Villalpando
Lachan Ora, a nine-acre gated estate on Lake Travis, brings the best of a Hill Country ranch to a lake setting. The sweeping, one-story main house features only stone and wood walls, no Sheetrock. The floors are stained concrete. Though these materials could make a house look cold, curved walls give the house warmth and look almost like a wave at the back of the house.
The property also features two guest houses, making it a relaxed family retreat.
John and Nancy Bergman of Midland bought the house in 2008 as a second home that was close to two of their daughters who are at the University of Texas. They've had as many as 35 people at the house for a family reunion.
John Bergman says they searched all over the south side of Lake Travis for the perfect retreat and found it here.
"It's kind of unspoiled," he says. "It's more of a ranch feel than a lakefront property, but you have the bonus of being on Lake Travis."
The house and two guest houses on nine acres are on the market for $4.145 million, and that includes all the furniture and the rugs. A total of 27 acres are for sale here. Susan Conti and Ryan Rogers for Coldwell Banker United, Realtors have the listing.
Conti calls the house "Frank Lloyd Wright meets the Hill Country." Austin architect Tom Hatch designed the house.
The Bergmans might keep some of the property and build another house here, John Bergman says.
The Bergmans are only the second owner of this 1987-built home. Austin businessman and co-founder of Acton Business School Jeff Sandefer was the original owner. He donated additional acres to the City of Lakeway to build the park next door. When the Bergmans bought it from Sandefer, it never went on the open market, so this is the first time the house has publicly been for sale.
From Hurst Creek Road, passers-by can see only the rock wall that rings the property. Driving through the gate to 803 Casablanca Lane, you definitely get the feel of the ranch down the long driveway. The house emerges, partly sunken into the ground on the front side.
Down rock steps, guests enter the main foyer, which acts as a divider between the front and the back of the house and between the living space and the private bedrooms. Walk through the front door, through the foyer and out the back door and you can immediately take in the riches of this property. A grotto with a hot tub has been built into the hill. A waterfall recycles lakewater. Down the crushed granite path to the lake, pass a fire pit, the great lawn with a stage for outdoor music and a story circle of pear trees.
Two docks extend out into the water. The property sits in a no-wake zone across from Sail & Ski Marina and near Johnny Finns, Iguana Grill and Lakeway Inn. Additional boat docks could be added. The property includes the water rights as well, something that's key during a drought, Conti says.
The large back of the property isn't the only way to enjoy the lake view. A 2,200-square-foot screened porch runs along the back of part of the house and along the side. Ceiling fans and lights made out of minnow buckets give the porch a relaxed feel. On the side of the house, roll-away beds have been tucked into cabinets. During family gatherings, the children sleep out here.
Inside, the living space features a large great room with a wall of wood-framed glass doors that open up to extend the great room into the screened porch. A massive fireplace sits in a rock wall at one end. The kitchen is placed at the rock wall at the other end. Reclaimed longleaf pine ceilings add to the ranch feel.
The kitchen offers reclaimed longleaf pine counters with counter seating to give it a relaxed feel. A butler's pantry, laundry room and a full bathroom are also on this side of the house.
The other side of the house features a long curved stone wall on one side of a hallway and reclaimed longleaf pine on the other wall and ceiling. Three bedrooms flow off this hallway. The two guestrooms offer walls of glass doors to enjoy the backyard and the same longleaf pine walls and ceiling.
The master suite is similar to the guest bedrooms with outdoor access and wood walls, floors and ceiling. A large master bath offers a walk-in shower with a large window and a separate tub. The bathroom is divided into his and hers areas.
The guest houses are toward the front of the property. One house offers two guest suites connected by a porch. Each suite contains a large room with a fireplace and a full bathroom. Each has a coffee station in an armoire. The other guest house has a living area, a bedroom and a bathroom.
The property's unique design is what attracted the Bergmans. "It has such a cool feel to it with all the stone and wood. It's almost like a mountain home but on a lakefront," John Bergman says.
