• Quick Facts:

• City Website: www.ci.marble-falls.tx.us
• 2000 Population: 4,959
• 2008 Estimated Population: 7,451
• ZIP: 78654

There are few better places to spend a cool evening in the dwindling days of summer than dining at Marble Falls’ waterfront restaurants. The sun lowers behind purple hills, limning wispy lazy cirrus clouds with mellow gold. A boat ripples across still water, headed home, while lights wink on along the edge of the lake.

A spectacular natural setting tucked among gentle hills divided by Lake Marble Falls makes life in this community – with its shops and galleries, good schools, churches and restaurants and the attractions of a big city less than an hour away – an exceptional find.

The falls that gave the city its name were submerged when the Colorado River was impounded here in 1951, but are revealed just west of the US 281 bridge when the constant-level lake is lowered for cleanup. That graceful arched four-lane bridge, by the way, is to be replaced with a new four-lane structure beginning in 2011.

The real game changer for the area is coming a few miles south of the bridge at US 281’s intersection with SH 71.

Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center is to be operated by Scott & White – whose century of quality medical care has made it almost venerated in Texas. With about 100 beds, the hospital is to offer a variety of specialty services and is expected to be a powerful economic force, attracting more professionals, retirees and others seeking a quality lifestyle.

Art and music are important elements of life here. The Austin music scene spills into Marble Falls, where live performances can be found most days downtown or at the River City Grille, whose deck can be reached by either land or water. Nearby, the outstanding Riverbend Fine Art Gallery hosts special exhibits and always features a variety of works by well-recognized artists while small galleries offer other quality work by local artisans elsewhere, including downtown.

Historic Downtown Marble Falls, a compact area just northwest of the US 281 bridge embracing shops and boutiques in vintage buildings, complements the city’s national chain stores. Granite Mountain – just west of town – is the source of stone found in some local buildings, the Texas Capitol in the late 1800s and the Galveston Seawall in 1902.

Lakeside Park – with an event center, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts – is the site of the LakeFest Drag Boat Races in the summer and the Walkway of Lights during the Christmas Season.