Kissing Tree

Kissing Tree is a distinctly Texan 55+ active adult community set on 1,300 acres in the heart of San Marcos, midway between Austin and San Antonio. Developed by Brookfield Residential and planned for 3,200 homes at buildout, it's one of the largest active adult communities in Texas Hill Country. The community is gated and guard-staffed 24/7, with golf carts as a common way to get around the internal road and trail network. The social heart of Kissing Tree is The Mix — a 20-acre amenity campus that includes Independence Hall (a 13,000-sq-ft clubhouse opened in 2018), a two-story fitness center, indoor and outdoor resort-style pools with beach entry, infinity edge, in-water lounge chairs, cabanas, fire features, and a separate jacuzzi. Inside, residents enjoy a biergarten, indoor/outdoor bar, demonstration kitchen, community classroom, yoga room with floor-to-ceiling Hill Country views, billiards, card and craft rooms, and a live-music stage. Outdoor amenities include 8 pickleball courts cut from Hill Country limestone, 6 lighted bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits, and roughly 15 miles of walking and biking trails winding through the community. Golf is a centerpiece. The 18-hole Kissing Tree Golf Course is a semi-private, Troon-managed course with a driving range, putting course, chipping range, and pro shop. Residents get priority tee times and discounted rates; the course is also open to the public. The brand-new Golf Clubhouse houses Tarbox & Brown, a full-service restaurant and bar named for the historic stagecoach route between Austin and San Antonio. Homes are built by Brookfield Residential and David Weekley Homes across three main collections. The Villas are shared-wall paired homes from about 1,030 to 1,703 sq ft, located in The Strand right next to The Mix — the lowest-maintenance, lowest-price option. The Cottages are detached single-story homes from roughly 1,332 to 1,903 sq ft, clustered around the 18th hole in the Fairway neighborhood, with full lawn maintenance included. The Traditional Collection offers 19 floor plans with architectural styles ranging from Modern Farmhouse and Texas Hill Country to Santa Barbara, Mediterranean, and Contemporary, with homes up to 3,398 sq ft and options for casitas, covered patios, dens, hobby rooms, and guest suites. The social scene is a defining feature. An on-site Lifestyle Director coordinates more than 100 resident-led clubs and interest groups — everything from 42 dominoes, bicycle and birdwatching clubs, art workshops, Bible study, and community gardens to an active bocce ball league, happy hours, field trips, and special events. Residents describe an unusually welcoming culture; the average resident age skews younger for a 55+ community (around 67), and the vibe is highly active and social rather than quiet-retirement. Location is a major draw. Kissing Tree sits about 45 miles from both downtown Austin and downtown San Antonio via I-35, putting two major-metro airports, medical centers, pro sports, and cultural scenes within easy reach while keeping day-to-day life in small-town Hill Country. Tanger Outlets and San Marcos Premium Outlets are minutes away, Seton Medical Center Hays provides nearby hospital care, and the spring-fed San Marcos River offers some of the best tubing and swimming in Texas. San Marcos itself — home to Texas State University — has repeatedly been named one of Forbes' 25 Best Places to Retire.