Emmett Shelton, Sr. shares a very interesting first-hand story about a tip he got from Lyndon B Johnson in the 1930s that encouraged his interest in developing West Lake Hills. Emmett knew the Roy Sisters were schoolteachers in Houston and had over 1,800 acres. Emmett negotiated with them at $4 an acre a total of $12,500. It was north of Bee Cave Road to the river. He shares colorful stories of his creative financing on the deal as he got an option to buy the property for $125 a year for 1937-38 and one year's his check bounced! But the deal finally went thru.
Emmett tells of several developments on the lakeshore near the current location of St. Stevens School and the TV Towers. Keep in mind, there were no 'roads' in Westlake except Bee Cave Road and the Rocky River Road. Land in the additions was mostly inaccessible after the lake was built.
If you live in this area, Emmett's first-hand stories will certainly be of interest.
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Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.
