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Luling, Texas is a community rich with heritage and hospitality. Perfectly positioned between Austin and San Antonio along the I-10 corridor, Luling is ideal for first-time homebuyers seeking affordability, retirees craving tranquility, and professionals searching for commuter convenience without sacrificing lifestyle. With a welcoming community and convenient access to larger cities, Luling offers something for everyone. This Central Texas hometown offers a unique setting where neighbors become friends, families thrive, and children can play outside. D.R. Horton offers a range of new construction homes in Luling, TX, and many of our communities come with additional amenities to enjoy. All of our new build houses come with open spacious floorplans and smart home technology, making it easy to create and maintain a routine and home life that works for you.

Why choose Luling, TX

Luling is more than just a place to live; it’s a place to belong. The city is home to generations of Texan pride. It is well known for its world-famous Watermelon Thump festival, rich oil history, renowned barbecue, and a charming revitalized historic downtown. Luling maintains the community tradition of Friday night lights each fall; cheering for the hometown football team is as much a community gathering as a sporting event.

Not far from the San Marcos River, Luling residents can easily enjoy the area’s scenic beauty, but it’s easy to access city amenities as well. Located just 50 minutes south of Austin and about an hour northeast of San Antonio, Luling is situated near major highways including I-10, US-183, and TX-80, making commuting, travel, and access to Central Texas metro amenities a breeze. Additionally, the town is less than an hour from San Marcos Regional Airport and within an hour of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, giving professionals and vacationers easy access to national and international travel.

Community life in Luling, TX

With a friendly community setting, historic storefronts, and tree-lined neighborhoods, Luling’s architectural personality mixes small-town Texas charm with updated comfort. The historic downtown features early 20th-century facades, brick walkways, and repurposed buildings filled with local shops and boutiques, eateries, and a strong sense of community pride. Luling’s famed barbeque featured on the Texas Barbeque Trail is located in the historic area, and the town has been serving up quality Texas barbeque for more than 50 years. While great brisket is available year-round, there are also various seasonal food and fun options. The historic Main Street is home to several cooking and baking competitions, including the Ragin’ Cajun Throwdown, a cajun themed cookoff turned festival with arts and crafts and vendors lining the streets; Cookies and Carols, a holiday event baking competition with door prizes, carols, and a visit from Santa; and the Yule Trail, an evening shopping experience with a craft market and hayrides.

The city offers such cultural and seasonal events that bring residents together throughout the year. The Luling Watermelon Thump in summer is one of the area’s biggest attractions, drawing crowds of more than 30,000 to Luling. Dating back to 1954, the Watermelon Thump festival has evolved from a small celebration of Luling’s watermelon producers to a four-day event featuring a car show, a carnival, a parade, local artisans and vendors selling their work, a beer garden, and live music. Of course, there are plenty of watermelon focused activities too: a seed spitting contest, which resulted in Luling’s introduction to the Guiness Book of World Records as the location where the longest spit was recorded; a melon competition honoring the largest Black Diamond watermelon; a Lil’ Growers melon competition, the youth contest for growing the largest melon; and a watermelon auction.

Though the Watermelon Thump is one of the most popular festivals of the summer, there are plenty of events and things to do throughout the spring and summer months. The Luling Artisan Crafts Market is held every third Saturday from March through October. Featuring local artists, the market is a great way to shop for unique, handmade goods and support the community. A local farm, Sunny Hill Flower Farm, also sponsors a popular summer event, Market at the Farm. For two days, you can stop by for live music, food trucks, beautiful flowers that you can pick, information about gardening, and kid activities, including a hay bale slide and a corn pit.

Luling also features fantastic events in the fall; the most popular is Night In Old Luling, which is both great entertainment and a fundraiser for local causes. The event is fun for the whole family with bingo, a cake auction, local vendors, hayrides, games, and more. The town ushers in the holidays with festive decorations and friendly competition. Residents gather to light up the town with holiday cheer and vote for “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice.”

With fun events and a bustling historic area, there is always something to bring people together in Luling.

Outdoor fun in Luling, TX

Luling, Texas offers a variety of outdoor recreation options, from paddling down the San Marcos River to hiking in nearby state parks. The town maintains fields and parks for family fun and friendly pick-up games, making it easy to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family.

Home to the scenic San Marcos River, Luling, TX is a popular kayaking, tubing, and fishing spot. The Luling Zedler Mill Paddling Trail is a six-mile stretch of the river that is particularly good for floating. With excellent birding opportunities and trees lining the banks, the area is a gentle ride through natural beauty, making it an ideal destination for a family outing or a trip with friends. There are numerous fish species in the river, so if you’d rather cast a line, you can enjoy the quiet while waiting for the fish to bite. Zedler Mill Park is a regional gem featuring riverfront walking trails, shaded picnic areas, and restored historic buildings for those looking to enjoy the scenery and learn a bit about the area’s past. The Zedler Mill includes a museum on site that chronicles the history of Luling and the mills built on the San Marcos River in the late 1800s.

Luling offers several city parks for year-round recreation, including Blanche Square Park, River Trail Park, Patton Park, and more. The park system features walking trails, open green spaces for soccer and baseball, basketball courts, and playgrounds, providing various gathering options. The Luling Disc Golf Course provides fun for all skill levels, and local youth and adult sports leagues keep the community active.

Less than 20 minutes away, the Palmetto State Park offers a scenic escape to nature. Dwarf palmettos grow beneath the trees, making the park feel like something from the tropics. This little slice of paradise can be enjoyed in various ways; with trails looping through the park and the San Marcos River flowing through the area, you can hike, bike, kayak, or canoe. The Palmetto State Park also offers ranger programs and summer camps, providing a great way to enrich and entertain visitors throughout the summer or cater to an interest in nature.

Lockhart State Park is another great option for outdoor adventure. Located less than half an hour from Luling, Lockhart State Park is home to both history and nature. With a historic 9-hole golf course and a small but beautiful waterfall over a dam built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression, there is plenty to learn about in the various ranger programs offered throughout the year. The park also features numerous trails for hiking, a creek for fishing, and wildlife to observe, making it an ideal destination for a family getaway.

Businesses and economics in Luling, TX

As part of the Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor, Luling enjoys proximity to regional economic centers while supporting its own vibrant local business community. The primary military installation in the Greater San Antonio region is Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), which includes Camp Bullis, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, and Lackland Air Force Base.

Luling is home to key employers in agriculture, energy, and manufacturing, including Luling Foundation Farm, Ranch Hand Truck Accessories, and Ramming Paving Co. Local shopping and dining flourish downtown, providing excellent support for business owners in the area.

Many residents find employment in education or health. The Luling Independent School District serves as both the city’s public school system and a major employer. Texas State University San Marcos, Austin Community College, UT San Antonio, and the University of Texas at Austin are within an hour, and some locals commute to one of these higher education institutions for work. Likewise, Ascension Seton Edgar B. Davis Hospital is right in town, and larger medical hubs like Seton Hays and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital are within commuting distance.

New construction homes in Luling, TX

Whether raising a family, starting your career, or enjoying retirement, Luling offers a lifestyle that balances convenience, community, and comfort. With friendly streets and fun events, D.R. Horton’s new homes for sale in Luling, Texas provide a great way to join this connected community. Browse our latest home listings, visit a model home, or contact us to learn how you can enjoy the quality and reliability of America’s #1 homebuilder with one of our new build homes.