The Old Enfield Neighborhood is one of Austin’s oldest, most historic and most prestigious neighborhoods. It is a very small and highly sought after area located between Lamar Boulevard on the east, and to the west sits Loop One, also called MoPac which was named for the Missouri Pacific rail line which runs directly alongside the freeway. West 24th Street borders the neighborhood to its north, and to its south is Enfield Road. All of these borders are considered major thoroughfares, which make the neighborhood easily accessible, and its close proximity to downtown, being only a five to ten minute drive, adds to the enjoyment of living in this beautiful neighborhood.

Old Enfield was originally part of a 320 acre land grant given to C.S. Parish in 1841 by the Republic of Texas during the presidency of Mirabeau Lamar. In the center of the neighborhood you will find the historic Pease Mansion at 6 Niles Road. It was built in 1853 by Abner Cook, builder of the Governor's Mansion. Retiring Governor Elisha Pease purchased the then 350 acre property in 1857 for his family which resided in the mansion for 100 years. It is said that General Custer and his men had camped on the grounds of the mansion in 1865. At some point the acreage was divided up and the mansion now currently sits on a little more than 4 acres. In 1910 the Old Enfield neighborhood was subdivided by the Enfield Realty and Home Building Company. In 1957 the Pease Mansion was purchased by Governor Allan Shiver, whom later gave the property to the University of Texas, which was later sold to the State of Texas.

You can expect to find almost every lawn in Old Enfield perfectly manicured, with freshly cut green grass and clean and tidy flower beds. It is the historic charm of the colonial style homes with magnificent towering Live Oak trees which attract people to this neighborhood. However the diversity of smaller cottages and bungalows scattered amongst giant historic mansions allows for a diverse mix of younger families, students, and professionals. Though some of the historic mansions were built prior to the Civil War and have been very well maintained, most of the homes were built between 1910, and 1950. Many families have resided here for a quarter of a century or more. You will find some properties which have been passed down through generations. The residents here are very proud of their neighborhood which is about ninety percent owner-occupied. Former Mayor Kirk Watson, former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, and actor Luke Wilson are just a few of the proud residents who have called Old Enfield “home.”

Children living in Old Enfield are privilege to some of Austin’s best schools and parks. Casis Elementary, O. Henry Middle School, and Austin High School are consistently ranked at the top of the AISD school ratings. Pease District Park, located on the eastern border of the neighborhood, along Lamar Boulevard, is an amazing piece of land which is part of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt. It has many amenities which include a large picnic area with BBQ that can be reserved and will seat 100 people. The park also has a wading pool, running trails, basketball courts, a leash free dog park, volley ball courts, and a playground. It is also one of Austin’s most popular locations for Disk Golf and is home of the famous annual Eeyore’s Birthday Party Celebration, a favorite event for Austin's hippie subculture dating back to the 1960s.

One of my most enjoyable ways to spend an early Saturday morning is to strap on my running shoes and head down to the running trails along Shoal Creek. I start and finish at the southern end of Pease Park where the picnic tables are located. The trails are never over crowded, and occasionally I run into a few friendly dogs. If you look closely, you can see many of the beautiful homes tucked up on the side of the hill, deep into the trees that separate the park from the neighborhood. I’m a bit of a daydreamer, so my mind stays occupied while running along the trails. After my run I like to have a nice cup of coffee, and Austin Java on 12th and Lamar is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the park. The Neighborhood is very friendly, and I always feel safe here. If the number one rule in real estate is location, location, location… this neighborhood’s got it, and so much more!