Chap. 1 - Hx of WLH - Episode 9 - The Bull and Thompson Mountains

Our Westlake

Emmett Shelton, Sr. (1905-2000) is the Original Developer of Westlake Hills. In this Episode, Emmett tells of two high-finance land deals involved in selling these two picturesque mountain tops. The Bull family had offered to sell Emmett their 160 acres of Mountain overlooking the lake and City of Austin. There were no roads except the High Road but Emmett saw the opportunity - and so did Sterling Holloway. The put up the money and started putting in the road.
Sometime later, Frank Erwin, UT President, caught Emmett and Joyce at the Nighthalw for dinner. Frank said he was ready to build his final home so he could overlook his University. It was a challenge to get Frank up the mountain but he was sold at first sight. Ms. Lee from Dallas brought down her banker and they also fell in love with the Bull.
Joyce worked with Malcolm and Becky Fox on the development of the Fast Fox and Slow Turtle Subdivisions once Torro Canyon was built.
Emmett Sr. and his son Emmett Jr. paved Westlake Drive to the High Road and later bought the right-of-way for the building of Torro Canyon and deeded it to the county.
Thompson Mt. was another large development they held on to for years and it paid off. Emmett was happy to hear that later Michael Dell bought the Mountain!!

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Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.