Moving to Taylor, Texas (San Antonio, Austin: appointed, for sale, apartments)

[RhianShawn]

I've searched and searched the forums and haven't found much informatio about Taylor. There seems to be quite a bit about nearby Hutto, but I'm looking for anyone that can comment on Taylor specifically.

I will be moving to Taylor and would like to hear people's opinions regarging the "vibe" of the town, pros and cons etc.

I will also be placing my 2 year old son in daycare, so any information regaring that would be very helpful!!

Thank you!!

[love roses]

My sister's husband's family is in Taylor/Granger. We live in Hutto, but she sends her 2 girls, ages 3 and 6, to seventh street. It's a preschool/daycare in Taylor. They've had them both there since they were babies and she likes it a lot.

Taylor is a small town outside of Austin, but so far, unlike Hutto, hasn't seen much growth yet. It's rowing some, but a lot more slowly than other surrounding towns. People are friendly there. It's home to a very famous bbq place, Louis Meuller's, which has also been featured on Food Network. If you're into altenative music at all, you would be interested to know that some of the original founders of Black Flag have a record label/recording studio there. So, even though there's not a lot of up front buzz, it's on a number of people's radars. There is a nice HEB, Super Walmart, YMCA (a lot of people here in Hutto go there for the exercize classes and pool), a public pool and a little city park. They have a few festivals spread out through the year like bloomin' festival, Christmas parade and lights in the courthouse square, movies in the park. There is also an Amtrak train station on the edge of downtown. We use a Veterenarian in Taylor and a friend of ours from Pflugerville started taking his pets there as well. Taylor is also about to be the home of a large sports complex for all of Williamson County. Taylor has a hospital of its own, but is also not too terribly far from the Medical facilities in RR and Georgetown. St. Mary's is one of the local catholic churches and also has a private school. I don't know details about the school, but my BIL and his sister both went to it. Taylor also boasts a movie theatre (old type, not megaplex) downtown. Nothing fancy to be sure, but I've gone once so far and it was just fine. The new owners are in the process of renovating it.

Taylor is a smallish town where everyone knows everyone or at least it seems that way. My sister thinks this can be a good thing and a bad thing sometimes. But, as in the rest of Texas, people are very friendly so I don't see you having a hard time meeting people.

[Canine*Castle]

I wouldn't call Taylor a small town although you're right; it hasn't grown much in many years. I think that will change soon enough as that seems to be the case everywhere, unfortunately.

I know a fellow who was raised there and he and I went to visit a few months ago. Are you familiar with the big old house with large pillars on the hill overlooking the town? That's where my friend was raised, lovely country living on many acres.

Of course and to some, a population of 16,000 (in 2007) seems small. Taylor's growth rate since 2000 has increased almost 13%. No, it's not Austin, but small towns would, safely to say, have about 6,000 or less people (according to city data). Taylor has quite a large Hispanic population as well and about 15% blacks.

Louie Mueller died last Autumn, but I'm sure the same delicious food is to be had at the establishment ..... mighty fine eatings. Also if the OP is into country clubs, I believe Taylor still has one. Mustang Creek Golf Course is in Taylor....9 holes.

Good luck to the OP with your move to Taylor. I'm sure you will be delighted with it. I'm sorry, but I know nothing about its daycare.

[RhianShawn]

Thanks to both of you. You gave me just the kind of info I was looking for, I really appreciate it.

I have a list of daycares in Taylor, now I will make sure to visit Seventh Street.

I haven't heard about this fabulous B-B-Q you both mention, but I say something on the Food Network about Mikeska B-B-Q on the Food Network just a week or so ago. Seems very very interesting if a town/city the size of Taylor can boast 2 Food Network mentions for 2 different B-B-Q's, unless it's the same company and they've changed names. Either way, still pretty darn cool!

[RhianShawn]

Originally Posted by love roses

My sister's husband's family is in Taylor/Granger. We live in Hutto, but she sends her 2 girls, ages 3 and 6, to seventh street. It's a preschool/daycare in Taylor. They've had them both there since they were babies and she likes it a lot.

Taylor is a small town outside of Austin, but so far, unlike Hutto, hasn't seen much growth yet. It's rowing some, but a lot more slowly than other surrounding towns. People are friendly there. It's home to a very famous bbq place, Louis Meuller's, which has also been featured on Food Network. If you're into altenative music at all, you would be interested to know that some of the original founders of Black Flag have a record label/recording studio there. So, even though there's not a lot of up front buzz, it's on a number of people's radars. There is a nice HEB, Super Walmart, YMCA (a lot of people here in Hutto go there for the exercize classes and pool), a public pool and a little city park. They have a few festivals spread out through the year like bloomin' festival, Christmas parade and lights in the courthouse square, movies in the park. There is also an Amtrak train station on the edge of downtown. We use a Veterenarian in Taylor and a friend of ours from Pflugerville started taking his pets there as well. Taylor is also about to be the home of a large sports complex for all of Williamson County. Taylor has a hospital of its own, but is also not too terribly far from the Medical facilities in RR and Georgetown. St. Mary's is one of the local catholic churches and also has a private school. I don't know details about the school, but my BIL and his sister both went to it. Taylor also boasts a movie theatre (old type, not megaplex) downtown. Nothing fancy to be sure, but I've gone once so far and it was just fine. The new owners are in the process of renovating it.

Taylor is a smallish town where everyone knows everyone or at least it seems that way. My sister thinks this can be a good thing and a bad thing sometimes. But, as in the rest of Texas, people are very friendly so I don't see you having a hard time meeting people.

I'm also considering Hutto, I will be renting an apartment to start out with and was looking at the Alexan Star Ranch Apartments, if you have any thoughts/opinions about them, please let me know. Otherwise I was also considering Burnett Place in Taylor. It's just me and my son, so for the time being I'd rather not rent a house so I don't have to deal with yardwork/upkeep. Many of the houses I looked at in Taylor are on the older side, and I worry that the utility bill will be outrageous as well.

[love roses]

You are free to choose your energy company in this region. We're with Austin energy, but there was a group out here a few days ago promoting a new energy company. It was called either Hutto Electric or Hippo Electric, something along those lines and their rates were lower than ours are now with Austin Energy but we're locked in a yr. contract, so can't change over until the contract expires.

I don't know anything about the apartments in Taylor, but I do know that Alexan Star Ranch is brand spanking new. It just opened this year. They look very nice and sit on the Star Ranch Golf Course. It's an extremely safe area too so I wouldn't worry about crime. You will be in the Hutto ETJ, but from those apartments not sure if you would be zoned to a Round Rock School or a Hutto school. Grocery stores are very close as is the Clay Madsen Rec Center. There is also a bouncy place down the road. I think it's called Ready,Set, Play. There is also the Hoppin' Hippo in Hutto.

Taylor does have some older homes, but a lot of them are actually quite nice. The fanciest area in Taylor, I believe, is Lake Drive. I may have to google street view it to be sure. The homes are not brand new, but they are very large and very nice.

[love roses]

I was in Taylor the other day and noticed that Mikeska's was for sale. I guess having Louis Meuller's next door didn't do them any favors. They did have good bbq, so maybe there was a family reason or they are moving to a different location. Another rather "famous" place there is the Taylor Cafe over by the RailRoad tracks.

[RhianShawn]

I found some of the older homes in Taylor to have a lot of charm, I was mostly just concerned about the energy efficiency of them. Thank you for insight on kid friendly aspects of the area!!

[love roses]

Oh, o.k...I guess if it's not already a remodel then it'll probably need a little updating in that department. Another kid friendly thing...both Taylor and Hutto have movies in the park and concerts. Taylors movie's in the Park are cosponsored by the Alamo Drafthouse.

[Fiddi]

My family and I moved to Taylor last June. We love it. We considered all the surrounding areas and are very comfortable with our decision. Taylor has a very nice laid back vibe. It is so easy to do just about any of your daily living here. Nothing is a chore. People have been friendly. I have found a decent variety of restaurants and fast food type places. Of course, in a town this size you can't have it all but we have just about enough. You end up becoming regulars at your favorite places and you start to get that "Cheers" feeling, if you are old enough to know what I mean. There are cute little gift shops and antique stores. Since we've been here I've noticed about a handful of new places opening - it's very noticeable when something new comes to Taylor. We have a very nice park as well.

One downside is the lack of shopping variety. I don't really like clothes/knick knack shopping so it's not a problem for me, but if you love spending time in malls and nicer department stores and boutiques it would mean a drive into Round Rock or Austin or even Georgetown has some nice shopping.

A bigger problem for me is that I have a hard time finding a variety of "ingredients" for all the cooking I love doing. I've gone in to WalMart and HEB with a shopping list for a new recipe and have come out very disappointed a few times. I end up making a list and getting the items on my drives in to Austin or San Antonio, but I have yet to figure out a way to get a larger variety of fresh seafood and other perishables. I think I may have been very spoiled having a Wegman's grocery store five minutes away from my last home so this may just take some getting use to and good planning skills.

A few people I am aware of send their children to St. Paul's Lutheran. I have heard they are happy with it. If my children we younger I would have been very happy to send them to St. Mary's.

Another great BBQ place is Davis. We've been to Louie Mueller's, The Cafe, and Davis and I love different things about all 3. We are lucky to have them. No need to go to Salt Lick for us - though we've done that as well :-) When it comes down to doing just about anything, though, we prefer to stay in Taylor and maybe Hutto.

I'm familiar with the Star Ranch development. It's a nice area and has a lot to offer. It's a world away from Taylor, in my opinion. Completely different feel. But still very nice. It all depends on what you are looking for. Believe me, it wasn't easy for us to decide where to settle down :-)

I wish you luck with all the decisions you will have to make! Moving is very exciting.