Kissing Tree, San Marcos

Living & working in Kissing Tree, San Marcos

Kissing Tree is a 1,300-acre gated master-planned community for adults aged 55 and older, situated on the south side of San Marcos in Hays County. The residential architectural profile consists entirely of single-story homes built by Brookfield Residential, categorized into three primary collections: Villas, which are lower-maintenance attached or detached homes ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet; Cottages, averaging between 1,600 and 2,200 square feet; and Traditional single-family homes that exceed 2,200 square feet. The local landscape features "The Mix," a 20-acre amenity campus, alongside an 18-hole Audubon-rated semi-private golf course managed by Troon. Recreational facilities include walking and biking trails, pickleball and bocce ball courts, a two-story fitness center, an indoor junior-Olympic pool, and an outdoor resort-style pool. Social spaces inside the development include Independence Hall, which features a biergarten, and the clubhouse restaurant, Tarbox & Brown. Residents also utilize the nearby San Marcos River and Five Mile Dam Park for outdoor recreation.

The local economy in San Marcos is driven by Texas State University, retail destinations such as the San Marcos Premium Outlets, and the healthcare and municipal sectors. Within Kissing Tree, employment opportunities are primarily limited to service, hospitality, and golf operations at venues like Tarbox & Brown and the bistro-style café, The Stump. For remote-work options, residents and professionals use regional spaces in the city, including Splash Coworking in the downtown area, Corridor Collective on Corporate Drive, or local establishments such as Lamppost Coffee on Stagecoach Trail and Wake the Dead Coffee House on Ranch Road 12. Commuter connectivity relies heavily on Interstate 35, which borders the community and links it directly to major employment hubs in Austin, located 31 miles to the north, and San Antonio, 49 miles to the south. While the Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) operates bus routes and paratransit within the wider San Marcos region, there are no direct public transit stops located inside this gated residential enclave.