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A Ferry Once Operated in Austin's Lake Travis

Henry E. Vail II

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An award-winning private wealth advisor at Sucre-Vail Wealth Advisors in Houston, Texas, Henry E. Vail II provides physicians and affluent families with diverse financial solutions such as asset protection and wealth transfer strategies. In addition to his professional activities, Henry Vail II enjoys spending time with his three grandchildren and godson, including boating on Lake Travis in Austin.

Created when the Mansfield Dam was constructed in 1941, Lake Travis has been a popular spot for swimming and boating for decades, and recently the Lakeway City Council has considered adding ferry service to its list of amenities. If the plan goes through, it won’t be the first time a ferry navigated the waters of Lake Travis, as local historian Roy Abels outlined in an article for the Point Venture Homeowners Association.
According to Abels' research, a ferry operated on Lake Travis from 1971 to 1973. At the time, Point Venture developer William C. Canfield and others sought a faster way to get between lake communities. To this end, he purchased a ferry from Llano County and had it dismantled and shipped to Lake Travis. The ferry ultimately ceased operations due to financial concerns and reduced water levels.