Overview
Forest Creek is an established Round Rock subdivision built around Forest Creek Golf Club — an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Design course that opened in 1991. The community was built out from 1991 to 2008 and comprises approximately 2,500+ homes. Its identity is built around golf, Round Rock ISD schools, and the best employer commute to Dell Technologies HQ of any community in this area.
The defining feature is the golf course. An Arnold Palmer Signature course is a meaningful credential — fewer than 100 such courses exist worldwide — and it acts as both the community’s primary identity driver and a continuous park-like green corridor running through the neighborhood. Thirty-plus years of growth mean mature live oaks, established landscaping, and a neighborhood character that new construction communities simply cannot replicate.
Forest Creek 78664/78665 sits in eastern Round Rock, in Williamson County. The market here clusters around a $420K median, with full price range spanning $320K to $680K.
Schools
Forest Creek is served by Round Rock ISD, with all three tiers rated 7/10 on GreatSchools. The high school assignment is split — Round Rock High or Cedar Ridge High depending on specific address — so buyers should verify before any offer.
Elementary (Pre-K – Grade 5): Forest Creek Elementary (7/10), 4200 E Old Settlers Blvd, Round Rock 78665. The school offers a PLTW (Project Lead The Way) STEM curriculum and an active parent community, with 72%+ STAAR performance and an active PTA. A 30-year community feeding the same elementary creates institutional knowledge and tradition that newer communities can’t offer.
Middle School (Grades 6–8): Walsh Middle School (7/10), Round Rock ISD, ~1,100 students. Walsh continues the RRISD tradition of pre-AP and PLTW offerings, with 73%+ STAAR performance and college preparatory tracks that keep students on a solid trajectory toward Round Rock or Cedar Ridge High.
High School (Grades 9–12): Round Rock High or Cedar Ridge High (both 7/10), assigned by specific address. Both are strong Round Rock ISD schools with full AP catalogs, CTE programs, and 94% graduation rates. Round Rock High is one of RRISD’s established comprehensive high schools (founded 1948); Cedar Ridge opened in 2010 as a newer campus with modern facilities.
High school assignment (Round Rock High vs. Cedar Ridge High) varies by specific address. Both are strong RRISD 7/10 schools — but buyers sometimes have a preference. Verify at roundrockisd.org before any offer.
As Sam puts it: Forest Creek sits in the sweet spot of Round Rock ISD — solid schools, established neighborhood character, and a price point well below what equivalent communities cost in Austin. For buyers who work at Dell, Amazon, or in the Round Rock employment corridor, Forest Creek is often the answer: Arnold Palmer golf course lifestyle, proven school pipeline, and a 10-minute commute to the office.
Real Estate Market
Round Rock established golf community, 2024–2025. Median price is $420K, with homes typically selling in 30–50 days at a 97% sale-to-list ratio. Roughly 42% of listings see a price reduction.
Price tiers:
- Entry-Level — $320K–$380K: Pre-2000 single-family, 1,400–1,800 sq ft. Solid bones, often needs update.
- Mid-Range (Most Active) — $380K–$490K: 1,800–2,600 sq ft. Updated kitchens, golf course view options.
- Upper Range — $490K–$580K: 2,600–3,400 sq ft. Premium finishes, golf or pond lots.
- Golf Course Lot — $580K–$680K: Golf adjacency, larger lots, fully renovated.
What commands a premium: Golf course view lot ($30K–$60K over interior lots), updated kitchen and baths, larger lot, mature trees, 2005+ build year, and Round Rock High assignment confirmed.
What to consider: Pre-1995 original systems may need a $40K–$80K update. Proximity to US-79 noise affects some sections. Some lots sit near drainage easements. The high school split (Round Rock High vs. Cedar Ridge) creates buyer confusion.
Amenities & Parks
Arnold Palmer golf plus mature trees plus Old Settlers Park — an established community you can’t find in new construction.
- Forest Creek Golf Club (18 Holes): Arnold Palmer Signature Design, opened 1991, semi-private. Residents receive preferred tee times and rate discounts. An Arnold Palmer Signature course is a meaningful credential — fewer than 100 such courses exist. This is the defining community amenity and the neighborhood’s primary identity driver.
- Community Pool: Neighborhood pool with seasonal programming, available to Forest Creek HOA members. A summer gathering point for the established community, with long-standing regulars and multi-generational family connections.
- Neighborhood Trail System: Internal trails connecting community sections and linking to the Williamson County trail network. Golf course views from many trail sections provide a scenic, park-like route through the neighborhood.
- Mature Trees & Established Character: 30+ years of growth mean mature live oaks, established landscaping, and a character new construction can’t replicate. Golf course fairways, ponds, and tree lines create a park-like environment throughout.
- Community Parks: Multiple pocket parks distributed throughout community sections, with playgrounds, open green space, and HOA maintenance. The golf course greenway acts as a continuous natural corridor.
- Golf Club Grill: Bar and restaurant at Forest Creek Golf Club, with a golf atmosphere and post-round gathering. The clubhouse restaurant is the community’s social hub — member events, charity tournaments, and casual weekday lunches.
Parks and outdoors — Old Settlers Park, golf course greenway, and Lake Georgetown nearby:
- Forest Creek Golf Course Greenway (in community): Arnold Palmer 18-hole course, fairways, ponds, mature trees — a park-like green corridor throughout the community.
- Old Settlers Park (10 min): 645 acres, regional baseball and soccer complex, disc golf, lake, playgrounds. Round Rock’s largest park.
- Williamson County Regional Park (10 min): Multi-sport fields, dog park, trails, playgrounds. A major Williamson County recreation hub.
- Lake Georgetown (20 min): 1,310-acre reservoir with boating, fishing, camping, and swimming beaches.
Dining & Entertainment
Golf culture, Dell Diamond baseball, Kalahari Resort, and Round Rock’s entertainment corridor define community life here.
- Golf Club Culture (Community Signature): Forest Creek’s community identity is built around the Arnold Palmer Signature golf course. Regular member tournaments, charity scrambles, Saturday morning rounds, and post-round meals at the clubhouse grill. Cart-path streets and fairway views define the neighborhood character every day of the year.
- Dell Diamond Baseball (5 min): Round Rock Express AAA baseball, 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd. Family-friendly summer nights just minutes from home — one of Austin Metro’s best family entertainment values.
- Kalahari Resort (10 min): 975 Kalahari Blvd, the world’s largest indoor waterpark. Forest Creek families have closer access to Kalahari than most of Austin — a massive regional family amenity used on a Saturday afternoon, not a special occasion.
- Round Rock Donuts (5 min): 106 W Liberty Ave, a legendary Round Rock institution. The giant donuts are a cultural institution — Forest Creek residents make the Saturday morning donut run part of the neighborhood lifestyle.
Dining and social scene — golf club grill, the Old Settlers Blvd corridor, and the Round Rock dining strip:
In the neighborhood:
- Forest Creek Golf Club Grill (on-site, bar + restaurant): Clubhouse restaurant with golf atmosphere, post-round gathering, and a community social anchor for 30+ years.
5–10 minutes away:
- Jack Allen’s Kitchen (Texas comfort food, dinner staple): S A W Williams Loop. Round Rock’s beloved Texas comfort food restaurant and a date night destination.
- Rift Pizza Round Rock (local pizza favorite): University Ave area. A neighborhood pizza institution with genuine local character.
- Round Rock Donuts (historic Round Rock institution): 106 W Liberty Ave. Legendary giant donuts — a Round Rock rite of passage for 50+ years.
Location & Commute
Eastern Round Rock, US-79 corridor — the best Dell Technologies access of any community on this list.
- Dell Technologies HQ (10–12 min): US-79 west to Dell’s Round Rock headquarters campus. Best employer access of any community on this list.
- Amazon Round Rock (10–12 min): US-79. The second major Round Rock employer — a 10-minute commute is a genuine competitive advantage.
- Downtown Austin (20–25 min): I-35 south from Round Rock, or SH-130. Not for daily Austin CBD commuters.
- Georgetown (15–20 min): I-35 north or SH-130.
- Dell Diamond (5 min): 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd. Round Rock Express baseball — a quick family night out.
- Baylor Scott & White RR (10 min): 300 University Blvd. A major regional hospital.
Daily Life
Established Round Rock convenience — HEB, medical, Kalahari, and the best minor league baseball in Texas.
Grocery:
- HEB Round Rock: Multiple locations, 5–10 min, full service plus pharmacy. The primary grocery for Forest Creek.
- Target / Costco: University Ave / I-35 corridor, 10 min. All daily conveniences.
- Round Rock Premium Outlets: 4401 N I-35, 10 min. 100+ outlet stores.
Medical:
- Baylor Scott & White Round Rock: 300 University Blvd, 10 min. A major regional hospital, full service.
- St. David’s Round Rock: 2400 Round Rock Ave, 10 min. Comprehensive medical center.
Golf lifestyle:
- Forest Creek Golf Club (18 holes): In community, Arnold Palmer Signature Design. Resident preferred tee times and discounts, clubhouse grill and bar.
- Clubhouse Restaurant: In community. Post-round gatherings, member events, and a community social hub since 1991.
Entertainment:
- Dell Diamond: 5 min. Round Rock Express AAA baseball — affordable, family-friendly summer entertainment.
- Kalahari Resort: 10 min. World’s largest indoor waterpark — a weekend family destination.
- Old Settlers Park: 10 min. 645 acres with a sports complex, lake, disc golf, and trails.
The Honest Take
Forest Creek sits in the sweet spot of Round Rock ISD — solid schools, established neighborhood character, and a price point well below what equivalent communities cost in Austin. For buyers who work at Dell, Amazon, or in the Round Rock employment corridor, it’s often the answer: Arnold Palmer golf course lifestyle, proven school pipeline, and a 10-minute commute to the office.
The trade-offs are real and worth naming. Pre-1995 homes may carry original systems that need a $40K–$80K update. Some sections sit close enough to US-79 to catch road noise, and some lots are near drainage easements. The high school split — Round Rock High vs. Cedar Ridge High by address — creates genuine buyer confusion, so verify the assignment before you commit. Sam’s honest assessment: both are strong RRISD schools.
On value, the math holds up. Compared to equivalent Austin neighborhoods, Forest Creek offers similar school quality, Arnold Palmer golf, and established character at 30–45% lower price points. The combination of golf lifestyle, RRISD schools, and a Dell commute at a $420K median is difficult to match anywhere in the Austin Metro.
FAQ
What is Forest Creek?
Established Round Rock subdivision built around Forest Creek Golf Club — an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature Design course opened in 1991. Built 1991–2008, approximately 2,500+ homes. Golf lifestyle, Round Rock ISD schools, and the best employer commute to Dell Technologies HQ of any community in this area.
Is the golf club public?
Semi-private. Residents receive preferred tee times and rate discounts. Non-residents may book at standard rates. The Arnold Palmer Signature Design designation is meaningful — these are courses personally designed and reviewed by Palmer’s design firm, and fewer than 100 exist globally.
What schools serve Forest Creek?
Round Rock ISD: Forest Creek Elementary (7/10), Walsh Middle (7/10), Round Rock High or Cedar Ridge High (both 7/10). Round Rock ISD is one of Texas’s most respected and consistently high-performing school districts.
How far is it from Dell?
10–12 minutes to Dell Technologies’ Round Rock headquarters campus via US-79. This is the best employer-access statistic of any community on the SpecTower neighborhood list — if you work at Dell, Forest Creek is the answer.
What are HOA fees?
Approximately $400–$600/year for the master HOA. Covers common area maintenance, community pool, and neighborhood standards. One of the lower HOA rates for a golf course community.
Property taxes?
Williamson County + Round Rock ISD overlay — approximately 2.0% effective. On a $420K median, approximately $8,400/year. Verify at wilcotx.gov for your specific property.
Is Forest Creek good value?
Yes. Compared to equivalent Austin neighborhoods, Forest Creek offers similar school quality, Arnold Palmer golf, and established neighborhood character at 30–45% lower price points. The combination of golf lifestyle, RRISD schools, and Dell commute at $420K median is difficult to match anywhere in the Austin Metro.
Round Rock High vs. Cedar Ridge High?
Both are Round Rock ISD 7/10 schools. Round Rock High is the established school (founded 1948); Cedar Ridge is the newer campus (opened 2010 with modern facilities). Verify your specific address assignment at roundrockisd.org — some buyers have a preference, but Sam’s honest assessment is both are strong RRISD schools.