Real Estate Photographer in Liberty Hill, TX

LIBERTY HILL, Texas, Aug. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NYSE:TOL), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, has unveiled three new collections of luxury homes in the Eldorado neighborhood within , a prestigious master-planned community located in Liberty Hill, Texas. The Maravilla, Sierra, and Tesoro Collections at Santa Rita Ranch will be available for sale starting in fall 2025.

The Maravilla Collection features thoughtfully designed homes ranging from 2,238 to 3,116 square feet on 50-foot-wide home sites, with anticipated starting prices from the low $600,000s. The Sierra Collection offers spacious homes from 2,857 to 3,899 square feet on 60-foot-wide home sites, starting from the low $700,000s. The Tesoro Collection presents expansive homes ranging from 3,292 to 4,700 square feet on 70-foot-wide home sites, with starting prices anticipated from the low $800,000s.

Toll Brothers customers will experience one-stop shopping at the . The state-of-the-art Design Studio allows customers to choose from a wide array of selections to personalize their dream home with the assistance of Toll Brothers professional Design Consultants.

“We are excited to expand our offerings in Santa Rita Ranch with three new home collections, providing home shoppers with more options for luxury living in this highly sought-after community,” said Brandon Cooper, Division President of Toll Brothers in Austin. “This new phase will offer spectacular views and access to the outstanding amenities that make the award-winning Santa Rita Ranch master plan such a desirable place to live.”

Santa Rita Ranch features an array of luxury amenities, including six resort-style pools, water slides, splash pads, playgrounds, pickleball courts, the Wellness Barn fitness center, and extensive parks and nature trails. The community is recognized for its exceptional lifestyle programs and has received numerous awards, including Best of the Best Amenities in the Austin Area from the Austin American-Statesman, and multiple Community of the Year awards from the Austin Business Journal and the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin.

The Sales Center is located at 528 Exploration Circle in Liberty Hill, Texas. For more information on Santa Rita Ranch and Toll Brothers communities throughout Austin, call (833) 405-8655 or visit .

About Toll Brothers

Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 58 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations.

Toll Brothers has been one of Fortune magazine's World's Most Admired Companies™ for 10+ years in a row, and in 2024 the Company's Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron's magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit .

From Fortune, ©2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Contact: Andrea Meck | Toll Brothers, Senior Director, Public Relations & Social Media | 215-938-8169 | ameck@tollbrothers.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09198ef9-2ede-446e-8fd7-246ab3a96c23

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Sent by Toll Brothers via Regional Globe Newswire (TOLL-REG)

Liberty Hill ISD starts the year with a hybrid four-day school week to address budget cuts and staffing shortages.

LIBERTY HILL, Texas — The new school year begins Tuesday for students in Liberty Hill Independent School District, and with it comes a major change: a shift to a hybrid four-day school week.

The district's decision to alter its calendar is part of a broader trend among Texas school districts seeking to cut costs and address staffing challenges. Liberty Hill ISD is starting the year with 70 unfilled positions and a $6.3 million budget reduction.

The district is calling it a ‘hybrid schedule.’ This means that some months, the district will have a regular five-day school week and other months, they will have four-day school weeks.

Earlier this year, the Liberty Hill ISD school board approved the change as a cost-saving measure. Interim Superintendent Travis Motal said the hybrid schedule will help educators manage their workloads and better support students.

“I think right now, time is that precious resource we never have enough of,” said Motal. "And so knowing that they're going to have more time to get ready for the kids, prepare for the kids, provide support for their kids, individualized instruction, individualized behavioral support... I think, is what they're most excited about.”

To help families navigate the new schedule, the district is providing updates and calendar reminders through multiple communication platforms, including its newsletter and official website.

While district officials are hopeful about the benefits, some parents are raising concerns—particularly around child care on days when school is not in session.

“Every year we reevaluate the calendar for what's best. And so we'll go through this fall semester. We'll get feedback from our staff, feedback from our parents, feedback from our community. And then the board will take action on the calendar for the following school year at the beginning of the spring semester.”

To support staff members, the district is offering in-house child care through a program called “Panther Care.”

For other families, the YMCA is currently providing Friday care for school-aged children, and the district is working to establish additional local partnerships.

Liberty Hill ISD officials said they will continue to assess the impact of the hybrid schedule throughout the school year before deciding on its long-term future.

Hey Texas photographers, grab your tripods because it's time to chase the Milky Way.

This summer, Liberty Hill made history by becoming Texas’s newest and the first in Williamson County. That means quality outdoor lighting, dark-sky-friendly policies, community-installed lighting retrofits, and grassroots advocacy all come together to protect the nightscape. It’s a proud win for Liberty Hill and a testament to what citizen action can achieve (libertyhilltx.gov).

Founded in the mid-1800s and nestled 33 miles northwest of Austin, Liberty Hill blends Hill Country charm with stunning night skies. Thanks to the Liberty Hill Save Our Stars team and a forward-thinking Outdoor Lighting Ordinance enacted in 2020, the city inventoried over 1,100 fixtures and is retrofitting municipal and Pedernales Electric Coop streetlights, all aiming for completion by August 2027 (libertyhilltx.gov).

As Donna Leonard, the founder of the volunteer group, declared:

“In Texas, the stars at night are supposed to be big and bright.”
Now Liberty Hill is ensuring that tradition lives on for generations to come.

The city’s Dark Sky Committee is already planning regional star party collaborations, lighting workshops, and educational events to keep the momentum going.

As of July 2025, there are 23 certified Dark Sky Places in Texas, listed by DarkSky International via DarkSky Texas (darkskytexas.org):

These destinations are perfect for astrophotographers:

From the silent hills of Big Bend to small towns like Liberty Hill, the dark-sky movement is about more than stargazing. It’s about environmental stewardship, community identity, energy savings, and preserving a natural legacy. The International Dark Sky Places program now spans over 230 locations worldwide, starting with Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2001.

With Liberty Hill’s new Dark Sky Community status, Texas now has 23 certified Dark Sky Places, including four gold-tier parks. Whether you're capturing star trails or shooting the Milky Way over Hill Country, these preserved night skies are your ultimate creative muse. Let’s keep them shining bright for generations to come.

Claire Osborn, Emiliano Tahui Go?mez, American-Statesman staff, Austin American-Statesman

Sherry Richardson called 911 around 3:30 a.m. Saturday to report that water was coming into her home in Liberty Hill. While the 64-year-old was still on the phone with a dispatcher, the water began creeping up the stairs of the cabin where she lived so she retreated to the second floor, said her daughter Deliah Greenslet.

The dispatcher lost contact with Richardson about 15 minutes after the call began, said Greenslet.

"There was 30 feet of water in her house," said Greenslet.

She said he later found out that the whole cabin was swept away with her mother inside of it into a creek that fed into the San Gabriel River. Searchers on Sunday found Richardson's body and the remains of her beloved Yorkie, Omie Mae, about a mile from where her house originally stood, Greenslet said.

"I am heartbroken," said Greenslet.

"Mom was my best friend and confidante and the rock for our family, and I will really miss her," she said. "She loved music, she loved the Beatles and she had a tattoo of some of the Beatles lyrics on her."

Richardson, who was divorced, worked as a human resources administrator at Hope House, a lifetime facility for those suffering from severe mental disabilities. The group operates an 11-acre campus 6 miles from Liberty Hill. Erland Schulze, Hope House’s development director, described Richardson as a “bubbly,” kindhearted and hardworking administrator who had quickly taken to the center’s mission of serving those often disregarded by society.

“We’re gonna miss her,” Schulze said. “She took her job seriously and she loved it.”

Her cabin, on the Hope Hill campus, was on a ledge over the creek. The house where 16 children with severe mental illness lived was uphill, said Schulze.

Anderson, who was from Louisiana, had moved to Round Rock to be close to Greenslet but then relocated to Liberty Hill for her job, Greenslet said. "She wanted to help others. That's who she was."

Anderson grew up around water and always loved it and was glad she lived by a little creek, her daughter said. Anderson had five grandchildren but especially loved to dote on Greenslet's 8-year-old daughter and braid her hair, Greenslet said. She said her mother also loved to bake and was known for her "famous" chicken wings but her greatest legacy to her family was her crochet work, Greenslet said.

"I really want to give my heartfelt thanks to the search and rescue and to the 911 dispatcher who was on the phone with my mom until her final moments; at least she wasn't alone," Greenslet said.

She said she was never alerted about the potential flooding in the area but if she had known she would have asked her mother to spend the night with her. She said she knows there have been budget cuts at the National Weather Service and feels like its being dismantled.

"What can we do as a nation, as a country to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future?" she said. "Why don't we have warning systems that are better than phones saying there's a flash flood warning?"

Liberty Hill, Texas

Liberty Hill has been designated an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International, making it the first such community in Williamson County and joining just 22 other certified Dark Sky Places in Texas. This designation is a significant milestone for the fast-growing Hill Country city, reflecting a strong community commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the night sky amid ongoing development.

Dan Oakley (DarkSky International) noted that the application was a great read and reflected the commitment of the community to improve their lighting and join others in the area. It should inspire other places to join the program.

Located 33 miles northwest of Austin, Liberty Hill sits between the forks of the San Gabriel River and is surrounded by scenic hills, historic architecture, and a vibrant small-town culture. With a population now exceeding 13,700, the city continues to attract new families drawn to its schools, parks, and welcoming spirit. Founded in the mid-1800s, Liberty Hill has worked to balance its rapid growth with efforts to preserve its historic charm—and now, its night skies.

The effort to become a Dark Sky Community began in 2020, when concerned citizens formed the Liberty Hill Save Our Stars volunteer group during COVID-19 lockdowns. The group partnered closely with the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission to draft an Outdoor Lighting Ordinance, which was adopted in 2022. Since then, the City has inventoried more than 1,100 lights, initiated lighting retrofits across City Hall, the Stubblefield Building, and public parks, and committed to completing all city retrofits, including streetlights maintained by Pedernales Electric Coop, by August 2027.

To support compliance, the City will retrofit public facilities, enforce lighting requirements for new builds, support existing businesses during the transition, and increase education and awareness. In parallel, Save Our Stars has conducted night lighting audits, hosted annual public star parties in collaboration with the Austin Astronomical Society, designed awareness materials, staffed booths at the Whimsy & Wonder Festival and LH Market, and launched the “Night Sky Friendly Business” program to recognize responsible lighting in the community.

“Liberty Hill’s commitment to preserving the night sky is a shining example of what can happen when a community comes together with purpose and passion,” said Cindy Luongo Cassidy, Board President of DarkSky Texas. “This designation is more than a title—it’s a reflection of Liberty Hill’s regional leadership and a powerful reminder that protecting our skies protects our quality of life. Congratulations to everyone involved in this incredible achievement.”

“Growing up in Liberty Hill, I loved the night skies with the stars and fireflies,” said Dr. Diane Williams, Liberty Hill City Councilmember and former Planning & Zoning Commissioner. “As the city grew, so did the light pollution that threatened to take that away. I am very thankful to the Save Our Stars volunteer group and the city leaders who initiated the effort for the lighting ordinance. I am really proud and excited that our city has reached this major milestone.”

“Becoming the first Dark Sky city in Williamson County is a proud moment for Liberty Hill and a shining example of what grassroots action can accomplish,” said Donna Leonard, Founder of Liberty Hill Save Our Stars. “For over four years, the volunteers of Liberty Hill Save Our Stars have worked tirelessly to protect our night skies—not just for ourselves, but for future generations. In Texas, the stars at night are supposed to be big and bright. This designation honors that heritage and reflects our community’s deep commitment to preserving what makes our Hill Country home so special.”

Looking ahead, Liberty Hill’s Dark Sky Committee has several initiatives in development. These include partnering with other aspiring Dark Sky cities to host workshops, launching a Tri-County Star Party at River Ranch County Park, and expanding outreach through local homeowners’ associations to promote the Five Principles of Responsible Lighting. Ongoing sky darkness monitoring will ensure continued compliance and data tracking for the city’s night skies.

About the International Dark Sky Places Program:

Founded in 2001, the International Dark Sky Places Program is a non-regulatory and voluntary program encouraging communities, parks, and protected areas worldwide to preserve and protect dark sites through effective lighting policies, environmentally responsible outdoor lighting, and public education. When used indiscriminately, artificial light can disrupt ecosystems, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute to climate change, and block our view and connection to the universe. Liberty Hill now joins more than 230 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution. Learn more by visiting https://darksky.org/what-we-do/international-dark-sky-places.

About DarkSky International:

The mission of DarkSky is to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through environmentally responsible outdoor lighting. Learn more at darksky.org.

Contacts

Media ContactKatie Amsler, Director of Community Engagement & Communications(512) 417-8448kamsler@libertyhilltx.gov

DarkSky InternationalAmber Harrison, Dark Sky Places Program Manager+1 (520) 347-6363amber@darksky.org