The Round House on the Cliff
Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Matthew Renfro
The round house on the cliff built in the mid 80s and still a magnificent property. Johnson’s Peak in the back provides an extra hour of shade in the evening.
Every issue of PK Magazine features an iconic home on Possum Kingdom Lake. These are the eye-catching structures that residents point out to visiting friends and relatives on lake tours, and the home of Randy and Misty Nix is one that has stood out for decades.
The design, location and unique cliff line are what make the couple’s home, built in the mid-1980s, truly special. It’s not the biggest house on the lake, measuring about 2,000 square feet, but it’s definitely high on style and lake-life living.
The Nixes have lived in their lake home since 2013, and its unique round design and incredible location make it one of the most scenic homes on the lake. Misty Nix’s family had a condo at The Landing for many years, and that’s where she met her husband. The lake has been a part of their lives for more than 40 years, and they said they love sharing their lake home with their two daughters and two grandchildren.
The Nixes sold their Mineral Wells-based sprinkler business in 2012, which offered them the opportunity to buy a home at PK. On their first night sitting out on the patio enjoying their newly acquired dream home, they said they heard the sound of a trencher in the background. It was a sprinkler crew from their recently sold business doing some work nearby – a small bit of irony, perhaps, in seeing workers from the business they had just sold while admiring the gorgeous lake view.
These days the Nixes are the owners of Nix Rental Home, with more than 300 rental homes in Mineral Wells, and their daughter Macy Nix Alexander runs the business. The couple continues to be active in bringing downtown Mineral Wells back to life, playing key roles in several thriving downtown businesses. The Nixes are part of the group of 88 investors that purchased the Crazy Water Hotel, and in 2018 they opened the very popular The Market at 76067.
In 2021 and 2022 the Nixes opened the Sensology boutique, as well as the women’s apparel store Perfect Pair and Toytopia in the Crazy Water Hotel, and each retail shop provides a unique shopping experience. In 2024 the couple added The Outfitters of Palo Pinto County and The Collective in Poston Plaza to their business ventures.
The couple said they are thankful for the success of their hard work in Mineral Wells, and both look forward to helping others expand their downtown businesses in the community.
Guests can’t help but notice the views of the Nix home the minute they pull into the driveway. Once inside, visitors enter the open great room with its 180-degree views, making it seem like it hovers over the water, while Johnson’s Peak behind the house provides the perfect backdrop for the entire property. The open concept floor plan features different spaces for a variety of activities, and the entire space opens up to a well-appointed luxury kitchen.
The couple’s home is filled with nautical home furnishings from The Market at 76067. The living space features a beautiful high-top dining space, with seating for eight. A great seating space with four chairs and unique driftwood table are set up right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s a wonderful spot to read, relax or just enjoy a cup of coffee.
The main living space, anchored by a stone fireplace, features comfortable leather chairs and overstuffed sofas for watching a game on TV or taking in the view of the lake.
The home has four bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms, and the master bedroom has its own en suite bathroom, as well as large windows overlooking the patio and lake.
The interior of the couple’s home is spectacular, but it’s the different outdoor spaces where the true PK experience can be found. The spaces are incorporated into the rocky cliff and anchored by metal beams to the cliff line. Because of the home’s location, the sun sets behind the house and Johson’s Peak. This provides an extra hour of shade on warm days and creates a welcoming space to relax.
The large patio off the living room is filled with brightly colored patio furniture and comfortable seating for a large group. On the other side of the home is a large teak table and grilling space.
Down past the natural rock steps, majestic oaks provide shade for a tranquil spot to enjoy the lake. One of the more unusual features along the cliff line is an air-conditioned, furnished playhouse in the design of a log cabin that’s a favorite of the couple’s grandchildren.
Misty Nix incorporated the talents of Carol Montgomery of Clark Gardens in Mineral Wells to design the many planters arranged around the entire outdoor space. They add a touch of beauty to the nature vibe of the home.
A rock path down the cliff is surrounded by plush Saint Augustine grass, and huge natural boulders lead down to the two-level dock, which is tucked away on the side of the property in a deep-water rocky cove. The Nixes said their grandchildren love to jump off the dock and fish for the huge catfish that surround it.
From their location on the lake, the couple and their family can enjoy the world-famous Possum Kingdom fireworks shows from any of the outdoor spaces on the property.
For Misty Nix, “Camp Misty” is her favorite time of the year. It’s a weeklong event every summer where she and her husband share their beautiful home with family and friends. The Nixes said they enjoy sharing their home with others so much that they have it listed on VRBO with Lush Property Management. They said they have many families who come back to rent their home every year to create their own family memories. For those who choose to rent the home, the couple suggests bringing fishing polls, coffee and a favorite beverage.
