Unique Places to Stay in Texas
Do you wish to visit the Lone Star State but are unaware of where to stay? If you’re ready to spare no expenses to experience something incredible, here is the list of the best stays just for you! Moreover, most of these hotels are well-suited to a family holiday, so take all your loved ones on a fantastic trip to Texas! What are the coolest places to stay there? Let’s look.
Cypress Valley, Spicewood
A treehouse glamping nestled in and next to ancient cypress trees grants its visitors a unique experience and a happy reminisce of one’s childhood’s hours spent in a treehouse. Options include two-guest Yoki, Juniper, Lofthaven, and Willow treehouses, and a 4-6-guest treehouse, the Nest, as well as a ground ranch house, Heartsong Lodge, divided into two parts, together sleeping up to 15 people (in 6 bedrooms).
All the accommodations on the property share an amenities area containing BBQ grills, a pool, a games area, and a Camp Store where guests can buy drinks, snacks, and souvenirs.
The property is located in the vicinity of picturesque Lake Travis and Fredericksburg, 30 miles from Austin, and 90 minutes from San Antonio.
Austin Motel
A one-of-a-kind hotel dazzles its visitors with a colourful, retro-inspired design that is sure to put a smile on your face. In 1938, when it was built, the rooms were carports, which were then enclosed and refurbished into guest rooms.
The rooms in Austin Motel are Poolside King, Suite, Deluxe King, King, Queen, Double Queen, and Full (with a double bed). Each room features a private bath, open-air entrance, minibar, and Coconut bath amenities.
Dining options are represented by: colour-flashing Rocky’s Bar serving classic and signature cocktails, and fast food; Pool Bar, opened from April to September; Bodega snack shop set in the lobby; and Joann’s Fine Foods offering Tex Mex dishes and diner classics.
Blue Hills Ranch, McGregor
This stay is an amazing safari spot with giraffes, otters, mini donkeys, kangaroos, wallabies, zebras, horses, mini horses, British white cows, oryx (gemsbok), fallow deer, blackbuck, axis deer, emus, Angus cows, mini pigs, bisons, camels, mini cows, mini Scottish Highland cows, African tortoises, jackrabbits, various birds, including roadrunners and ducks, and a stocked pond with multiple fish species. Altogether, the property is home to over 160 free-roaming animals.
Cabins are also rather variable: animal-themed Otter and Kangaroo (4 guests, full kitchen); Giraffe Tower (10 guests, full kitchen); Giraffe and Zebra (4 guests, kitchenette); pirate-themed Scallywag, Kraken, and Hook (6 guests, loft with twin beds, kitchenette). Each of the cabins has a distinctive design, whether a savannah-meeting-rustic-luxury or sea / ship charm.
The experiences available for you at Blue Hills Ranch are: swimming or playing with Asian small-clawed otters (2-6 people over 12 y.o., 60 minutes); dining with giraffes, with viewing of other animals in the process (from 2 persons, available for any age); safari adventure including a UTV ride across the whole 150-acre territory (up to 5 adults, available for any age, 60 minutes); kangaroo bottle — feeding a baby kangaroo (1-6 people, children under 12 can participate but cannot feed, 15 minutes).
The Antlers Inn, Kingsland
The hotel, recorded as a Texas landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, offers you the opportunity to stay in a real train caboose set amongst the amazing scenery.
The hotel has four train accommodations — McKinley Coach, Antlers Green, Red, and Yellow Cabooses, all built in 1976. Being an excellent option for families, these cabooses feature a king bed and two twin beds, as well as one full and one half bathroom.
Besides, the Antlers Inn has 6 unique suites (sleeping either 2 or 4 persons), a spacious Train Depot built in 1880 (sleeping 8 people), a Sunset Cottage (sleeping 4 people), a River Trail room, and a Casita (both featuring a king-size bed).
The Antlers Inn is located at the junction of the Llano and Colorado Rivers, a two-minute walk from Lake Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), where you can enjoy various water sports and activities, and in the vicinity of the town of Kingsland, state parks, and wineries.
The on-site restaurant, Hooper’s, is famous for being set in the house where the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie was filmed. Recently, the building and the menu have been renovated, to serve you breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Range Vintage Trailer Resort, Ennis
The territory spanning over 30 acres has 13 open sites lying rather far from one another to create a sense of seclusion, each equipped with electricity. The Range restaurant operates on the property; it has a bar and hosts several regular special events.
However, the most prominent highlight of the Range are its 9 trailers available for hire. These are: 2016 and 2013 Airstream (sleep 2, adults only), 1961 Airstream (sleeps 2 adults / family of 3, ages 12+), 1966 Shasta and 1962 Fan (2 adults / family of 4, all ages), 1963 Ideal (sleeps 2, all ages), 1967 Airstream and 1965 Boles Aero (2 adults / family of 3, all ages), 1953 Boles Aero (sleeps 2, ages 12+).
All trailers include the following amenities: bathroom (toilet and shower), kitchenette, toiletries, coffee machine, dining area, heating and air conditioning, and a private deck with a charcoal grill, propane fire pit, a table and benches, and a hammock. However, there are no TVs or stoves.
The Bloomhouse, Austin
The «fairy tale escape» resembling a giant seashell unicorn is a breathtaking stay comparable with only figments of one’s vivid imagination, has all the chances to become the most remarkable stay in your life. Situated in a secluded location, this snow-white fun beast of a house has not a single straight corner, except for the door. The Bloomhouse was built in the 1970s by a group of imaginative hippies and was rediscovered in 2017, being bought by Austin’s former mayor.
The house is rented whole and sleeps 4 persons, of ages 5+. The rooms are: a bedroom with a queen bed, a living room with a sofa bed and a toddler's bed, and a full kitchen. Outdoors, the territory is equipped with a private patio, a private back garden, outdoor furniture, and a gas BBQ grill.
The Yurtopian, Wimberly
Yurtopian is a 26-acre nature retreat where six unique Mongolian yurts are situated. The hideaway vibe is combined with the luxury of a resort, and traditional craftsmanship — with modern conveniences. In case you’d like to return to the «real world outside», the charming town of Wimberly, which is said to be one of the best small towns in the U.S., is only a 5-minute drive away from the property. The local picturesque landscape of the Texas Hill Country asks for a day of hiking.
Note that the Yurtopian has another location at Dripping Springs, farther from the town, offering 10 yurts.
Each yurt has a king-size bed, an indoor desk seating, a smart TV, a bathroom with a hot tub and toiletries, an outdoor kitchen featuring a propane grill, an outdoor walk-in limestone shower, and a fire pit. Between every two yurts, there is a territory of over 300 sq ft of woods, which promises complete seclusion and tranquillity.
Each of Wimberly yurts (gers) — Greta, Mila, Lena, Sasha, Cara, and Becca — are designed for two, having one bedroom and one bath. Every unit has the Internet and a hot tube, but only Becca Ger has a fireplace. The difference is the location and the design; however, all of them are exotically beautiful.
Note that children are not allowed in the Yurtopian, in order not to disturb the peace and quiet. Pets are allowed in Dripping Springs, but prohibited in Wimberly.
El Cosmico, Marfa
The most diverse of unique Texas getaways, El Cosmico is a collection of every unusual stays type you could wish for.
Cosmic Casita is a 325 sq ft glass-walled house having a queen bed, an indoor bathroom, and a kitchenette. Note that none of the houses in El Cosmico have Wi-Fi: this is done intentionally, to let guests have some time unplugged.
Bushtec Tents are 384 sq ft African-style houses reminding of cabins wrapped in canvas. A king bed, a vintage tub, an outdoor shower, a furnished 160 sq ft front deck, and a 64 sq ft back deck are what you may expect here.
Trailers — small, medium, large, and extra-large — provide for a comfortable camp experience. Each of trailers comes with AC, a heater, refrigeration, cooking supplies, a radio, and furnishings collected from around the world. Communal spaces between the trailers include hammocks, an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, and a reading room.
A small trailer, 11–13 ft long, includes a full bed, a kitchenette, as well as a shared outdoor bath and a shared deck. A medium trailer, 24–27 ft long, has a full / queen bed, an indoor bathroom, an outdoor shower / bathtub, and a private deck. A large trailer, 24–34 ft long, has a queen bed, an indoor bathroom, an outdoor shower, and a private deck. An extra-large trailer has an area of 31–42 feet comprising a king bed, a twin bed, an indoor bathroom and shower, and a private deck.
Teepees are traditional dwellings of Native Americans. In an area of 22 ft in diameter there is a queen bed with a heated pad, a couch, a small daybed, and an electrical outlet. There is no bathroom in the teepee; instead, you should visit the nearby bath house.
Safari tents, 120 sq ft in size, on the outside have canvas walls and doors. On the inside, they feature a heated queen bed, a chair, and an electrical outlet. Bathing is possible at the bath house.
Yurts, 22 feet in diameter, have wooden floors, and offer a queen / king bed, a writing desk, a sofa, and an electric outlet. Bathing is also done at the bath house.
Jupe Tents, created by the combined team of SpaceX and Tesla, are high-tech tents inspired by the stars. Each unit is solar-powered and has an indoor area of 104 sq ft. The furniture includes a bed with a queen mattress, end tables, stools, and a deck. To have a bath, head to the adjacent bath house.
The Brite Building, built in 1931 in Marfa’s downtown, is the most traditional out of El Cosmico’s accommodation options. The 3,800 sq ft house contains two bedrooms with king beds, private bathrooms, spacious living and dining rooms, kitchens, panoramic windows. The interior is designed in an Art Deco / West Texas minimalist style. The Brite Building is estimated for 4–8 occupants (for every person over 4, an additional roll-away bed will be provided, at an extra cost). Dogs, up to 2 animals, are welcome, for extra cost; all the necessary equipment will be provided.
Self-camping is also available for $30 per night, with access to communal spaces and bath house.
Conclusion
While we think that each of the cool places to stay in Texas mentioned above is worthy of your attention, it is necessary to select the coolest one. Which of the hotels has drawn your attention most? Which one do you consider the unique place to spend some unforgettable time? Whichever option you select, have fun and explore the beautiful state of Texas! Maybe you will return to discover more getaways?