into the woods

New tiny cabin vacation homes root east of Dallas for the ultimate escape

Soon, Dallasites won't have to travel too far to disconnect from it all in a trendy, tiny space. Getaway, a vacation startup for people want to, well, get away and connect with nature, will open its first tiny cabin community in Texas this summer, just two hours east of Dallas.

Getaway Piney Woods is located in the East Texas forest region known for its signature pine trees and rolling terrain, with access to Tyler State Park, Lake Palestine, and Cedar Creek Lake. The outpost will span 99 acres and feature 40 tiny cabins, 32 fit for two guests and eight four-person cabins, starting at $99 a night. The outpost's exact address has not been publicly disclosed.

Cabins range in size from 136 to 200 square feet and are outfitted with "everything guests need and nothing they don’t," according to a release. Accommodations include a queen-sized bed, mini kitchen, and bathroom. There's no Wi-Fi, but there are what Getaway calls "analog activities," such as books and games.

The tiny cabins are designed to help guests completely unplug and connect with nature — and each other. The spaces incorporate wood, metal, and glass and offer multiple ways to take in the scenery, such as each cabin's large picture window and private outdoor space complete with fire pit and seating area.

"As we rush headlong into another era of urbanization armed with ever more technology, it is critical that we find sources of regrounding that connect us to our essential nature and the things that matter most," says CEO and founder Jon Staff in a release. "Getaway is a champion and catalyst of the power of mindful presence and connection to purpose, and we’re confident that our unique approach to wellness and travel will resonate with audiences in new markets."

Getaway hasn't announced when booking opens for the East Texas cabins, but potential guests can sign up for early access.

If that's too close to home, Getaway also has new outposts opening outside Portland, Oregon; Cleveland, Ohio; and Los Angeles, and there are already tiny cabin communities near Boston; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Atlanta. All are situated within two hours of a major urban area to make getting away from it all even easier.

Getaway's tiny cabins were designed to resemble their surroundings.

Photo courtesy of Getaway

Getaway's tiny cabins were designed to resemble their surroundings.

texas vacation

GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

Napa wine brand The Debate uncorks new Texas Hill Country tasting room

The Debate/ Facebook

The Debate will source both Napa Valley and Hill Country grapes.

Need further proof that the Texas wine industry has arrived? Acclaimed Napa Valley wine brand The Debate is expanding into the Hill Country with plans to open a new Stonewall tasting room in spring 2027.

The brand was founded in 2010 with a slightly esoteric philosophy. The Debate believes that wine isn’t just a product, but a way of “fostering connection through conversation.”

One topic will surely be about the finer points of Napa versus Hill Country terroir. The tasting room will pour The Debate's top-rated wines from California alongside new bottles made from Texas fruit. Additional wine programs under the brand's umbrella will target a range of wine drinkers.

"We've always believed that wine is at its best when it brings people together," said Todd Kerlin, the brand's general manager, in a statement. "Texas Hill Country is writing a genuinely exciting chapter in wine right now, and we saw an opportunity to be part of something real here, not to import an experience, but to build one that belongs to this place and the people in it."

The Debate tasting room Once completed, The Debate's tasting room will presumably look less like The Sims.Rendering courtesy of The Debate

Wine industry vet Jean Hoefliger will spearhead the project in Texas. He's not an area newb — he's spent the past five years working with Hill Country producers with Texas Wine Consulting.

"After years of working across wine regions around the world, nothing prepared me for Texas," Hoefliger said. "The energy here is unlike anywhere else, and so is the sense of place."

The Debate plans to partner with regional restaurants and take part in Hill Country wine events as part of its rollout. Membership details, programming, and information on the brand's first Texas releases are expected to be announced closer to the opening.

Once open, it will join two other recently opened tasting rooms on Wine Road 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City: playful concept Acquired Taste Wines in Stonewall and Rebecca Caroline, William Chris’ new sparkling wine tasting room in the historic Hye post office.

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