Happy campers

New retro-cool Airstream resort rolls in near Dallas for social distance staycations

Dreams of an Airstream quarantine are coming true with the opening of The Range Vintage Trailer Resort in Bristol, about 35 minutes southeast of Dallas.

The retro resort features 15 open sites for trailer hook-up and six renovated Airstreams and vintage trailers to rent. A cedar timber barn for events, farm-to-table restaurant, and custom Airstream bar are coming soon, too.

The resort sits along the famous Ennis Bluebonnet Trail, which, sadly, did not open this year due to coronavirus restrictions, but will no doubt be a hot attraction next spring. While the open sites have been available since the end of April, the vintage trailers-for-rent are booking now for stays beginning June 1.

“As Airstream owners ourselves, we wanted to build the space that we craved with a focus on nature, a ton of privacy, and the opportunity for community," say owners Sarah and Paul Beauregard in a release. "If you live and love the Airstream and vintage trailer life, or just want to experience it for a few days, we offer an easy way to enjoy camping and the outdoors with family and friends.”

Or — no family and friends, for now. The owners are touting The Range as an ideal situation for social distancing, with only 22 spacious concrete site pads with full hook-ups that are spaced more than 100 feet apart over the 30 acres. Each site offers private parking, custom-made reclaimed wooden tables and benches, and surroundings that vary from one site to another. No two sites are alike, they promise.

Currently, 15 sites are reserved for guests to bring their own trailers — but not just any trailers. They can be Airstreams of any year or vintage trailers that are 25 years or older and meet certain criteria, they say.

Airstream hotel
Beginning June 1, the six renovated Airstreams and vintage trailers will serve as an outdoor hotel. The vintage trailers are completely self-contained with their own bathroom, kitchenette (including Nespresso coffee maker with pods), A/C, wooden deck, propane fire pit, grill, and custom-made reclaimed wood outdoor table and benches. Also, quality linens, pillows, and low-waste toiletries are provided, they say.

Additional vintage trailers are being renovated now and will be there soon.

The Range may have vintage vibes, but it has a thoroughly modern eco-friendly initiative. The resort was born out of the Beauregards' passion for living a low-waste lifestyle and repurposing as much as possible, they say.

Their reuse mission is evident in the resort's use of rusted Texas oil piping fence, flat rack containers converted into bridges over the ponds, reclaimed vintage doors on many of the buildings, and the restored vintage trailers that date to 1953.

"The vintage camping trailer is an important part of American cultural history, and we want to highlight the craftsmanship of these trailers by restoring and renovating them back to their former glory," Sarah Beauregard says. "We take pride in applying this repurposing philosophy to everything we can and are always seeking new opportunities to think outside the box.”

Amenities of the resort include complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, easy hiking trails with private entrances from each site, three ponds soon to be stocked with fish, babbling creeks with outdoor seating, tree swings, outdoor games, natural playground, dog park, covered patios, and a communal fire pit.

When possible again, The Range will host on-site activities, introducing distinctive experiences, workshops, and retreats that invite guests to discover, inspire, and reconnect.

Additional offerings include:

Multiuse barn
A two-story cedar timber barn surrounded by ponds, oak trees, and made for fun events. Glowing string lights, sliding barn doors opening up to the outdoors, and custom-made reclaimed tables and vintage chairs fill the interior and covered patio. The multipurpose space will be the restaurant plus a wedding venue, meeting venue, and gathering place for lounging, games, happy hours, and more.

Weddings, corporate retreats, and events
Filled with beautiful natural scenery, The Range, the owners say, is the perfect setting for memorable events and retreats. Featuring 2,400 square feet of indoor space on the ground floor of the cedar barn and 450 square feet of private room upstairs, it can host a variety of events from large to intimate. There are also numerous outdoor locations for wedding ceremonies, long-table dinners, festivals, and more.

Restaurant and bar
The restaurant, located within the two-story cedar-timber barn, is being finalized, they say. A custom bar in a converted vintage Airstream is stocked with Texas beer, wine, mixed cocktails, and its own menu.

Bathhouse and laundry
The bathhouse, housing men’s and women’s toilets and showers, can be used for event restroom facilities, a long hot shower, or some extra space and privacy. There's even a laundry room with two washers and dryers, and a guest’s first load of laundry is free.

The store at The Range
A low-waste boutique sells made-in-Texas items, carefully selected by owner Sarah Beauregard, that are both high quality and earth friendly. Visit the store or shop online at www.therangevtr.com.

The resort will be open year-round. However, due to current COVID-19 precautions, there are some restrictions:

The Range’s vintage trailer rentals are currently available for three-night, Thursday through Sunday stays only, allowing four days for thorough cleaning between guests.
Open sites are available every day with minimum two-night stays on weekends.
Social areas including the bathhouse, laundry, and barn may be limited or closed.

The nightly rate for rental trailers is $198 plus tax and fees. The nightly rate for open sites is $98 plus tax. For more information or to make reservations, visit the website.

The 1953 Boles Aero trailer on site with custom reclaimed wood table and benches.

Photo courtesy of The Range Vintage Trailer Resort

The 1953 Boles Aero trailer on site with custom reclaimed wood table and benches.

openings vacation

Aerie in the sky

Nature-inspired hotel checks into Texas' tallest tower in Austin

Photo by Chase Daniel

Rooms at 1 Hotel Austin settle in simple and natural design.

A luxury hotel chain is checking into Austin, adding the Texas capital to a cohort of a dozen North American cities. Called 1 Hotel Austin, the 252-room stay is designed to blend with nature and tap into sustainable hospitality in the new Waterline building — the tallest tower in Texas. Reservations are open now for the hotel, opening in August.

A press release explains that 1 Hotel Austin looks at its surroundings where Waller Creek and Lady Bird Lake meet "through a contemporary, biophilic lens." Designers used natural materials, textures, and transitions from inside to outside — like balconies and terraces with plants, or floor-to-ceiling windows — to create a feeling of connecting with the natural world.

Foodies may already know that a highly regarded restaurant from Denver is moving in as the hotel's signature restaurant. Called Alteño Austin, the concept by Chef Johnny Curiel shows off cuisine from the Highlands of Jalisco, where he has a family connection.

$Alte\u00f1o Austin$ Alteño currently only has one location — the original — in Denver, Colorado, and one more on the way in Charleston, South Carolina.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

“There’s a respect for tradition in the way [Chef Curiel] cooks, but also a willingness to reinterpret it, and that balance is what makes his food so compelling," said Nicholas Demasi, senior vice president of food and beverage at Starwood Hotels, in the release.

There will also be two other food and beverage concepts: Watr, a "Japanese-leaning" rooftop restaurant and lounge designed to entertain guests from day to night, and Neighbors, a café and wine bar that can be accessed from the lobby and the street for coffee, juice, small plates, draft cocktails, and more, depending on the time of day.

1 Hotel Austin rooftoop Watr This rooftop restaurant will serve a Japanese-inspired menu.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

Focusing more on the amenities than the rooms, which include 60 luxury suites, the release draws attention to the building's proximity to the Rainey Street District and downtown, making both day and night activities easily accessible. Guests also have a direct connection to the more outdoorsy portion of town via the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail around the lake.

Wellness amenities include a run club, sound baths, a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, and a yoga studio. Bamford Wellness Spa will operate a space offering retail and treatments, including couples' experiences. The spa claims inspiration through Hill Country bathhouses, placing a premium on simplicity and restoration.

1 Hotel Austin guest bath This guest bath is spa-like with a dramatic view.Photo by Chase Daniel

The hotel is working on its LEED Gold certification, which would verify that the property has earned certain credits in materials, energy, waste management, and more. Gold is the second highest certification. Sustainability initiatives at the hotel will include adopting waste reduction practices for hosted events, supplying reusable in-room glassware, and introducing travelers to the 1 Less Thing program, which encourages them to leave behind a piece of gently used clothing to donate to a local organization.

“I’ve long admired Austin for its creative energy and entrepreneurial spirit,” says Barry Sternlicht, founder of 1 Hotels and chairman of Starwood Hotels. “It’s a place where innovation thrives alongside a deep respect for the environment and community. Even as the city continues to grow and evolve, it has managed to balance progress with preservation."

1 Hotels Austin entrance The dramatic entrance exemplifies the transitional design from inside the building to nature outside.Rending courtesy of 1 Hotels

1 Hotel Austin is located at 96 Red River St., Austin. Reservations are open now at 1hotels.com. Available August room rates are currently discounted and start at $377.

hotels openings sustainability nature