Luxury lodging

$78 million resort breaking ground in charming Texas Hill Country town

The charming Texas Hill Country destination of Fredericksburg, long beloved for its array of B&Bs and wineries, is getting its first full-fledged destination resort.

The $78 million Seven Hills Resort and Conference Center, at U.S. Highway 87 North and U.S. Highway 290 West, will include:

A 150-room, full-service hotel under the upscale Curio Collection by Hilton brand.
A rooftop bar.
A 35,000-square-foot conference center.
A 40,000-square-foot retail and restaurant “village.”
An outdoor amphitheater.
Restoration of the historic Klingelhoefer House.
Nearly a dozen new Sunday Houses, a style of guesthouse common in Fredericksburg.

Construction on the 22-acre project is set to break ground this fall, with the opening slated for early 2020, according to the Austin Business Journal.

Ernie Loeffler, president and CEO of the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau, says Seven Hills will be one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the history of Fredericksburg.

“The Seven Hills Resort and Conference Center will significantly strengthen the group-market appeal of Fredericksburg based on room count under one roof, level of service, amenities, and the amount of meeting and event space,” Loeffler says. “The resort will also be attractive to the leisure travel market as a full-service hotel — a market niche currently missing in Fredericksburg.”

Seven Hills Resort and Conference Center is being developed by Houston-based Murphree and Co. The Austin office of The Beck Group will oversee design and construction, according to ABJ, while the Woodlands-based Benchmark Resorts & Hotels will run the hotel and conference center.

A 2015 report by hospitality consulting firm HVS noted that while Fredericksburg “enjoys a strong presence in the state tourism market,” it lacks the facilities — namely a conference center — needed to attract group meetings. The report explained that competition for a Fredericksburg conference center would come primarily from hotels in Austin, San Antonio, and San Marcos.

“Fredericksburg has several strengths as a group event destination, including its quaint downtown, dining and retail amenities, and natural beauty,” the report said.

Despite its charms, an HVS survey of event planners found that nearly 30 percent wanted to host a gathering in Fredericksburg, but the absence of adequate event space deterred them. As such, Fredericksburg loses group-meeting business to other cities in and around the Texas Hill Country, including San Marcos, New Braunfels, Kerrville, and Marble Falls, the report said.

The resort will encompass 22 acres in charming Fredericksburg.

Courtesy of The Beck Group

The resort will encompass 22 acres in charming Fredericksburg.

hotels hill-country

Exploring Texas

Texas' new Palo Pinto State Park opens just a 2-hour drive from Dallas

Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park opens March 1

Texans will be able to hike, fish, camp, and explore a brand-new state park — the first new Texas state park in 25 years — starting on Sunday, March 1.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located at 100 Park Road 77 in Strawn, spans 4,871 acres of former ranchland between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (about a two-hour drive west from downtown Dallas).

According to a press release, the land was originally purchased by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) in 2011 and the park was expected to open three years ago, but construction delays impeded the opening. Funding for the park was provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), the Texas Legislature, the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, the federal government, and $10 million was raised by TPWF through private donations.

The park offers more than 16 miles of trails for hikers, bikers, and horseback riding, and the park's website states 1.25 miles are ADA compliant, and all-terrain wheelchairs are available for some non-accessible trails. Campers and overnight guests also have three campsites to choose from, including RV sites, walk-in tent spots, and primitive camping areas.

Visitors are also welcome to swim, fish, and boat (note: motorboats are not allowed) in the 68-acre Tucker Lake using the park's accessible kayak/canoe launch, fishing pier, and fish cleaning station. Visitors don't need a license to fish at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, and the park will loan fishing gear upon request.

Tucker Lake at Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Visitors are welcome to kayak and canoe at Tucker Lake, but motorboats are not allowed.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Birding enthusiasts might spot golden-cheeked warblers during their visit, as the endangered species take residence in the park's oak and Ashe juniper trees in the spring and summer months. Many other migratory birds can be seen at the park throughout the year.

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park is anticipating high visitation in March with the spring season's temperate weather and Texas schools' spring breaks. TPWD strongly encouraged visitors to reserve day passes in advance to avoid being turned away if the park has reached its capacity limit.

"This is a tremendous moment for Texas State Parks and the state of Texas," Texas State Parks director Rodney Franklin in the release. "Opening Palo Pinto Mountains State Park represents the culmination of collaborative efforts that includes our Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors. I am proud of the dedication of our TPWD team but also the unwavering support of the Texas Legislature and the voters of Texas that have brought us to this moment. State park staff stand ready to welcome families far and wide to begin making memories at Texas’ newest state park."

Day passes are available up to one month in advance, are non-transferrable to another person or park, and are valid all-day until 10 pm unless the park closes earlier. Day passes can be reserved online or by calling TPWD's Customer Service Center during regular business hours at (512) 389-8900. Entrance fees are $7 daily for adults and children aged 13 and older, and admission is free for children 12-years-old and younger.

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