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    saluting the commodore

    Glamorous Texas estate offers elegant getaway for savvy Houstonians

    Lonnie Schiller
    Mar 31, 2021 | 1:32 pm
    The Commodore Perry Estate is now open.
    The Commodore Perry Estate is now open.
    Photo by Douglas Friedman

    As Houstonians are well aware, Austin is constantly heralded as America’s hottest city. The capital of the Lone Star State is seeing unprecedented growth, celebrity transplants (Elon Musk, anyone?), and non-stop development.

    Savvy visitors to Capital City looking for an escape from all the bustle, then, would be wise to consider skipping the busy hotel scene and opt for the Commodore Perry Estate, Austin’s prestigious, luxe getaway — which, though nestled in the Hill Country, feels worlds away.

    Sitting on the veranda of the renaissance revival mansion looking south over the pool and grounds calls to mind the Amalfi Coast in Italy (minus the sea), with the breeze and the clink of the fine china, the crisp service, and the high culinary standards.

    Commodore Perry is operated by Auberge Resorts Collection — which includes 19 properties across three continents, destinations such as Greece, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The company started in 1981 with a single restaurant in a beautiful Napa Valley setting. Soon, they added individual cottages for guests: Auberge du Soleil. The same approach has continued for 40 years: building ultra-luxury inns in great locations, that emphasize local focus over chain-wide uniformity.

    Thus, with Austin getting so much attention both nationally and internationally for events such as South By Southwest, Austin City Limits, the Circuit of the Americas, a move to the buzzy city made sense. (Acquiring the land and acting as the developer was The Marchbanks Company and Clark Lyda Interests.)

    The centerpiece of the hotel is the original 10,000-square-foot mansion built in1928 and still listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Notably, it was the home of businessman Edgar Perry and his wife, Lutie. (Perry wasn’t a commodore; he made his fortune shipping cotton from Texas to Europe and travelling there frequently, hence the name.)

    Some of the rooms are in the mansion and some are in the adjacent inn — a total of 42 king hotel rooms and 12 suites. Entering the property over the crushed stone driveway you feel like you are visiting the home of a very wealthy friend, not a hotel.

    The original historic mansion aspect of the hotel was reimagined by internationally renowned designer Ken Fulk, a San Francisco based designer but one who was already a fan of the offbeat nearby town of Round Top, having regularly patronized the Round Top Antiques Fair. The newly built Inn portion of the property was designed by the celebrated firm of Moule & Polyzoides.

    In addition to the rooms and suites there is an organic urban farm, the signature garden restaurant, a member’s club, English gardens, a chapel for private events, and an ornately designed oversized outdoor pool on the south perimeter of the property.

    “I grew up in New Orleans, but I had family in Texas,” says Marco Bustamante, general manager of the Auberge. “Before I came to Austin, I helped open two other Auberge properties: one in Puerto Vallarta and one in Rivera Maya, then one in New England. Two years ago, I came to open Austin. By the time we were ready to open last July it was right in the middle of the pandemic. So, we haven’t actually had anything like normal since we opened.”

    That means the hotel hasn’t seen the usual group of international or national travelers, Bustamantre notes. “But really, we’ve been blessed because we have all these outdoor spaces and have been able to adapt to the needs of our mostly regional clientele. Throughout the summer we got Texans looking for a getaway vacation. Now we’re seeing guests from other states. We’ve even had some long term stays by Californians who are building houses in Austin.

    University of Texas fans also will host barbecues for UT football game watch parties on the lawns.

    The restaurant in the Mansion is headed by a husband-and-wife team of Bradley Nicholson and Susana Querejazu, veterans of some of Austin’s best restaurants including Uchi, Odd Duck, and Barley Swine. While the venue is reserved for hotel guests and members, but the hotel will soon open Luties (Edgar Perry’s wife’s name) at the front of the property on Red River to the public. Our preview revealed the same elevated design aesthetic as the rest of the property.

    An added flourish is the experiences and activations, from the daily bartender lessons in the patio, the customizable cocktail carts in each room, and even the three new Mercedes vehicles available for guests. “Take one to Fredericksburg for the day,” says Bustamante. “It’s all part of the Auberge experience.”

    -----

    Lonnie Schiller is a long-time Houston restaurateur who launched well-known names such as Cafe Express, Cafe Annie, and The Grove. He is also CultureMap’s founder and a restaurant and hospitality consultant.

    The shimmering resort pool.

    Commodore Perry pool
      
    Photo by Lonnie Schiller
    The shimmering resort pool.
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    where to travel right now

    Stunning Hill Country getaways lead 13 Texas travel ideas for July

    Amber Heckler
    Jul 1, 2025 | 1:30 pm
    Thompson Houston hotel
    Photo courtesy of Thompson Houston
    Extravagant Thompson Houston guests will enjoy this view of the Houston skyline during the fireworks on July 4th.

    Options abound for a fun-filled vacation around Texas in July, from a just-opened hotel in Gruene to a cabana getaway at an iconic Fort Worth Stockyards retreat. There are also great ways to "escape" closer to home in Houston, such as watching the July 4th fireworks from the rooftop helipad at a luxe hotel.

    Here are our top picks for summer travel events, hotel deals, and more in July.

    At home in Houston

    The Thompson Houston hotel is ready to dazzle guests with a once-in-a-lifetime, over-the-top July 4th package for a whopping $25,000. It includes a two-night stay in the hotel's penthouse suite; dinner for two with butler champagne service on the 36th-story rooftop helipad, with 360-degree views of the Houston skyline and fireworks displays; a couples massage at the luxurious Thompson Spa; and private, first-class ground transportation to and from the airport. The package will be available exclusively on Friday, July 4.

    Austin

    Houstonians who want to relive the fun of going to a summer camp can recapture the magic with these 24 à la carte activities, from horseback riding in Lockhart to ceramic classes at a newly opened pottery studio on Austin's iconic South Congress Avenue. Prices for the activities vary, and several are free or under $50 per person.

    Thompson Houston hotel
      

    Photo courtesy of Thompson Houston

    Extravagant Thompson Houston guests will enjoy this view of the Houston skyline during the fireworks on July 4th.

    For sun-soaked travelers in need of a self care day, Viva Day Spa is celebrating its 20th anniversary with 20 days of specials until Thursday, July 12. Among the deals are a 50-minute full-body Swedish massage or a custom designer facial with a neck and shoulder massage for $100 (both valued at $150 each), or a "Viva Sampler Spa Package" that includes a 45-minute Swedish massage, Viva Express facial and pedicure, and a limited edition take-home gift for $300 (valued at $400). Services can be booked online.

    The world-renowned Balloon Museum, a highly Instagrammable interactive art installation, has just opened its doors in Austin. The family-friendly exhibit is perfect for visitors who love a good psychedelic and immersive experience, featuring works from 19 artists from around the world, such as aerial installations, lighting displays, and (of course) many balloons. Tickets range from $34 to $50, depending on a guest's age and time of day, and are available online.

    "Hyperstellar" installation at the Balloon Museum"Hyperstellar" by Hyperstudio is one of the mind-bending works at the Balloon Museum internationally. It won't be coming to Austin, but more work from Hyperstudio will. Photo courtesy of the Balloon Museum

    Swim Club, the refreshing pool-turned-restaurant at the Downright Austin hotel, is hosting a "dive-in" movie series this summer, including showings of iconic films like The Meg (July 9), a 50th anniversary screening of Jaws (July 10), and Sharknado (July 24). Free night swim will begin at 7 pm, and screenings will take place by the pool and on the lawn starting at around 8:15 pm (depending on when the sun sets). Admission is free.

    The Hill Country

    The Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival is planning special wine pairings and culinary experiences for its second-ever "Preview Week" from July 21-27. The lineup of events include a conversation with Women for WineSense on July 21, an oyster and martini mixer on July 23, a boozy brunch at The Albert Hotel on July 26th, and much more. Ticket prices start at $25 per person and vary by event.

    The Lower Colorado River Authority has debuted a cool glamping solution for those unbearably hot Texas summer days: The Ööd Mirror Houses, located at Lake Bastrop South Shore Park. The two pet-friendly tiny homes feature floor-to-ceiling mirrored glass walls for guests to immerse themselves into nature while enjoying complete privacy. Rates start at just over $200 per night before fees, and increase to more than $300 before fees during certain times.

    Carter Creek Winery Resort and Spa, a road trip-worthy retreat in Johnson City, is launching its new "Hidden Gems of the Texas Hill Country Package" for guests booking two-night stays to explore the region's best wine, beer, and whiskey. Guests will be treated with tastings for two at the resort restaurant Old 290 Brewery, Hye-based Garrison Brothers Distillery, and at Wildseed Farms Winery in Fredericksburg. Rates for two-night stays begin at $401; use the promo code "CCWGEMS". The package will be available through August 2025.

    Carter Creek Winery Resort & SpaCarter Creek Winery Resort & Spa is located in Johnson City, a Hill Country town 211 miles from Houston.Photo courtesy of Carter Creek Winery Resort & Spa

    After a two-year renovation and rebranding, Hacienda Del Rio Hotel and Bar has opened in Gruene, a historic district within New Braunfels. The property now has 48 renovated midcentury-style rooms, updated pool amenities, and much more. The hotel will also partner with Paddle Texas to offer river adventures like kayaking or paddle boarding. Rates at Hacienda Del Rio Hotel begin at $125 per night, and introductory rates are available for those who book through December 31, 2025.

    San Antonio

    The beloved Briscoe Western Art Museum is saddling up for National Day of the Cowboy with a free, all-day celebration on Saturday, July 26, from 10 am to 4 pm. The museum and McNutt Sculpture Garden will offer free admission all day, and families can enjoy watching local rodeo cowboys practice lasso and roping demonstrations, as well as live demonstrations from local artists, and many more cowboy-themed activities.

    The DoSeum, San Antonio's interactive museum for kids, was recently hailed as one of Condé Nast Traveler's best children's museums nationwide. The list of acclaimed winners are "powerhouses of play" that inspire curiosity and creativity among their young patrons, according to the national publication. Admission is $18 for both adults and children, and free for children under one year old.

    Dallas-Fort Worth

    Taking a summer trip doesn't necessarily mean having to travel long distances. Travelers can relish some summer fun in North Texas with trip to Frisco, where several local hotels are offering discounted stays with nightly rates up to 30 percent off when booked through Visit Frisco's website. Additional summer savings are available from KidZania and Strikz Entertainment. The "Summer Family Fun Sale" will run through September 2025.

    Fort Worth's award-winning Hotel Drover is offering guests a "Midweek Cabana Retreat" from Monday through Thursday, complete with special cabana rates, complimentary overnight valet, and enhanced Wi-Fi. The Veranda Bar + Pool is also unveiling its new summer menu with new refreshing cocktails and mocktails, plus new dishes like parmesan truffle fries and a barbacoa quesadilla. Cabanas can be reserved online.

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