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    Glamping Hits New Heights

    These amazing Texas treehouses take glamping to new heights

    Lauramay LaChance
    Jun 12, 2017 | 10:00 am

    Yurts in the dirt are cool and all, but what about having breakfast with the birds? Pack your bags for a night in one of these Texas treehouses. From a treehouse built around a 100-year-old cypress tree just outside of Austin to a spa treehouse featured on the Animal Planet series Treehouse Masters, these spots take glamping to new heights.

    Casita Roja in Austin
    Those looking for a touch of Austin’s quirkiness should definitely check out this “treehouse.” Not a traditional one, because it’s not suspended in the trees, it’s a little oasis completely surrounded by trees with views of a magical backyard in the popular Travis Heights neighborhood. Close to South Congress Avenue, Casita Roja has an artistic feel to it and is a much cooler option than a traditional hotel stay.

    Treehouse Spa Room outside Austin
    Featured on Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters the Treehouse Spa Room is a custom-built treehouse on the 40-acre Davis Ranch Retreat. The tiny treehouse goes from a relaxing spa to your home for the night, complete with a queen-sized bed, steam shower, and a private porch. While the house is quite small, you do have the entire ranch to enjoy, including the pool and fire pit at the base of the footbridge, ponds filled with fish, and trails. Ride around in the "Green Machine" (think super quiet golf cart), stopping to visit with cows and horses, butterflies and birds, flowers, and even the Texas Longhorns. At night, sit around the fire and gaze at the star-filled sky while you master the art of making s’mores. This ranch is literally a slice of heaven and only an hour from Austin.

    Luxury glamping in Spicewood
    This place is the crème de la crème of treehoues in Texas with each of the four (the fifth is in the works) being unique. You have to cross a suspended footbridge to get to Lofthaven II at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours. The treehouse looks like a modern-day yurt with a wraparound porch and an ancient cypress tree growing in the middle of it. It sleeps two, so it’s the perfect spot for a romantic getaway. There’s also a bathhouse across the bridge that has a waterfall tub and views out to the ravine.

    The Nest is by far the most impressive, with ample space for the whole family, outside decks and exploration lookouts, two bedrooms, a lounge, and a kitchenette/dining room, all nestled above the beautiful creek ravine beside a small waterfall. The decor is whimsical meets rustic. You can also rinse off under the stars in the outside shower or head across the small bridge to a private bathhouse complete with a bath and shower.

    River Road treehouses near New Braunfels
    Walk across an elevated footbridge to your private cabin perched over a seasonal river creek bed surrounded by 80-foot-tall cypress trees. The six treehouses are far from roughing it, as they’re fully furnished with all the conveniences of modern-day living, including indoor bathrooms with showers or claw foot tubs, fully stocked kitchens, Wi-Fi, TV with satellite and Amazon Fire, king-sized bed in the master bedroom, and two queen beds in the loft. The entire property spans over 1.5 acres and you have 400 feet of direct access to the Guadalupe River just across River Road.

    Geronimo Creek Retreat close to New Braunfels
    The Texas Hill Country is home to wineries, small towns, swimming holes, and this oasis. Close to New Braunfels but tucked away enough that you’ll feel off the beaten path, the treehouses at Geronimo Creek are perfect for families, large groups, or even a romantic weekend. The cabins are surrounded by lush pecan trees and situated on a corner of Geronimo Creek, allowing you to have private access to the calm water. The treehouses are fully furnished, and the property has all the water toys needed. There are fire pits and outdoor seating areas scattered about the property, so bring groceries and take full advantage of the grills. Once you get to Geronimo Creek, there’s really no reason you would need to leave.

    Frio River Treetop in Rio Frio
    What’s a vacation in Texas without a little river recreation? Nestled along the banks of the cool and clear Frio River, the Frio River Treetop not only sleeps the whole family but the neighbors too (lodge sleeps 14 and cottage sleeps four). Less of a glamping experience and more of a house on the river setup, it comes stacked with everything you need in a vacation rental. At night, roast s’mores by the fire in the treetop deck that sits in a tree 40 feet above the river.

    Coming soon near Houston
    Hung 30-feet high in the trees over a private spring-fed creek near Columbus, about 75 miles west of Houston, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another place like this. Expected to be completed by the end of summer, the trees almost completely engulf the top of the treehouse, and while you can easily see down the creek and across the fields, it is almost impossible to see into the structure itself.

    Inspired by his love of nature, Matt, owner and star of Discovery Channel’s show Fire in the Hole, is creating this treehouse and campsite as a labor of love to share his unique adventures with guests. From the wood-fired hot tub to the pizza oven and fire pit (yes, you can actually have a fire here), this place is all about slowing down and living in the moment. It also offers private access to the river, complimentary kayaks, tons of shade, room to explore, and one of the only treehouses in Texas that is dog-friendly. Come here to recharge, enjoy nature, and get back to a slower pace of life.

    Frio River Treetop.

    Frio River Treehouses
    Photo courtesy of Frio River Treetop
    Frio River Treetop.
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    Good Brick Tour 2025

    Historic home tour celebrates preservation and sustainability in Houston

    Emily Cotton
    Nov 4, 2025 | 3:15 pm
    Good Brick Awards 2025 Style in Steel
    Courtesy of Preservation Houston
    The Style in Steel townhouses were built in 1968.

    Preservation Houston’s 2025 Good Brick Tour kicks off this weekend (Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9), giving Houstonians the opportunity to explore stories, craftsmanship, and design details from a selection of the city’s Good Brick Award recipients, which reward excellence in historic preservation. Now in its 12th year, the tour has grown into a celebration of Houston’s rich architectural heritage, distinctive neighborhoods, and the work that goes into restoring and maintaining some of the city’s most treasured places.

    “Preservation Houston’s Good Brick Tour celebrates not only the homes and landmarks themselves, but the stories of the people who care for them,” said Jennifer Kapral, executive director of Preservation Houston. “Each stop on the tour reminds us that preserving our city’s history is an act of community, one that connects Houston’s past, present, and future.”

    This year, event chairs Pei-Lin Chong (whose home is featured on the tour) and Mariam Hejazi, along with over 150 volunteers, invite the public into four homes that offer a glimpse of the distinctive styles that contribute to the architectural vernacular of the Bayou City. It’s also worth noting that, while the tour offers access to four homes, one location — Style in Steel — is a collection of three independent townhomes that have not been open together since their original debut in 1969.

    Just in time for the tour, CultureMap has gathered insights from each location’s homeowner(s) so that participants can keep an eye out for the little things that make each one of these homes so special. Find each insight just below the history of each home.

    2025 Good Brick Tour Locations

    Valenti-Dissen House 1507 Alamo Street (First Ward), 1921
    Built by Sicilian immigrant and grocer Jacob Valenti, this Craftsman bungalow reflects the First Ward’s early diversity. Over the decades it welcomed a mix of tenants, from a printer and an accountant to members of Houston’s Greek community, capturing the spirit of a working-class area where many cultures met. In 1934, the property was purchased by Della Settegast Dissen, whose well-known Houston family had deep ties to the city’s development. When FW Heritage acquired the home in 2021, they found a structure in need of major repair but rich in original details. A careful restoration, guided by Grayform Architecture, respected the home's proportions while updating it for modern living. The project received a 2024 Good Brick Award.

    “The house was originally a two-bedroom, one-bath home and served as a rental for close to 100 years before I bought it in 2021,” says homeowner and event co-chair Pei-Lin Chong. “I’m actually the first homeowner to ever live here, which makes it even more special. One of my favorite features is the built-in china cabinet between the kitchen and dining room; it’s such a thoughtful original detail. During the restoration, we discovered old wallpaper under the sheetrock. I asked my demo team to carefully remove them and I have framed two samples as keepsakes. It's a small piece of the home’s long history.”

    William Henry Lighthouse House 2018 Kane Street (Old Sixth Ward), 1906
    A two-story Classical Revival residence built for brick maker William H. Lighthouse is among the Old Sixth Ward Historic District’s most prominent landmarks. Architect Olle Lorehn designed the home with honey-colored brick, stone trim, and a soaring double-height portico — a fitting showcase for the material that made Lighthouse’s fortune.

    When changing health circumstances made stairs increasingly difficult, the homeowner turned to architect Marisa Janusz of Janusz Design for a way to remain in the home he loves. The resulting one-story addition provides accessible living space on the ground floor. Set back and lower in height, it connects to the main house via a copper-and-glass bridge that meets the historic structure with a light touch. The project was honored with a 2025 Good Brick Award for demonstrating how thoughtful design can adapt historic architecture to modern life with grace and care.

    “The brick interior walls are what make this home truly stand out — strong and full of character,” explains homeowner Jason Johnson. “Paired with the historic exterior walls, which are three bricks thick, and thoughtful modern updates, it’s a space I hope visitors appreciate for both its design and its story.”

    Anderson Todd House 9 Shadowlawn (Museum District), 1961
    Designed by architect and Rice University professor Anderson Todd for his family, this steel-framed pavilion balances privacy and openness through a series of courtyards and light-filled spaces. The steel-framed, brick-and-glass pavilion is organized around a black-walnut-paneled core. Polished terrazzo floors, a rhythm of exposed columns, and an unbroken ceiling plane finished in white-painted plaster reflect Todd’s disciplined craftsmanship and his view of architecture as the measured interplay of light, form, and material.

    Modern in form yet understated in presence, the Todd House complements its neighbors in the Shadow Lawn Historic District through scale and workmanship. The house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is a City of Houston Protected Landmark. Because the home has never undergone any renovations, it has never been nominated for a Good Brick Award. Instead, Anderson Todd House is considered an excellent example of how thoughtful stewardship can keep a landmark home livable today.

    “Our house was a wonderful house for children. There was so little furniture that we could bicycle indoors,” says Emily Todd. “It continues to be a wonderful house as an adult, equally comfortable for a quiet dinner or a lively cocktail party. I’m very lucky to have spent virtually all my life in this house. Living here has been a privilege.”

    Style in Steel Townhomes 4156, 4158 and 4160 Meyerwood Drive (Southwest Loop), 1968
    Designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, the firm behind the Astrodome, the three Style in Steel townhomes stand among Houston’s most elegant expressions of late modern design. The houses debuted at the 1969 National Association of Home Builders’ exposition, showcasing the versatility of steel in residential design. Architects Talbott Wilson and Hal Weatherford paired precision with warmth, combining steel with terrazzo, travertine, brick, and cedar in open, light-filled homes arranged around courtyards landscaped by Fred Buxton.

    The current owners of the central townhouse undertook a meticulous restoration with architect Rodolfo R. Fabre, reversing years of alterations to reveal the clarity of the original design and earning a 2024 Good Brick Award. Together, the three houses — all City of Houston Protected Landmarks — represent Houston modernism at its finest, sustained by thoughtful stewardship and care. This year’s Good Brick Tour marks the first time the Style in Steel homes have been open to the public together since 1969.

    “My favorite space in the house is the front courtyard, which the entire house is designed around. It’s magical the way light filters in and casts patterns on the walls throughout the day,” homeowners Philip and Mandy LeBlanc explain.

    “We enjoy the courtyard daily for lunch, work, or simply soaking in the sunlight. It connects every part of the home. The design transitions beautifully from public to private spaces, with intentional glass and steel elements that make the home both functional and elegant. Inside, our mid-century furniture collection, gathered from local estate sales, complements the home’s modern aesthetic and ties everything together. From a design standpoint, there’s truly nothing else like it in Houston; it’s a space that connects history, light, and everyday life so seamlessly.”

    Tickets

    Advance tickets, valid for admission to all four homes both days, are $25 online through Thursday, November 6. Tickets will be $30 at the door during the tour weekend. Single-site admission will also be available for $10 per location. Hours for both days of the tour are 12-5 pm. Proceeds from the tour support Preservation Houston’s advocacy and educational programs.

    Good Brick Awards 2025 Style in Steel

    Courtesy of Preservation Houston

    The Style in Steel townhouses were built in 1968.

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