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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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    la dolce vita

    How a Houston designer transformed an Uptown hotel into an Italian escape

    Emily Cotton
    Jun 5, 2026 | 1:07 pm
    Hotel Granduca
    Photo by Julie Soefer
    Bespoke furnishings blend seamlessly with the antiques throughout.

    The Hotel Granduca — with its posh Uptown Park address, walled-grounds, and recently-refreshed interiors — has quietly pulled a fast one on Houstonians. While heads have been tilted toward the skyline’s mammoth new developments, the six-story Hotel Granduca has climbed the ranks of the trendiest boutique hotels around town for locals to just, well, be.

    The dark-and-heavy “Texas Tuscan” architecture and decor of the hotel’s earlier days have been replaced with bright interiors, a greenhouse, library, and a European garden terrace more in rhythm with actual Italian villa aesthetics. In addition to the in-house restaurant Remi, additions such as programming like Mahjong Mondays, themed brunches, local boutique pop-ups, live music performances, daily afternoon social hours, and a newly-minted preferred partnership with Biologique Recherché and Evolve Salon have made it impossible to deny the hotel’s reignited appeal. On any given day, someone in the group chat is headed to “The Granduca.”

    "Hotel Granduca presented a unique opportunity to reimagine what boutique luxury hospitality can look like in Houston," said Thomas Duncan, managing director of Transwestern Hospitality Group. “Hospitality should tell the story of the city it calls home, and our continued commitment to enhancing the property reflects a desire to create an experience that authentically captures Houston's warmth, diversity, and quiet sophistication. We are proud to offer a more intimate and personalized expression of luxury that is distinctly different from anything else available in Houston today."

    Originally opened in 2006, Houston’s only all-suite hotel was ready for a bit of a spa day of its own. Houston-based luxury designer Kara Childress — known for her elegant designs and one-of-a-kind antique finds — was picked by Transwestern for this grand reimagining. The newly-completed phase I of the renovation includes the lobby, library, Remi and Bar Remi, the garden courtyard, and over 5,000-square-feet of event spaces. The 141 suites will be rejuvenated as part of phase II.

    “Uptown Park is such a great, easy-to-get-to neighborhood with so many shops, and the hotel was in such need of a facelift,” explains Childress. “My hope was to make it more residential, and not so commercial like some big hotels. I think it feels good. I’m trying to transport you and make you feel like you’re in a beautiful old villa. These [Italian] families take so much pride in their homes. They never tear anything down and start over, they just keep adding to it.”

    Textural layering is something Childress effortlessly does to perfection. From the bones of the building to finishing with the placement of an 18th-century bibliothèque behind the check-in desk, the new design provides a naturally-formulated progression of the eye that suggests to the viewer that the hotel has been this way all along — which is exactly the point.

    Childress intends for the design to transport guests to an old Italian palazzo or monastery. Ceilings were raised and a pair of east-west doors was updated to a contemporary steel and glass combination, allowing the once dark interior space to become vibrant. Save for the doors, the space moves backwards in time. Designer-favorite Segreto Finishes replaced faux plaster paint techniques with genuine lime plaster throughout — including the elevators. Faux-limestone-printed porcelain floor tiles were replaced with genuine limestone, and 100-year-old pine floors reclaimed from a stable and installed in the restaurant all grant the hotel the genuine authenticity it had needed all along.

    “We brought in a lot of authentic materials. We just gave the bones back to the building; that added a lot of character,” says Childress. “When you go to Italy, all of those hotels have been renovated from beautiful old buildings that all have that gorgeous architecture and they’re so outstanding. It’s all new, but it actually feels like it’s been there forever, because it’s all old materials. And that’s what I was hoping for. I didn’t want it to be shiny and brand new; it feels like it’s been there for a long time and it’s not too precious. The more you use and enjoy it actually adds to the age, and it just feels better.”

    Bespoke furnishings blend seamlessly with the antiques throughout. A contemporary mohair sofa is fast friends with an 18th-century French walnut buffet with unlacquered brass hardware. A lobby-centered tête-à-tête dressed in a plush, tiger’s stripe silk velvet by Scalamandré, a mid-17th-century walnut-paneled cassapanca chest, and 19th-century large Louis Philippe mirror mix materials, patinas, and eras to fall perfectly into place as a beacon of Contemporary Classicism.

    While the overall color story in the lobby is a wash of natural limestone and plaster tones, Childress introduces hints of terra-cotta and Mediterranean-inspired teal and blues, followed by a full commitment to color in both the more communal restaurant and library spaces.

    “I want the eye to look outside and not get arrested in the entry. I used teal and terra-cotta because they lean into Tuscan colors, but I really leaned heavily into the ones in the bar,” explains Childress. “Those colors are so warm and rich. We’re wanting it to be a hotel that — obviously — people come and stay when they’re from out of town, but also just locals. It’s a great place for a burger, and the breakfast is incredible.”

    Directly across from Remi and Bar Remi is the equally-moody library. A marble fireplace, Persian rugs, a c.1860 black and burl walnut Italian mirror, oil paintings, accessories, and hundreds of leather-bound books populate the space, while seating for groups and individuals makes it the perfect place to enjoy a coffee and check emails or share cocktails and stories with friends and family.

    Just outside, the garden courtyard serves as an al fresco dining and lounge space. The once-exposed pool fencing has been cleverly concealed with tall hedgerows that play as a backdrop to a large 18th-century horse trough repurposed into a lovely fountain. “Outdoor terrace dining is such a treat to be able to have in Houston, and that’s a really fun place to be when they have live music,” adds Childress.

    The new art collection at Hotel Granduca is a mix of large-scale antique painted canvases — like the depiction of cranes in the lobby and the 18th-century Dutch painted panels behind the front desk — mixed with fun, over-the-top works by Scottish-born philanthropist and photographer David Yarrow speckled around the property. The black and white photos were chosen by Childress — from Yarrow’s La Dolce Vita series — for their playful narratives and mix of sensibilities. With names like “Bull Rider,” “The Last Supper in Texas,” and “Cowgirl,” it’s easy to see the appeal for a hotel in Houston.

    “They’re all black and white, and they have a vintage feel to them, and it’s a little bit Italian and a little bit Texan,” explains Childress. “I’m kind of combining two cultures: Texas, which we are so proud of; and Italy, which we all love. They’re both friendly and convivial, and ‘nobody meets a stranger,’ which I love. So we tried to weave those two together.”

    The pièce de résistance lies within the belly of Hotel Granduca. A short journey through a hallway opens up to the elevator lobby and breathtaking plaster mural by Segreto Finishes. Floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall, this incredible piece reads sculptural more than anything — imagine a frieze extended down an entire wall. Childress worked with the team at Segreto to design a piece that is distinctly Texan. A large live oak tree (complete with a squirrel and snake) branches out over native flora and fauna, an armadillo, deer, birds, and even a windmill. This piece is absolutely worth seeking out when visiting the hotel.

    Overall, the reimagined Hotel Granduca is a testament to how excellent design, hospitality, and thoughtful partnerships and programming can be positively transformative. So much so that a handful of live-in residents partake of the available long-term rental options. As mentioned previously, the hotel doesn’t have an on-site spa, but the new partnership with Biologique Recherché makes for an easy spa day, with full concierge-driven appointments and hotel car service.

    Whether visiting from out of town or just down the street, settle in for the day, night, or even month. There is always something to do at Hotel Granduca. With the FIFA World Cup beginning soon, the hotel will offer an exclusive viewing lounge for all Houston-hosted matches, themed cocktails inspired by competing nations, and complimentary country-inspired bites for the first hour of each match.

    Houston-hosted World Cup Match Dates:

    • June 14 | Germany vs. Curaçao | 12 pm
    • June 17 | Portugal vs. Congo DR | 12 pm
    • June 20 | Netherlands vs. Sweden | 12 pm
    • June 23 | Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | 12 pm
    • June 26 | Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia | 7 pm
    • June 29 | Round of 32 | 12 pm
    • July 4 | Round of 16 | 12 pm

    Hotel Granduca

    Photo by Julie Soefer

    Bespoke furnishings blend seamlessly with the antiques throughout.

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