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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.

    Geronimo Creek Retreat.

    Geronimo Creek Retreat
    Photo courtesy of Geronimo Creek Retreat
    Geronimo Creek Retreat.
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    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
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    3D-printed Houston housing project cements a more affordable future

    Emily Cotton
    Nov 21, 2025 | 4:00 pm
    Zuri Gardens rendering
    Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders
    Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.

    Houston is putting itself front-and-center to help make sustainable, affordable housing a reality for 80 lucky homeowners in a scalable housing community that will hopefully catch on nationwide. Recently, developer Cole Klein Builders partnered with HiveASMBLD to pioneer what’s touted as the world’s first large-scale, one-of-a-kind, affordable housing development using 3-D printing technology, merging robotics, design, and sustainability.

    Located across from Sterling Aviation High School, near Hobby Airport, Zuri Gardens will offer 80 two-bedroom, two-bathroom homes of approximately 1,360 square feet situated in a park-like setting, including walking trails and a community green space.

    Homes in Zuri Gardens will hit the market in early summer of 2026. Final pricing has yet to be determined, but Cole Klein Builders expects it to be in the mid-to-high 200s.

    Interestingly, none of the homes will offer garages or driveways, which the developer tells CultureMap will provide a savings of roughly $25,000 - $40,000 per home.

    Instead of parking for individual units, 140 parking spaces will be provided. Ideally, this small-town-inspired design will provide opportunities for neighbors to meet, connect, and build community.

    Each two-story home is comprised of a ground floor printed by HiveASMBLD, using a proprietary low-carbon cement alternative by Eco Material Technologies that promises to enhance strength and reduce CO2 emissions. The hybrid homes will have a second floor built using engineered wood building products by LP Building Solutions. Overall, the homes are designed to be flood, fire, and possibly even tornado-proof.

    The Zuri in Zuri Gardens is the Swahili word for “beautiful,” a choice that is fitting considering that the parks department will be introducing a five acre park to the project — with 3-D printed pavilions and benches — plus, a three acre farm is located right across the street. The Garver Heights area, where Zuri Gardens is located, is in what’s classified as a food desert, which means that access to fresh food is limited. Residents will have access to the farm’s fresh produce, plus opportunities to participate in gardening and nutrition workshops—that’s a win for everyone.

    With the novelty of Zuri Gardens, it’s no surprise that the neighborhood already has an 800 person waitlist, but with stringent buyer requirements, it’s unclear how many of those 800 will qualify. Developer Cole Klein Builders created Zuri Gardens in partnership with the Houston Housing Community Development Department, who provided infrastructure reimbursements for the roads, sewer lines, and water lines. In return, CKB agreed to push the purchase prices for the homes as low as possible.

    Zuri Gardens also received $1.8 million dollars from the Uptown Tourism Bond, 34 percent of which must be used with minority owned small businesses. Qualified buyers must fit a certain area of median income according to HUD guidelines, and must be owner occupied at all times — so no property investors or short term vacation rentals will be allowed.

    “They’re trying to bridge that gap to make sure there is a community for the homebuyers who need it — educators, law enforcement, civil workers, etc.,” Cole Klein Builders’ co-principal Vanessa Cole tells CultureMap. “You have to go through a certification process with the housing department to make sure that your income is in alignment for this community. It has been great, and everyone has been really receptive.”

    Cole has also brought insurance underwriters to visit the site and to help drive premiums below regular rates for Houston homeowners since homes in Zuri Gardens are not built to traditional standards — claim risks for one of the 3-D homes are extremely low. Tim Lankau, principal at HiveASMBLD, notes that the 3-D hybrid design allows for a more traditional appearance, while having the benefits of a concrete structure: “That’s where the floodwaters would go, that’s where you can hide when there’s a tornado, and that’s where termites would eat. So you get the advantages of it while having a traditionally-framed second floor.”

    It’s important to note that Zuri Gardens is not located in a flood prone area, nor did it flood during Hurricane Harvey — being flood proof is merely a perk of a cement house. The concrete that Eco Material Technologies developed is impervious. The walls are printed into hollow forms, which house rebar, plumbing, and accessible conduits for things like electrical lines and smart house features. Those walls are then filled with a foamcrete product that expands to form a “monolithic concrete wall.”

    David McNitt, of Eco Material Technologies, explains that his proprietary concrete is made of PCV, and contains zero Portland cement. Instead, McNitt’s cement is made from coal ash and is 99 percent green (there are a few chemicals added to the ash). Regardless, it’s made from 100 percent waste products.

    “This is a product that has really been landfilled before,” says McNitt. “It’s coal ash, and it’ll set within 8-10 minutes. It’s all monolithic, and one continuous pour — it’s literally all one piece.”

    Eco Material Technologies’ concrete product is impressively durable. A traditional cinderblock wall will crush at around 800 psi, while this material crushes at about 8,000 psi.

    “It’s ten times stronger than a cinderblock wall that can withstand hurricanes,” claims McNitt. “I don’t think you’d even notice a hurricane. It’ll be really quiet inside, too — so you won’t get interrupted during your hurricane party. It’s way over-engineered, it really is.”

    The second story is built using weatherproof and eco-friendly products by LP Building Solutions. Their treated, engineered wood products come with a 50 year warranty, and their radiant barrier roof decking product blocks 97% of UV rays, and keeps attic temperatures 30° cooler than traditional building materials. These materials, combined with the concrete first floor, will keep heating and cooling costs low — something the folks at HiveASMBLD refer to as “thermal mass performance.”

    Zuri Gardens rendering

    Courtesy of Cole Klein Builders

    Homes in Zuri Gardens are a hybrid of 3D concrete and traditional wood construction.

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