Luxury Hotel in Woodlands

Luxury hotel joins rush to The Woodlands as opening of ExxonMobil headquarters draws closer

With the new ExxonMobil headquarters on track to open next year near The Woodlands, the rush to build upscale housing, hotels and retail shops north of Houston continues. The latest to join the fray: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and The Howard Hughes Corporation, which has announced plans for a new luxury Westin hotel at Waterway Square.

The Houston Business Journal first reported plans for the 302-room hotel that will overlook The Woodlands Waterway and feature 15,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as an outdoor pool, a workout studio and business center.

The hotel, which is scheduled to open in late 2015, will also include a 150-seat restaurant, lobby bar and second-level pool deck with direct access to the fountains at Waterway Square.

"There is a tremendous demand for signature hotels in The Woodlands, and we are pleased to welcome the renowned Westin brand," Paul Layne, executive vice president of master-planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corp., said in a statement. "The Westin, The Woodlands will be a great place to stay in Waterway Square, a regional destination with multiple water features, shopping, dining and entertainment options for locals and visitors alike."

The new hotel, designed by Boston-based Elkus Manfredi Architects, will be within walking distance of several corporate offices, the shops and restaurants in the Waterway Square District, The Woodlands Mall and Market Street, as well as concert venue Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Hughes Landing, a 66-acre mixed-use development, is also nearby and set to house office buildings, restaurants (including Escalantes' Fine Tex-Mex and River Oaks favorite, Local Pour), a Whole Foods Market and up to 800 multifamily residences.

It will be the fifth Westin Hotel for the Houston area, with two in The Galleria (The Westin Oaks and Westin Galleria), one downtown (the Inn on the Ballpark was rebranded as the Westin Houston Downtown) and in Memorial (the Westin Memorial City).

Among other national names, a new Hyatt Place Hotel recently opened in the Woodlands area, a new Nordstrom is debuting at the Woodlands Mall in early September such hip national retailers like Kate Spade, Tumi, Trina Turk, Kiehl's and True Religion have recently opened in the area.

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HAUTE PROPERTIES

675-acre Hill Country ranch where George Strait rehearsed lists for $19.5M

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

Lone Woman Ranch, the Hill Country estate where country stars like George Strait, George Jones, and Ace in the Hole Band rehearsed, is up for sale for $19.5 million.

Located 65 miles from San Antonio in Hays County on 675 acres, the secluded ranch once served as an artistic getaway for emerging Texas artists. The property, listed by Olmos Park firm Republic Ranches. is named after the nearby Lone Woman Mountain, and its elevation gives an incredible view of the county. On a clear day, you can see downtown Austin.

The land comes with two residences, both built near the entrance gate. The primary stone house has original hardwood floors, a recently remodeled kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a new HVAC system. The secondary residence was used as a rehearsal space. Both have had long-term residents who made improvements, and both have their own septic systems, wells, and electric meters.

The real appeal of Lone Woman Ranch, however, is the extensive woods, creeks, and natural setting. It is next to 6,000 acres of conservation land, including Storm Ranch. The entire mountain is also included in the property, making it a veritable mini-kingdom for the owner with unobstructed privacy on three sides.

Two ponds are on the site — a 4-acre and a 1-acre — both fully stocked. Runoff from the larger pond creates picturesque seasonal limestone waterfalls.The surrounding woods are full of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, doves, and more. The property is under wildlife exemption.

It's little wonder the ranch was a muse to so many country musicians. A network of ranch roads provides access throughout the property, including most of the way up Lone Woman, giving views around every corner. Only Strait can tell you whether his 1996 hit "King of the Mountain" was inspired by the ranch.

Photo by Michelle Watson CultureMapSnap

George Strait developed his early sound at Lone Woman Ranch.

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