Escape

The Texas Caribbean: Sleek new island hideaway is full of Houston connections — and NASA architect power

The tony gathering in the private room at Americas River Oaks was all ears as architect Gui Trotti, a former University of Houston architecture professor, made his presentation on Las Verandas Hotel & Villas, a new resort on the tiny island of Roatán, off the Caribbean coast of Honduras.

Temptations to hop the next plane to Honduras ran high as slides of a white sandy beach, azure waters and palm trees blowing in a warm breeze beckoned on this particularly cold night. The spectacular Caribbean design and furnishings pictured were enough to convince anyone with beach fever to sign up. With non-stop flights between Houston and Honduras, flying time is less than three hours.

Trotti's early career in Houston included working with NASA on lunar bases, Mars vehicles and the Space Station.

Through his architecture firm based in Cambridge, Mass., Trotti designed the luxury project that stretches across 400 acres and includes an 18-hole golf course. Trotti and Bill Sharman, chairman and CEO of the Houston-based Lancaster Group, headed up the gathering aimed at encouraging investment in one of the private villas and/or reservations in one of Las Verandas' hotel rooms. The project is being developed by Houston-based Pan Caribbean Capital Partners.

Sale of the two- and three-bedroom villas is being handled by Sudhoff Properties and Jacob Sudhoff was among the small group that was wined and dined in style.

Trotti's early career in Houston included working with NASA on lunar bases, Mars vehicles and the Space Station. He designed the Challenger Learning Center for the Houston Museum of Natural Science. He later spent two years traveling the world on a sailboat, studying various regions and environments. The wisdom gained from that experience, he told the gathering, was instrumental in his design of Las Verandas.

The half-moon private beach leading to clear Caribbean waters is one of the top selling points of Las Verandas.

Photo by © Al Arqueta

The half-moon private beach leading to clear Caribbean waters is one of the top selling points of Las Verandas.

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Tourist stops

Historic Hill Country restaurant reopens after 2-year renovation

Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

The Stagecoach Restaurant is open again after two years of renovations.

The historic Stagecoach Inn in the Central Texas town of Salado is once again welcoming guests to the dining room.

Stagecoach Restaurant, which has served breakfast, lunch, and dinner since 1947, closed for two years for renovations, beginning in June 2023.

According to a release, Stagecoach has partnered with Monument Group (owners of Monument Cafe and El Monumento in nearby Georgetown) to "breathe new life into the celebrated restaurant." Both the space and the menu have been refreshed.

Guests can expect reimagined versions of old favorites, such as its famous hushpuppies, which were on the menu when it debuted nearly 80 years ago.

"The (famous) hushpuppies came into existence because of the need to buy time for [co-owner Dion Van Bibber] to run to the grocer and get the ingredients needed for each ticket as there was no menu, and guests ordered whatever dish they fancied at that moment," says a timeline on the inn's website.

Historical Stagecoach Inn restaurant The Stagecoach Inn's restaurant first opened its doors in 1947. Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

The new menu also includes a creamy goat cheese dip, fried chicken salad, grilled bone-in pork chop with peach chutney, and seasonally-inspired and weekend-only dishes like prime rib. The Stagecoach Restaurant also features a bar with a wine, cocktail, and beer menu.

The Village of Salado, located just off Interstate 35 near Temple (about 180 miles northwest of Houston), is a popular stop for drivers across Texas. Its main street is dotted with charming boutiques and art galleries.

The Stagecoach Inn itself was established in 1860 as a hotel, welcoming wagon pioneers and folks pulling up in horse-drawn carriages. More than 160 years later, the Stagecoach Inn is the second-oldest continuously-operating hotel in Texas, and though the rooms have certainly been modernized and amenities like a pool and gift shop have been added in over the years, the bones of the building remain the same.

Stagecoach Inn pool Even the newer amenities have a retro feel.Photo courtesy of Stagecoach Inn

“The Stagecoach established itself as a welcoming rest stop on the Chisholm Trail for weary travelers over 160 years ago and that southern hospitality continues today,” said Monument Group's Rusty Winkstern in the release. “We want to honor that legacy with genuine hospitality and crave-worthy food and drink, continuing thetradition as a community hub for visitors old and new.”

The Stagecoach Restaurant is at 416 S. Main Street, Salado. It's open for lunch and dinner Wednesdays through Sundays from 11:30 am-8 pm, first-come, first-served. Breakfast service is coming soon; currently only pastries, tacos, and coffee are offered.

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