Lucky Us

New Hill Country retreat hits bull's-eye with stylish cabins, yurts, and more

For those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country, this new Dripping Springs hideout hits the bull's-eye.

Located about three hours from Houston, Lucky Arrow Retreat is a tranquil spot nestled on 15 acres, complete with an event center, beer garden, and on-site swimming pool and bathhouse. And with the hotel's prime location, there are also plenty of nearby activities for those traveling solo, in groups, or just in need of some family-friendly fun. (As a fun bonus, Lucky Arrow's nine-seat Land Cruiser Troopy is also available for excursions to wineries, breweries, Pedernales Falls, or to the Hill Country’s best barbecue joints.)

For owner Mike Paclik, Lucky Arrow is a place where “guests can have a unique and memorable experience they can't get anywhere else in the Hill Country.” Plus, it fills the much-needed gap of “more lodging to accommodate the influx of people visiting for weddings in the area,” he adds.

Lucky Arrow offers an array of room options including the Courtyard Cabins, which cluster around a communal courtyard with fire pits and hot tubs. Additional accommodations include five 372-square-foot Porch Houses and four stand-alone 395-square-foot Breezeway Cabins. There’s also the larger Ranch House on the property, which can sleep approximately 16 and is ideal for those traveling for weddings or bachelor and bachelorette parties.

For those looking for something a bit more usual, Lucky Arrow also has 10 secluded 200-square-foot yurts. “Fun fact, we have the most yurts in the state of Texas,” Paclik says.

To execute the project, Paclik, who has a background in large-scale residential new construction and renovation projects, turned to Jeff Krolick of Maker Architects and Austin interior designer Laura Britt. But, he also made his own mark.

“I edited the site planning for the yurt and cabin locations, selected the interior decor, designed the cabin accent walls, found and purchased the Troopy, and designed the pool. I even carved out the wall decor you'll find in our Courtyard and Breezeway cabins with a chainsaw cut from a Spanish Oak tree on the property.”

And when it came time to name the new retreat, the name Lucky Arrow seemed almost fateful.

“It was a funny story actually,” Paclik says of the name. “I was interviewing Butler Bros as our marketing partner, and Adam Butler came out to see the property pre-development. Apparently, Adam is into finding buried treasure and asked if he could look around the property. Adam returned and managed to find a rough-looking arrowhead.”

Opened officially on April 26, Lucky Arrow is already getting booked for the summer months.

“Our guests are mostly active adventurers looking for an authentic, luxury experience,” Paclik says. “Our venue also allows our guests to come together to celebrate or for reflection, and [we have] weddings, church groups, men and women’s retreats, and corporate events.”

In the future, Paclik and his team also plan to host community events, the first being a wedding open house on July 27. And, as more and more guests come to Lucky Arrow, he plans to make further changes to the property.

“The artist in me is always thinking about ways to improve it that’s also practical,” he says. “Additionally, we have a top-secret plan to add a few extra lodging options that currently don’t exist in the area and will be great for families.”

Many of the cabins are clustered around firepits.

Lucky Arrow Retreat/Facebook

Many of the cabins are clustered around firepits.

REVIVING THE ALAMO

Texas landmark the Alamo reclaims historic cannon from private ownership

Photo by Gower Brown/ Unsplash

A 90-pound cannon used in the Battle of the Alamo is returning to its San Antonio home.

It turns out the Alamo's original 1836 cannons are good for more than just defense — they also make a sturdy birdbath. After serving as a garden ornament for Samuel Maverick’s descendants, an authentic piece of San Antonio history is finally returning home to the revered mission.

According to an Alamo announcement, the swivel cannon weighs 90 pounds and is approximately three feet long. The relic was originally found in 1852 when Maverick built a home near the northwest corner of the battle’s site.

The lawyer and land baron was saved from death when he was urged by William Barret Travis to ride to the Texas Declaration of Independence convention in Washington-on-the-Brazos to send reinforcements. Returning to the Alamo’s grounds, he found a cache of cannons buried where the Hotel Gibbs sits today.

From there, the cannon wound up at the Maverick family’s Sunshine Ranch on the Northwest Side, where it was eventually incorporated into the garden DIY project. In 1955, the cannon was removed from the ranch, and the current location remained a mystery until the Alamo received a call from a Maverick relative in Corpus Christi.

Alamo cannon This Alamo artifact gives an idea of what the cannon will look like once restoration is complete.Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

“The relative graciously donated the cannon to the Alamo,” wrote a rep from the mission. “Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham and Head Conservator Pam Jary Rosser drove down the very next day to take this piece of history home to the Alamo.”

Although the artillery is mostly intact, it is missing its trunnions (the pivot-point protrusions on the sides of the barrel) and cascabel (the knob and neck assembly at the rear of historic muzzle-loading cannons). The parts were removed by the Mexican army to make the cannon inoperable.

Once preservation is complete, this cannon and the Alamo Collection’s other battle cannons will make their way to the upcoming Visitor Center and Museum, where they will be joined by rocker Phil Collins' collection of Alamo artifacts. The Alamo is in the midst of a $550 million preservation project, which includes conserving the Alamo Church, Long Barrack, and the mission’s original footprint. The museum is on track to debut in late 2027.

history museums artifacts texas history the alamo