Head to the Hills

New Hill Country hotel with acclaimed Texas chef to open in early 2025

The fashionable hotel renovates some historic properties in Fredericksburg.

Photo by Alison Marlborough

One of the Texas Hill Country's most eagerly awaited destinations, the Albert Hotel, finally has an opening date. Located right on the main street of charming Fredericksburg, the Albert has drummed up excitement as a luxury Hill Country lodging since it was first announced in 2021 — especially after attaching acclaimed Austin-based chef Michael Fojtasek to three of its culinary concepts in 2023.

As of October 2, 2024, the hotel is officially accepting reservations for January 3, 2025, and beyond.

Part of the New Waterloo hospitality family that boasts Austin hotspots like the South Congress Hotel and La Condesa restaurant, the Albert occupies two acres right in the heart of Fredericksburg’s historic shopping and entertainment district. Nonetheless, the urban resort aims to provide a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the growing Hill Country town with details that reflect the area’s history, culture, and natural beauty.

Albert Hotel Saloon interior The Saloon at Albert Hotel fits right in with its Hill Country surroundings.Photo by Alison Marlborough

"The Albert Hotel is designed to be an homage to the Hill Country," says general manager Mike Bolick via a press release. "From the limestone facades that echo the town's 150-year-old historic buildings to our culinary offerings that celebrate local flavors, every aspect of the hotel is a love letter to Fredericksburg."

That love letter starts with the property’s namesake, Albert Keidel, whose ancestor arrived in Fredericksburg in 1847 as the town’s first doctor and judge. The hotel is a renovation of the Keidel family home and Keidel Pharmacy, built in 1860 and 1906, respectively, as well as two other historic buildings: the Brockmann-Kiehne House, built in 1870, and the Saloon, built in 1888.

Albert Hotel room The rooms are stark and dramatic. And some even offer bunk beds.Photo by Alison Marlborough

Austin-based architecture firm Clayton Korte spearheaded the project, blending old and new in every detail of the design and setting the backdrop for interiors by Melanie Raines. From cozy bunk rooms and luxury suites to the exclusive multi-bedroom Albertina House, the hotel features 105 guest rooms in total, plus four culinary concepts and a full-service spa with seven private treatment rooms.

While two of the four dining options are already open (The Saloon and The Pharmacy both opened in March 2024), the Restaurant at Albert Hotel will also debut in January 2025 along with the guest rooms. Helmed by Fojtasek, the menu will feature seasonal fare from nearby farms and wineries.

The Pharmacy at Albert Hotel The Pharmacy is a convenient and beautiful place to start the day.Photo by Alison Marlborough

Junebugs, a backyard barbecue joint, is slated to follow close behind in March 2025: led by New Waterloo’s Head of Food and Beverage, Justin Spencer, the concept will tap his experience as a competition barbecue pitmaster and serve as a nod to Fredericksburg’s German roots.

Designed by Austin-based firm Word & Carr Design Group, the hotel’s landscaping features shaded lawns and courtyards, native plants, and a sunken limestone pool evocative of the natural swimming holes of the Hill Country. The tranquil grounds will become a welcome retreat after adventures at nearby Enchanted Rock, immersive exhibits at the National Museum of the Pacific War, live music in historic Luckenbach, or a visit to one of the countless local wineries.

Albert Hotel interior Washes of green modernize and add some character to otherwise austere spaces.Photo by Alison Marlborough

Booking is now open for stays starting January 3, 2025, at alberthotel.com.

hotels fredericksburg hill country

go rural

Tiny West Texas town tops Airbnb's 'off-the-map' destinations to visit

Matador, Texas, Airbnb, best rural destinations

Photo courtesy of Airbnb

Welcome to Matador, Texas.

More Texas travelers are shying away from tourist traps for their vacations and instead embracing the calming roadside with increasing interest in rural areas of the state, according to Airbnb, and one tiny Texas city in the Panhandle is generating buzz atop a brand-new list of under-the-radar rural destinations in America.

The vacation rental marketplace's inaugural "Off-the-Map" list features 20 rural destinations across the country where short-term rentals are bringing in "new opportunities for local tourism."

"From coastal fishing villages to Cajun bayou towns and alpine mountain escapes, America Off-the-Map invites travelers to discover something new and helps support local economies and communities across the country," the report said.

Matador, a small town about 80 miles northeast of Lubbock and 530 miles from Houston, was named the No. 1 hidden gem vacation destination in Texas. The report described Matador as a part of Texas that tourists "haven’t found" yet, which is what makes it all the more rewarding as an undiscovered treasure.

"Welcome to the seat of Motley County – where the wind is constant, the skies are enormous, and the history is deeper than the caprock beneath your boots," the report said.

Visitors can explore the Motley County Historical Museum, which explores the building's history as the Traweek Hospital that was originally built nearly a century ago. The museum also sheds light on Native American history, the life of ranchers, and other historical facts about the town and county.

Local restaurants like Chelle's Garden or TC's Ponderosa in nearby Dickens are good spots for travelers to eat like a local, while the Coffee Mill and Mercantile in Quitaque is the place to be for breakfast, lunch, and a cup of joe.

Matador is also less than an hour away from the newly expanded Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, a popular Texas state park known for its roaming bison herd and bat colony.

According to Airbnb's website, there are over 130 short-term rentals in Matador and the surrounding Motley County area, with some homes available for $172 for an overnight stay in April 2026.

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