Luxury camping news

Stunning new glamping retreat sets up camp in the Texas Hill Country

Just in time for bluebonnet hunters, star-gazers and eclipse-chasers, travel company Outdoorsy has debuted its first luxury glamping retreat in Texas, called Outdoorsy Hill Country.

outdoorsy.com

The location of the new retreat promises summer paddle boarding and wildlife spotting.

Situated in Stonewall, near Fredericksburg, the retreat features 22 all-season, luxury canvas tents across 32 acres. The property also includes a cafe, bar, country store, events lodge, and hiking trails.

"Our vision was to create an iconic destination that fuses rustic charm, immersive outdoor experiences, and refined Hill Country hospitality for thoughtful travelers from Texas and beyond," says Outdoorsy CEO Jeff Cavins in a release. "Outdoorsy Hill Country is a memorable slowcation destination that blends contemporary comforts with the allure of Texas' natural beauty."

According to the release, the spacious tents can sleep two or four with a king-size bed, twin and trundle beds with linens; they also offer plush robes, modern furnishings, climate control, private bathrooms with rain showers and premium bath products from San Saba Soap Company, kitchenettes, and mini bars.

"Outdoorsy Hill Country combines state-of-the-art safari tents with locally sourced materials such as Texas limestone, creating a natural connection between the structures and the land," says the release, adding that each tent includes a wrap-around panoramic deck and fire pit.

The property is centered around a large spring-fed watering hole, where guests can go paddleboarding or watch for wildlife. Live music performances and an outdoor bar are located under shade-giving live oak trees.

An event venue can host fully-catered weddings, corporate offsites, and cultural events for up to 250 guests.

Outdoorsy Hill Country is situated along the famous Texas Wine Trail and is close to wineries and distilleries, historic sites, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and dance halls at Luckenbach. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, known for hiking and rock climbing, is a short drive away.

"We fell in love with the Hill Country when we built a glamping tent for ourselves," says Outdoorsy co-founder and CMO Jen Young. "We couldn't be more delighted to share this space with guests who are seeking out the restoration that time in nature provides."

Outdoorsy is best known as an RV rental marketplace. Outdoorsy Hill Country is the company's first glamping retreat in Texas and third nationwide, after Outdoorsy Yosemite and Outdoorsy Bayfield in southwestern Colorado.

Stays start at $350 per night. Outdoorsy Hill Country, located at 300 Wilke Tr., Stonewall, is now accepting reservations through outdoorsy.com.

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Stephanie Allmon Merry contributed to this report.

camping glamping hill country luxury glamping retreat nature

Fashion on display

Rare Halston fashion exhibition now on display in West Texas city

Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen Noël Art Museum

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

A rare exhibition honoring fashion pioneer Halston has popped up in an unexpected place: West Texas. Houston fashionistas who are fans of the designer can hop a flight (or drive eight hours) to Odessa’s newly revamped Ellen Noël Art Museum to view "Halston: Inventing American Fashion."

Halston’s minimalistic fashions are rarely the subjects of retrospectives, although the designer’s dramatic life story recently had a pop-cultural resurgence through a 2021 Ryan Murphy miniseries. "Halston: Inventing American Fashion" assesses the talent that made him a household name.

Known now for outfitting 1970s icons like Liza Minelli and Bianca Jagger, Halston changed the international reputation of American sportswear as part of the famous 1973 “Battle of Versailles” fashion show, holding his own against Paris’ most lauded couturiers. His uniquely louche style still influences contemporary brands like Marc Jacobs, Zac Posen, and Tom Ford, who was briefly the creative director for a revised Halston label.

The mannequins in the Odessa display are outfitted with 75 ensembles from flowing Ultrasuede daywear to more dramatic draped gowns. The pieces “illustrate how Halston revolutionized fashion by prioritizing comfort, confidence, and modern femininity,” according to a release.

Although Odessa may seem an odd choice for the show, Halston had deep Texas connections. After he moved on from hat making, Amarillo millionaire Estelle Marsh was his sole backer willing to fund his first Madison Avenue boutique.

$Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum, Odessa, new facade.$ The new facade at Ellen Noël Art MuseumPhoto courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

$Halston: Inventing American Fashion exhibit Ellen No\u00ebl Art Museum$

Photo courtesy of Ellen Noël Art Museum

An colorful eveningwear grouping takes advantage of Ellen Noël Art Museum's curved walls.

And the recently completed renovation of Odessa's Ellen Noël Art Museum has some of the designer’s signature sleek. Designed by architect R.J. Lopez, the renovation includes new galleries and improved circulation, but the centerpiece is a striking transparent façade, replacing the original brick of the 1985 building.

“The renovation project has been over 10 years in the making and in the construction phase for the past two years,” says the museum’s buildings manager, Steve Patton, via a release. “The completion of the project has resulted in an incredible facility that is a shining star in West Texas, offering programs and exhibits that will be a destination point for people all over the world!”

"Halston: Inventing American Fashion" will run through March 22. Admission to the Ellen Noël Art Museum is free.

exhibits odessa fashion west texas museums designer texas