When recently updating our article about Weird & Wonderful Place to Stay in Texas, we found ourselves feeling a pang of wanderlust. Because of the pandemic, it has been a long while since we’ve traveled outside the confines of our own home, and we felt so eager for a change of scenery. So we took our own advice and booked a quick, easy, nearby getaway that offered an incredibly safe alternative to a hotel stay. We packed our bags for a weekend in the most adorable vintage trailer at Open Air Resorts.
Located just a short 45-minute drive from Austin in Spicewood, TX near Lake Travis and the Pedernales River, Open Air Resorts is a new luxury RV park with tons of family-friendly amenities. One of the most exciting aspects for those of us who don’t have an RV is that they rent a variety of tiny homes (even featured on the A&E Network) as well as remodeled Airstreams and vintage trailers that are already set up on the property. You can also opt to reserve a tent site for a traditional camping experience with resort amenities to boot. No matter which way you choose to stay, this resort offers a great location for a fun getaway that allows you to safely socially distance and relax in the peaceful setting of the Texas Hill Country.
For those with an RV, you can choose from water-front sites, 50 amp back-in sites, premium back in sites with extra parking and 100 amp service and even compact sites for smaller rigs. For those looking for a rental, you’ll be amazed by how modern and stylish the remodeled trailers and tiny houses are! Check out the Ways to Stay section of their website for a full overview of options.
Our family of five (plus our dog) was able to fit comfortably in a large fully renovated 1955 Spartan Mansion, The Minty, which has loads of cute, sparkly charm on the outside, with a perfectly clean and contemporary style on the inside (with a/c and heat, of course, too). This particular trailer sleeps 6, which was really much roomier than we could have imagined. Inside, there’s a private bedroom with a full bed, modern bathroom with a shower, bunk beds, and a futon in the living room that transforms into an extra bed. The unit comes with extra pillows, blankets and sheets, along with towels and toiletries. The kitchen is fully stocked with dishware, utensils, pots and pans, stove top, microwave, coffee maker, and really all you could need! So you really don’t have to worry about packing along anything other than food and personal items.
Outside you’ll find a private deck with a large table, a grill, and sitting area around a fire pit, so you can comfortably cook outdoors and roast marshmallow’s under the stars.
Let’s talk about the amenities! While Open Air Resorts offers a countryside locale within close distance to great hiking trails and wineries for those looking to explore the Spicewood area, the resort did not hold back on building plenty of great amenities for those wishing to just stay put on the property. You’ll find a pool (for warmer days), clubhouse, pickleball, ping pong, corn hole, sand volleyball court, a playground, a gaga pit, a stocked catch & release fishing pond, and an enclosed dog park with a dog washing station. They also have a little store selling essentials and propane as well as a laundry room for those staying a longer while. And last but certainly not least, they do have Wi-Fi.
During our stay, the resort was pretty busy, but we honestly had no issue with social distancing. Guests respectfully wore masks when they walked around, and you can keep to yourselves as much as you wish — or if you felt like socializing, you could easily find an RV expert to chat with about their travels around the U.S. When we go again in the future, we’d love to coordinate with other families to book a cluster of rentals. It would give us a chance to hang with friends in a safe way, where we can all have our own space, but enjoy a fun chance to gather together outdoors.
Quiet hours start at 10 p.m., which the humans all adhered to, even if the owls didn’t seem to get the memo. In all honesty, sounds of nature are just what you want to lull you to sleep on a little getaway such as this! With that in mind, if you wish to have more of a countryside view, choose a rental on the outer loop. (We stayed in #3 which backed up to a big open field. The rentals are noted in pink on their map.)
One thing that we really appreciated was that the resort owners emailed us before our stay with a full write up of recommended nearby activities in Spicewood and the Lake Travis area. Our family loves hiking, and having this thoughtful list in advance helped us plan out our weekend. We had a wonderful time exploring Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area, which was less than a 10-minute drive from the resort.
We obviously had a great time during our weekend away. When we tried to think of anywhere that seemed safe to travel at this point in time, the self-contained trailer units offered us a sense of comfort to know we’d not be crowded around anyone else. The trailer stay was also really cute and quirky with a setup similar to a swanky hotel suite, but with even more charm. Being a pet-friendly facility is also really amazing! Not only did we have to avoid the cost of boarding our dog, but she had an awesome time with us.
You can learn much more about Open Air Resorts by checking out their website or giving them a call at 512-559-4284. Keep track of news, updates and special discounts by following their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
If you head out there for a trip, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
More to Explore:
- Weird and Wonderful Places to Stay in Texas
- Best Camping Spots Around Austin
- RV Camping Around Austin
- Best Texas Road Trips for Families
