Taste the Texas Hill Country life at Bob Phillips' Escondida

From Dallas News, October 20, 2008...

It may be the most exclusive hideaway in the rolling green hills of Central Texas. Even the name, Escondida, means "hidden." And with only 10 guest rooms, it is about as exclusive as a resort can be.

Escondida was built in 1969 as a private residence on Medina Mountain, just off winding, scenic State Highway 16 between Kerrville and Bandera. The original owner brought in Mexican craftsmen to construct a posh, three-sided hacienda using traditional architecture, materials and techniques. The generously proportioned rooms of the house surround an intricately paved courtyard with a fountain at its center.

Today, Escondida is a relaxing getaway on 125 secluded acres, complete with a luxurious spa and a sparkling swimming pool. A stay includes a hot breakfast each morning and dinner, preceded by a happy hour with wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres, each evening.

Read more...

A Not-Too-Wild-West Cowboy Town

From New York Times April 18, 2008...

Rusty Reed loves living in Anchorage — the wide-open spaces, the wildlife, the he-man feel. But after 40 years of the deep north deep-freeze, he gets a little tired of the cold. So, in winter, he heads to another place that has similar features.

“When I go from Alaska to Bandera, I say I am going from God’s Country to Paradise,” said Mr. Reed, who likes to hunt and whose wife rides horses. So last year, Mr. Reed, who owns a construction management firm and leads hunting expeditions in Alaska, and his wife, Barbara Hillin, bought a house in Bandera, Tex.

Read more...