Eve’s Garden belongs to an unconventional breed of Texas hotels that continue to pop up across the state, winning over travelers with their novelty and sense of adventure. While these hotels may look a little different, they aren’t the result of hoteliers gone mad; their owners are forward-thinking Texans inspired to share their strange yet magical little corners of the world. Break free from hotel chains and escape to one of these eight locales for a truly memorable summer vacation.
$185-$215/night. 200 NW Third St., Marathon. 432/386-4165.
“At first, we built with adobe, wanting to use local and natural materials,” Thayer explains. “But adobe blocks weigh about 40 pounds each!”
But adobe blocks weigh about 40 pounds each! So we began to experiment with papercrete—a mixture of recycled paper and Styrofoam, sand, water, clay, Portland cement, and perlite.” Thayer’s creative output is a likely but antithetical result of her heritage. She’s a great-granddaughter of the late-19th-century American painter Abbott Handerson Thayer, often considered the “father of camouflage.” Thayer has turned Abbott’s camouflage on its head by making sure her own creation can’t be missed. —E. Dan Klepper
$110/night. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 11450 Park Road 5, Canyon. 806/488-2227.
The Goodnight sleeps four, and amenities include a fireplace, air conditioning and heater unit, bathroom with shower, and outdoor grill. The park features over 50 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. During the summer months, guests can enjoy a barbecue dinner and watch TEXAS, an outdoor musical drama featuring dancing, singing, and fireworks. Reservations fill up fast, so park staff recommends reserving the cabin at leat six months in advance. —E. Dan Klepper
Chinati Hot Springs. (Photo by E. Dan Klepper)
$105-$140/night. 1 Hot Springs Road, Presidio. 432/229-4165.
A far-flung sanctuary tucked into a rugged canyon between the Chinati Mountains and the Rio Grande, this remote resort offers a funky, handmade aesthetic surrounded by Big Bend wilderness. It’s an invitation to turn off your cellphones (they won’t work here) and revel in natural spring-fed hot tubs, homey cabins, overnight camping, and a relaxed atmosphere. The outdoor hot pool, deep enough for a seated, full-body soak and at just the right temperature for long-term lounging, provides the consummate, late-night bliss. Early risers often have the pool to themselves, along with filtered sunlight through cottonwoods and a breathtaking view of the Sierra Madres. Brisk desert nights make Chinati Hot Springs a destination for hot-tubbers year-round, and the addition of a cold pool (open March through October), perched high above the canyon, transforms the summer heat like an afternoon at the beach.
The earliest known published reference to the hot springs occurred in an 1885 report to the Texas State Land Board. “Several families are camped on the ground now, testing its medicinal virtues,” inspector William M. Baines wrote during his visit. But don’t take his word for it. Test them yourself. —E. Dan Klepper
Rates start at $300/night. 11222 Schuster Road, Round Top.
The earliest known published reference to the hot springs occurred in an 1885 report to the Texas State Land Board. “Several families are camped on the ground now, testing its medicinal virtues,” inspector William M. Baines wrote during his visit. But don’t take his word for it. Test them yourself. —E. Dan Klepper
