The patio at La Cascada. Courtesy Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort
It’s Friday and the Happy Hour crowd pours into La Cascada Bar & Grill at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne like water on stone, a fitting allegory for La Cascada’s name and a harbinger of good times to come. Two years after a fire ravaged its clubhouse, George Strait’s resort has finally come back to life.
At La Cascada—the epicenter of the resort’s new 47,000-square-foot clubhouse—couples, friend groups, and families convene around the communal seating area, and the bartender serves up local brews and craft cocktails, some made with Strait’s tequila label, Código 1530. Expansive views open to the resort’s 18-hole golf course. When the weather’s nice, garage-like doors turn the restaurant into an outdoor setting in a flash. In winter, the outdoor fire pit and patio heaters light up the bustling scene.
The resort, which originally opened in 1981, has long been a popular place for Boerne social gatherings, events, and golf. By 2017, it hosted nearly 50 weddings per year. The rebuilt clubhouse—designed by Nunzio Marc DeSantis Architects of Dallas—adds about 4,000 square feet of event space, including the 3,250-square-foot Cibolo Ballroom complete with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the golf course.
Elsewhere on the property, the 111 guest rooms and suites have been updated with new furnishings and décor. Other renovations include a 1,000-square-foot members-only fitness center and a golf pro shop.
“I’m most excited to see our new clubhouse bustling with members and guests alike, serving as a gathering space to enjoy what the heart of Texas is all about: good music, great food, and even better company,” Strait says.
There’s no shortage of fun to be had. Just as the Friday crowd rolls in for post-work libations, those staying the weekend alternate between tee time, pool time, and spa time at Puresól Spa, which features a salt cave and an extensive lineup of facials and body treatments.
Those venturing outside the grounds get busy horseback riding with Boerne local horse trainer Willie Stricker; visiting the many of the Hill Country wineries like Becker Vineyards; exploring Guadalupe River State Park or Cascade Caverns; or strolling downtown Boerne’s local boutiques and restaurants.
On Friday and Saturday nights, La Cascada hosts a singer-songwriter concert series featuring regional artists like Jaime Varela. Or maybe you’ll get lucky and hear the “king of country music” himself.
“It’s my hope that Tapatio Springs becomes a place for families and friends to come and make memories that can be passed down from generation to generation,” Strait says.
