Wahwahtaysee Resort
"Describe your first impression when you arrived?Pulling up at sunset, my senses are ablaze. Hearing the soothing trickle of the San Marcos River, seeing the wild blaze of the individual fire pits. Stars have begun to speckle the sky, and so have the magical fireflies for which the property is named. What's the backstory?The resort is owned by a local Austin family—Robert Dillard and his sons Sammy and Donny. Not long after purchasing it, the family looked into the land’s history and learned that it was formerly inhabited by the Tonkawa tribe. The first time the Dillards camped together, fireflies were noticeably flickering at dusk leading them to the the name WahWahtaysee which translates to firefly in the original tribe’s native tongue. Tell us all about your accommodations.The Little Dipper is a 650 square foot luxury tent that features a king sized bed and a queen sleeper sofa. There is both an indoor and outdoor shower in addition to an indoor tub. There is a toilet and air conditioning which I normally would not point out but #glamping. There is also a golf cart for each tent. The linens are very comfortable and there are Aveda toiletries. If I were to return, I would rent one of the new two bedroom tents that opened in August 2020 so that my kids could have their own room. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi?There is currently no Wi-Fi, so get ready to unplug. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at?There is no restaurant here, however, you can have a breakfast platter delivered to your tent. The choices are a migas or pancake plates. You can also arrange to have a “Yeti meal” that is waiting for you when you arrive, stocked with all of the necessities needed to have either a burger or steak dinner. Last but certainly not least, you can order a s’mores board to compliment your private fire pit party. These options are not included in the nightly rate. And the service?The service was great, however, the beauty of this property is that it feels like you are alone. Wahwahtaysee Resort is self check-in, giving you only a welcome email with detailed instructions for arrival and check-out. Staff can arrange other activities though: meals, yoga, fly-fishing, or kayaking. What type of travelers will you find here?People are unplugged, casually dressed, and looking to relax while enjoying the gift of nature. What about the area? What else is around?The property is located on 100 acres with extensive river frontage. The property is isolated in the very best way. Any other hotel features worth noting?All rooms come with a coffee machine and coffee, a Little Green Egg for cooking, and a golf cart for getting around the resort. Bottom line: Worth it? Why?This property is absolutely worth it because of its ability to force you to unplug, unwind and connect with nature. The gorgeous land along the San Marcos river reminds Texans (as if they could ever forget) why their state is so special and inspires out-of-towners to consider the Texas Hill Country for both long term and short term vacationing." - Diana Oates
