Austin Staycations | Lone Star Court

Lone Star Court is refined boutique hotel that merges a bit of nostalgic Austin-Americana with a modern day aesthetic nestled in the heart of The Domain in north Austin.  Created by Houston-based hospitality company Valencia Group, the hotel has recreated the classic craftsmanship of yesteryear in the old-days of American auto-tourism and road trips, where the motor coach hotels were king and families looked forward to spending quality time together on week-long vacations driving across the country.

You may call me old fashioned, but Lone Star Court hearkens a few fun childhood memories of when our family packed in to our old Suburban for a cross country trip to Disney World, or some other thousand mile destination that my folks decided for us all to pave the long road for unforgettable vacation experience where the hotel was not always a lavish beachside resort. It may not be a a seaside or hill country destination, but the retro-80’s nerd in me can’t help but to think that if Chevy Chase’s Clark W. Griswold from National Lampoons Vacation and his family were real, they’d stay here before continuing their epic journey to the mythical Wally World. If you’re like me and you love the film, you’ll probably fall in love with this hotel, even if you don’t see the correlation.

Rooms and Suites

If you have an affinity for old-school Austin interior design, you may be filled with envy and inspiration to redecorate your own living space after spending time in the hotel’s rooms and suites.  It features 123 retro-inspired guest rooms complete with a few modern day high-tech touches.  The retro-Austin art and decor is tastefully welcoming and includes a old-fashioned Smeg refrigerator serving as the room’s minibar fully stocked with booze, beer and soft drinks. Every room also features vintage styled furniture as well as a sliding barnyard door that separates the living room (if you’re in a suite), the bedroom and bathroom.

Amenities

Venturing outside you’ll see three floors featuring wood-finished decks and patios replete with orange rocking chairs in front of each room all overlooking the own lawn in a large courtyard setting, boasting couple of campfire-like firepits and a lagoon-style saltwater pool with a 1,600 square foot covered pavilion. Weekend nights feature live music performances by local musicians as well as movie nights showcasing a few nostalgic films like Back To The Future and Ghost Busters.

Dining 

The Water Trough, located next to the lagoon pool, is the hotel’s full-service restaurant and bar in wood-finished space featuring a large, cozy fireplace, open seating and a large communal bench with seating next to a garage door that provides a lovely view and access to the pool.  The kitchen serves a delicious menu Texas favorites like Chicken Fried Quail, Texas Chili, and even a house-made gumbo.  The bar features a few selections of local craft beer and signature cocktails.  The restaurant also offers complimentary continental breakfast every morning.

Photo by Lonestar Court

Just outside the hotel you’ll also find their very own on-site food trailer, The Feed Store, dishing out a small menu of quick snacks such as breakfast tacos, burgers, fries and hot dogs all day long.

Location