The Austin area's newest boutique hotel is bypassing South Congress and the east side for another spot: Round Rock. On June 28, construction began on The Ruby Hotel, a 24,000-square-foot property overlooking Brushy Creek, according to a release.

The Ruby will take over a 3-acre plot at 304 Fannin Ave. in downtown Round Rock. A mix of new construction and renovations, the hotel will include 39 guestrooms and a fitness center for guests, as well as a bar and restaurant for guests and the general public.

The renovation portion will include transforming an existing home on the land into a meeting space. Architectural design for The Ruby is being led by the Austin-based firm Page, with Hill & Wilkinson serving as contractors and overseeing construction.

With its prime location overlooking the creek, guests can expect a luxe experience to extend out of doors as well. “The Ruby’s biggest features are the natural elements surrounding it,” said Spencer Cook, project manager for Hill & Wilkinson, in a release. “There are a lot of very large 100-year-old Live Oaks on the site, and both buildings are built on a bluff that overlooks Brushy Creek.”

Along with a $5.5 million price tag, the property apparently comes with a storied history. Legend has it that while touring the property, the developers found love letters addressed to "my dearest Ruby" and used the character as inspiration for the design. Whether or not that is true likely won't stop guests from enjoying the property's refurbished pool area.

When The Ruby Hotel opens in Round Rock's downtown area in first quarter 2019, it will join a neighborhood that has transitioned into a picturesque Central Texas town square. In March, the Round Rock City Council approved a 25 percent abatement in The Ruby's hotel and property taxes, paving the way for construction. Among the other amenities in Round Rock's downtown district are restaurants, boutiques, bakeries, and more.