For those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country, this new Dripping Springs hideout hits the bull's-eye.
Located about 40 minutes from downtown Austin, Lucky Arrow Retreat is a tranquil spot nestled on 15 acres, complete with an event center, beer garden, and on-site swimming pool and bathhouse. And with the hotel's prime location, there are also plenty of nearby activities for those traveling solo, in groups, or just in need of some family-friendly fun. (As a fun bonus, Lucky Arrow's nine-seat Land Cruiser Troopy is also available for excursions to wineries, breweries, Pedernales Falls, or to the Hill Country’s best barbecue joints.)
For owner Mike Paclik, Lucky Arrow is a place where “guests can have a unique and memorable experience they can't get anywhere else in the Hill Country.” Plus, it fills the much-needed gap of “more lodging to accommodate the influx of people visiting for weddings in the area,” he adds.
Lucky Arrow offers an array of room options including the Courtyard Cabins, which cluster around a communal courtyard with fire pits and hot tubs. Additional accommodations include five 372-square-foot Porch Houses and four stand-alone 395-square-foot Breezeway Cabins. There’s also the larger Ranch House on the property, which can sleep approximately 16 and is ideal for those traveling for weddings or bachelor and bachelorette parties.
For those looking for something a bit more usual, Lucky Arrow also has 10 secluded 200-square-foot yurts. “Fun fact, we have the most yurts in the state of Texas,” Paclik says.
To execute the project, Paclik, who has a background in large-scale residential new construction and renovation projects, turned to Jeff Krolick of Maker Architects and Austin interior designer Laura Britt. But, he also made his own mark.
“I edited the site planning for the yurt and cabin locations, selected the interior decor, designed the cabin accent walls, found and purchased the Troopy, and designed the pool. I even carved out the wall decor you'll find in our Courtyard and Breezeway cabins with a chainsaw cut from a Spanish Oak tree on the property.”
And when it came time to name the new retreat, the name Lucky Arrow seemed almost fateful.
“It was a funny story actually,” Paclik says of the name. “I was interviewing Butler Bros as our marketing partner, and Adam Butler came out to see the property pre-development. Apparently, Adam is into finding buried treasure and asked if he could look around the property. Adam returned and managed to find a rough-looking arrowhead.”
Opened officially on April 26, Lucky Arrow is already getting booked for the summer months.
“Our guests are mostly active adventurers looking for an authentic, luxury experience,” Paclik says. “Our venue also allows our guests to come together to celebrate or for reflection, and [we have] weddings, church groups, men and women’s retreats, and corporate events.”
In the future, Paclik and his team also plan to host community events, the first being a wedding open house on July 27. And, as more and more guests come to Lucky Arrow, he plans to make further changes to the property.
“The artist in me is always thinking about ways to improve it that’s also practical,” he says. “Additionally, we have a top-secret plan to add a few extra lodging options that currently don’t exist in the area and will be great for families.”
Many of the cabins are clustered around firepits.
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Photo courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
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Photo courtesy of William Chris Vineyards