Thanks to Kiki and Don, who are fantastic hosts, my stay at Night Bird Ranch could not have been better. My plans included staying only one night, following an exhibition opening at The Gallery at Round Top, which meant that I would be arriving at the ranch after dark. Kiki provided thorough driving directions (even before I had a chance to ask for them!) that took me from Round Top to the ranch in minutes. Upon my arrival, Kiki greeted me and pointed out where various things, e.g., TV, refrigerator, etc., could be found.
Regarding the Lonesome Dove room itself, everything about it is great, particularly the bed -- so comfortable, and with super-soft sheets! The room is nicely furnished and decorated in warm, earth-tone colors -- it's clear that much thought went into decorating the room. There were guests staying in two of the other rooms, but I didn't hear them, only saw their cars. (Parking is convenient -- you can park steps away from your room's door.) Stating the obvious, but still: If you stay at Night Bird Ranch on a clear night, be sure to look up at the stars. And enjoy the quiet atmosphere and sounds of nature!
The next morning, after a good night's sleep, I joined the other guests, and Kiki and Don, in the dining hall. The breakfast spread included more options than many restaurants offer -- I'm pretty sure there's something to satisfy everyone's taste buds and hunger levels here. I filled my plate with scrambled eggs, sausage, and biscuits that are much better than anything I ever cook at home. (Thanks, Don!) Also noteworthy: Really great coffee and huge, tasty muffins. (The country gravy, pancakes, and other items I didn't try looked good, too!)
I didn't need to hurry back to Houston or to anyplace else, so I enjoyed spending time sipping coffee and visiting with Kiki and learning about how she and Don came to acquire the ranch and proceed to upgrade it to the level of quality that exists today. And chatting about photography and more. Before leaving, I checked out the ranch's private lake and took some photos -- the ranch is quite scenic! (A drawback of arriving at night as late as I did is that you don't get to see what the ranch really looks like until the next morning!) I could envision Night Bird Ranch being a fantastic setting for events such as weddings and retreats.
I left Night Bird Ranch feeling like I was a member of the Teague family. I suspect that most guests leave feeling the same way.
In the future, when I'm in need of a place to stay in the Round Top-Warrenton area, I definitely would stay at Night Bird Ranch -- and encourage others to stay there, too! read more