Reviews of Property: Stunning architecture in dramatic Hill Country setting

Description House, 4600 sq. ft.,
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10, 3 Bathrooms
Amenities rural, pool, jacuzzi, terrace, air-conditioning
Rates per property (USD)
$500 - $600/night 
$3,600/week 
$14,000/month 
Accepts Online Payments
Mark Holzbach
+1 512-689-6777
+1 512-923-6648
Speaks: English, German

13 Reviews of Property 171686 in Austin, Texas

Rating
5 out of 5

wedding at the plant

stephanieann Austin, Texas
Review Submitted: December 27, 2008 Date of Stay: November 2008
This was my husband and I's first choice when deciding on a venue for our wedding. We both have a love for architecture and design and this contemporary home with the outdoor space in the hill country was the perfect setting for what we envisioned. We both love the outdoors and that is where we spend much of our time, so it made sense to get married outside at sunset with an outdoor party following. I will admit that I was concerned about the distance from Austin, because a majority of our guests were coming from not only out of town, but out of state, plus we wanted people to enjoy themselves and not have to worry about drinking and driving. Therefore we chartered buses, and as far as we heard they worked out flawlessly. This was my biggest concern, but all the feedback was positive. Many of our friends and family had funny stories from their bus trips that made the entire experience more memorable. The owners were wonderful to work with, very accommodating to any special requests we made and they were a pleasure to work with. The property was in perfect condition and it was seamless for our rental company, catering company and band to load in and out. Our guests all raved about the location and will not soon forget the event. It is such a unique venue that your event will definitely be memorable. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone for not only events but a fun getaway. It made our wedding so special and unique and we would not change a thing. We look forward to using this venue again and again for romantic getaways to our future anniversary parties. The owners were excellent to work with and the venue was a spectacular locale.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie & Michael
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 3/3
Rating
5 out of 5

4 nights of bliss

Review Submitted: July 29, 2009 Date of Stay: July 2009
Two other families and ours spent the Fourth of July holiday at the Plant and it was fantastic. It's a comfortable place and we all were conscious of how effortlessly we settled in, once we arrived. The place has a casual elegance that I think evolves from considered design. The two story screened porch provides a memorable place to eat and talk. We spent much of our time there. Not as much, however, as we did at the pool. Central Texas was experiencing a heat wave while we were there, with temps in the 100s. The pool was a life saver - especially because of the canopy which gives one the option of swimming either in the shade or in the sun. I'll never forget the midnight swims with the full moon shining through the nearby ancient live oak trees.
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Rating
5 out of 5

Our 2nd Stay! Family gathering...

Judi W. Houston, TX
Review Submitted: May 26, 2009 Date of Stay: May 2009
My family recently gathered at The Plant for a long weekend to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday. She chose the location for her celebration while we were staying at The Plant in May '08!
The setting is so peaceful and beautiful, and the home is an architectural delight! The Plant is so much more than the sum of it's parts. It needs to be experienced to be understood. We love to drink coffee early in the mornings in the huge screened in porch, while watching the animals wander by. We love to gather in the kitchen and cook. We love to float around the pool on our rafts while listening to the sounds of nature all around us. We also love to read, play games, tell stories, and just love and encourage one another while we are at The Plant.
The first time we stayed at the Plant it was the first time for my family to be together after my sister had passed away. Unknowingly, we had chosen the perfect place to gather. We laughed, we cried, we prayed, and we healed.
Although my family has spent time at The Plant on two very different occasions, the place was perfect for both. It can be a quiet, peaceful, restorative place, and it can be a place full of celebration, love, and laughter. I highly recommmend a stay at the Plant!
The owners are very caring and accomodating, and are only a phone call, or e-mail away if you need anything.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Relaxation

Hilo Houston, TX
Review Submitted: May 7, 2009 Date of Stay: April 2009
This place is even better than you think it will be. I have known about this property for at least ten years and never thought I would have the chance to see it much less stay in it, but we did and it was wonderful.
The architecture is really spectacular, the adaptive reuse of the structure is so in tune with both the old building and the new function it is truly to be admired.
The house is very roomy but also cozy.
The yard is just wonderful the grass is soft and you can walk around without shoes. The fenced area was big enough for a dog and a two year old not to get bored exploring. Then just outside the fence we had a parade of donkeys some sort of big horn sheep and innumerable birds.
We swam a bit cool at the end of April for kids.
Close to Damian Mandola's new restaurant and winery very beautiful and great food.
All in all we will certainly try and stay again.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Great Getaway

Megbones Venice CA
Review Submitted: April 21, 2009 Date of Stay: April 2009
Great place to spend a few days with some friends or family cooking, relaxing, hanging out at the pool. Beautiful location, well maintained and very comfortable. Highly recommend. If you bring enough groceries, you will never have to leave.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Great Experience

Lady With Dogs San Antonio, TX
Review Submitted: March 1, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2009
The Plant provided a wonderful environment for a transitioning 50 yr old woman and two Labrador Retrievers. I wanted privacy, a view, kitchen and
lots of space for the Labs to romp. The Plant met our every need. It's close enough to Wimberly for an outing, and the HEB Plus met our need for fresh veggies and fish. There are wonderful animals on the other side of the fence. We watched cows, goats, donkeys and squirrels play. The Austin NPR station comes in very clear. We're not into TV, so it wasn't missed. There's a DVD/VCR
TV in the bedroom and lots of movies to choose from. I most appreciated the amount of space "The Plant" offered. We primarily used the lovely, huge
screened area. It would be a great place for families to come to enjoy the pool and all the space. The bedrooms are far apart and would offer lots of privacy, too. There was even a hose to bathe the Labradors. The owners are only a phone call or email away if you have any questions, too.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rating
5 out of 5

Guestbook Comment

Lady With Dogs San Antonio, TX
Review Submitted: March 1, 2009 Date of Stay: March 2009
The Plant provided a wonderful environment for a transitioning 50 yr old woman and two Labrador Retrievers. I wanted privacy, a view, kitchen and lots of space for the Labs to romp. The Plant met our every need. It's close enough to Wimberly for an outing, and the HEB Plus met our need for fresh veggies and fish. There are wonderful animals on the other side of the fence. We watched cows, goats, donkeys and squirrels play. The Austin NPR station comes in very clear. We're not into TV, so it wasn't missed. There's a DVD/VCR TV in the bedroom and lots of movies to choose from. I most appreciated the amount of space "The Plant" offered. We primarily used the lovely, huge screened area. It would be a great place for families to come to enjoy the pool and all the space. The bedrooms are far apart and would offer lots of privacy, too. There was even a hose to bathe the Labradors. The owners are only a phone call or email away if you have any questions, too.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Great Weekend Getaway

gen81 austin, tx
Review Submitted: February 12, 2009 Date of Stay: February 2008
I hosted a bachelorette weekend at The Plant last year and a lovely time was had by all. The setting is serene and peaceful...and is conducive to great conversation and casual relaxation. About 10 girls attended, and we grilled, drank wine, played board games, and cozied up by the fire. What a wonderful retreat spot! Highly recommended for a unique experience...a welcomed change of pace from your typical bachelorette party.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rating
5 out of 5

Guestbook Comment

HAC187448 Austin, Texas
Review Submitted: January 28, 2009 Date of Stay: January 2009
We selected this "Plant at Kyle" as the location for our wedding in November. It was a fantastic combination of modern architecture and Texas Ranch. The hosts were very generous and considerate and the facility worked great for our 150 or so party. We stayed at overnight and will reemember it forever.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1
Rating
5 out of 5

Harmony of great architecture and comfort

Rosario C Austin, Texas, USA
Review Submitted: January 22, 2009 Date of Stay: November 2008
This truly breathtaking architectural masterpiece (an early project of the firm Lake/Flato) is way more than I had expected when I first heard about it—and I had only heard great things! The grounds and the land surrounding it remind me of the many western movie classics I watched as I grew up in Italy, and offer so many opportunities for exotic walks around the area. The house itself is a rare balance of art and habitability, a compound of buildings held together by the iron frames of an old cement factory, with a huge screened in space. It was enchanting, and inspired some of my best observations about living spaces. It also gave me the opportunity for a few intriguing architectural photos.

I spent Thanksgiving’s day with friends and family members from various parts of the world, ranging from age 4 to 80. Everybody had a terrific time, and found the place fascinating and surprisingly comfortable (the Europeans, in particular, new to Texas, had expected to be hosted in a ranch and share their living spaces with cows and horses). The dinner was a great success—the outdoor grill and the professional grade kitchen and kitchen tools definitely helped. The rest of the evening was spent on the beautiful leather sofas and chairs by the imposing fireplace, surrounded by objects and furniture of exquisite, understated taste. And the night was a true gift—comfort, silence, perfect temperature—and so much available space.

My only regret is that we did not use the large, beautifully lit swimming pool, which apparently is warm enough from March through October thanks to a passive solar heater. For those who choose to go during this long swimming season the pool and its wonderful setting, with lawn chairs and a beautifully manicured lawn to go with them, is an additional treat.

This is a magical place, less than half hour from down town Austin, yet immersed into a unspoiled piece of land, and complete with everything you need and even more, visually inspiring and very comfortable and welcoming. I will not hesitate to return. It is an exciting place for any kind of gatherings, including large parties and celebrations (yes, there is plenty of space for parking!), business meeting, seminars, retreats, family reunions, and a lot more—aside from being an intriguing setting for photo shoots (I am a photographer, and I am planning to do that in the near future).
Did you find this review helpful? Yes No Helpful votes: 1/1