The Historic Railroad District in Kingsland is anchored by the Antlers Hotel, a turn of the 20th century hotel. The district is spread out over 15 acres on the banks of Lake LBJ. There are woods, nature trails, orchard, and an 1800s log cabin with 4 docks that sits on the lake. There are many little cabins and cottages spread amongst the trees, around the orchard, close to the lake or to the Antlers Hotel. Most of these are for rent through the hotel.
The Antlers Hotel opened for business May 1, 1901 as a resort for vacationers traveling to the Hill Country by railroad. It closed its doors in 1923, not to reopen to the public until 1996. Today, the Antlers Hotel has six suites, all opening to the spacious front and back porches. The hotel is a recorded Texas Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Probably the coolest accommodations are the cabooses, each with small kitchen, living/dining area, bath with shower, TV, telephone, queen bed and two bunks. Or try the McKinley Coach, which is a fully-restored 1880s wooden train car, with small kitchen, TV, king bed, two twin beds and 1-1/2 baths. There is also a railroad depot that has been restored and moved onto the grounds that you may rent.
The rest of the district consists of Kings House, where the namesake of Kingsland lived. There is also a 1909 Victorian home that serves as the Junction Restaurant. Take a close look at this Victorian, you might recognize it from the movie, Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Like to RV, but want to go offroading? EarthRoamer has two models that will help you. The EarthRoamer Xpedition vehicles are designed to travel to those remote locations that are only accessible by four-wheel drive. Even better, these vehicles provide a comfortable camping experience totally off the gird.
XV-JP
Jeep Rubicon Unlimited based EarthRoamer XV-JP is designed to carry two adults.
The XV-JP’s Loftop™ provides nearly 9 feet of interior height and a queen-size bed when deployed. From the loft, you can drop down another tent for additional living space. The XV-JP comes equipped with 25 gallons of fresh water capacity, an inside cassette toilet, inside shower, sink and cooking facilities. An electric fan provides ventilation and the forced air furnace is perfect for cold nights. No A/C.
XV-LT
Based on the Ford Super Duty F-550 four-wheel drive cab chassis, there is brawn to accompany the beauty. With a 17,950 pound gross vehicle weight rating and 10,000 pound towing capability.
The EarthRoamer XV-LT is designed for two adults and two children camping for extended periods. Equipped with up to 90 gallons of diesel fuel and 85 gallons of fresh water, you can travel as far as you like in comfort, complete with granite countertops, convection microwave, air-conditioning, king-size bed and an enclosed shower/bathroom.
From the website:
Preserving the environment for generations to come is very important to us so we design renewable energy sources like solar and biodiesel into our systems whenever possible. All of our vehicles utilize solar energy as a primary power source for lights and appliances.
The pictures above are from the EarthRoamer site (all rights reserved). While the price tags, approximately $110,000 for JP and $208,000 for the LT, are steep, the amenities are worth it. There is a waiting list if you are considering a purchase.
If you are not a big biking fan, there is plenty to keep you busy while your friends or children ride! How about an 850’ Zip Line, Blob, Water Trampoline, Swimming, Kayaking, Basketball, Sand Volleyball, Tennis, Game Room with Pool Tables, Ping-pong, Table Soccer, Coffee Shop with refreshing drinks …
