Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country

Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country will be the brand’s first hotel in Texas: a resort and residences on about 106 acres less than a mile south of downtown Fredericksburg, in a region with more than 100 wineries. It is roughly 75 miles west of Austin and 65 miles northwest of San Antonio.

The building and design

The developer is Wine Country Hospitality Partners, a group that includes Auberge Resorts founder Mark Harmon, Robert Radovan and Tim Sparapani. Hilton will manage the resort. Rather than naming a single architect, the team lists Studio CABAN, FAB Studio, TIPLER Group, Studio Outside and Paul Duesing Partners, with the brief described as authentically Texan.

Rooms and suites

The hotel itself has 60 rooms and suites. Alongside them are 37 multi-bedroom resort villas, of about 3,200 to 3,400 sq ft with private courtyards and some plunge pools, which can add up to 74 keys through a rental programme. There are also about 50 private residences, including creekside Sunday Haus cottages and estate homes above Baron’s Creek.

Eat, drink and wellness

Five food and drink concepts are planned, led by an all-day restaurant from Michelin-starred chef Dominique Crenn, plus a wine bar and lounge, a pool bar and a grab-and-go market. Wellness centres on an 11,000 sq ft spa and fitness facility, with programming by Lydia Mondavi.

What it means for advisors

The Hill Country has plenty of charming inns but no true luxury resort, and this fills that gap. It suits wine weekends, milestone birthdays and family trips, helped by:

• Two pools and a kids’ club
• Tennis, pickleball and a creekside walking trail
• About 6,000 sq ft of indoor meeting space, including a 4,000 sq ft event barn, plus an events lawn

Expect strong drive-in demand from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, especially on weekends, and wildflower season in spring and harvest season in autumn will be the busy periods. The villas make sense for groups and multigenerational travellers.

Opening status

Hilton and the developer announced the project in March 2025, with construction scheduled to start that September. All reporting since gives a 2027 opening with no month attached. Treat it as a target rather than a booking date until reservations open.

Sources: candysdirt.com, hoteldive.com, onemileatatime.com, papercitymag.com