Annual Thanksgiving Fest

This last weekend, we hosted our annual Balcones Springs Thanksgiving Fest at the Retreat!

We welcomed families from Tuesday through Sunday at our retreat for a special Thanksgiving weekend filled with great food, fun activites, and ample relaxtion and family time on our beautiful, secluded grounds.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Mark & Felicia and all kitchen staff were so helpful and understanding of our food allergies. That makes a huge difference for us. Thank You!"

"The staff was outstanding. They were positively friendly and really seemed to like what they were doing."

"Per our daughter when asked about how she felt about this experience; happy, happy, happy! Thanks."

"What an amazing weekend you all created for our family and others. Everything exceeded my expectations, and your wonderful family and staff were the cherry on top! Thank you for a stress free, memorable get away. I look forward to visiting you all again!"

"I absolutely love Balcones Springs. It's so beautiful here. Everyone is so nice. This is the best place ever!"

"Really loved that dogs are allowed. I'm sure we will be back."

Thanks for your kind words! We loved spending the holiday weekend with all of you. Come back soon!

Able/Bragg Wedding

In November, the Retreat had the pleasure of hosting the Able/Bragg wedding weekend, coordinated by Christine Baskin and Eric Cmar.

In the days preceding the main event, guests relaxed with massages, horseback riding, and skeet shooting, all on our Hill Country property. Friday's rehearsal dinner was followed by a bonfire and special wedding slideshow at our fishing pond. On Saturday before the wedding, guests took full advantage of all our retreat has to offer. Wedding guests had the options of taking a scenic hike or hay ride, venturing down our rock wall's "Screamer" or across the lake on our zipline, catching some air on our quad-bungee, practicing their archery and craft-making skills, and even participating in "kiddie" horseback rides, if they happened to be on the younger side of the guest list. After all of the fun, guests headed to main event. The evening's ceremony was followed by cocktails, dinner, and a dance party.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Staff was outstanding. Southern hospitality at its best."

"Your staff is top notch. I will recommend you to everyone I know!"

"A+ all around."

"Perfect- couldn't improve anything. Thank you."

"Wow! what an amazing time we had, you and your "ninjas" seemed to predict our every need. Loved everything!"

"I enjoyed the whole weekend, my parents wedding weekend couldn't have been better. The staff was perfect. The whole weekend was perfect, I loved this place."

Thank you for the kind words, and thanks for letting us be a part of your special day!

Special thanks also to the following vendors for working with us to make this incredible day happen: Angelic Strings, Dave Scher, Mike Clifford & Texas Aces, Premier Rentals, Simon Lee Bakery, Tim Denton, Christi Edlin Make Up, Capital Wedding Video, Maleigh Canon Photography, and Rose Hip Florists.

Live Soda Executive Retreat

Last month, the Retreat also had the pleasure of hosting a three-day executive retreat for LIVE soda Kombucha.

Our mid-week guests used our facilities for multiple meetings but also made sure to enjoy the other amenities the Retreat has to offer during their stay. Guests went skeet shooting on their first day and participated in a series of team building exercises on our low-ropes course during day two. Live soda Kombucha concluded their time with us relaxing under the stars on their second night before heading out after breakfast and meetings the next morning.

Thank you so much for choosing us as a backdrop to your retreat! We hope to see you all again soon!

Stark/Opela Wedding

Last month, the Retreat had the privilege of hosting the Stark/Opela Wedding weekend!

The first day of the festivities included horseback riding, an elegant rehearsal dinner, dancing, and a bonfire under the Texas sky. Between breakfast and lunch the next day, our guests enjoyed skeet shooting and rock climbing on our Hill Country property. After a relaxing afternoon with free time to explore the grounds (while the wedding party readied themselves), guests made their way to a sunset ceremony. Dinner, dancing, and pie from Cutie Pie Wagon followed. We finally bid adieu to our guests the next morning after a relaxing breakfast!

Some comments left by our guests include:

"The staff was not only efficient & friendly, they demonstrated a family like concern!"

"Food was excellent."

"I loved this venue from the moment we set eyes on it but you all exceeded our expectations & helped us create a magical weekend. You have the most wonderful experience!"

"First time here; loved everything about the experience. No T.V. in room was wonderful idea!"

"We had an amazing time, Thank You!"

Thanks for your kind comments! We wish you the best of luck in your future together and are honored to have hosted your special day!

It was also a pleasure working with Tara Welch Photography, Live Oak DJs, and Cutie Pie Wagon during this event! Thanks for joining us in executing this wonderful day.

Texas Tribune Executive Retreat

Last month, we hosted the Texas Tribune Executive Retreat at the Retreat at Balcones Springs.

Although our guests were only with us for two days, they made good use of their time at the retreat. Several meetings and a keynote speaker were broken up by s'mores and an open bar, ziplining, and lots of yard games on the Balcones lawns.

Thanks for choosing the Retreat at Balcones Springs for your executive retreat, Texas Tribune! We hope to see you again soon!

Grace Covenant

While hosting the Executive Coaches Retreat, we also welcomed Grace Covenant to the Retreat at Balcones Springs for a one-day/one-night retreat.

Because of our large property space, diverse opportunities and amenities, and ample lodging, we are often able to host multiple groups during the same weeks and weekends at the Retreat. Thus, Grace Covenant and the Executive Coaches Retreat were able to co-existent at our property with different plans and schedules in the same time period. Thus, we are able to accommodate almost any scheduling need at the Retreat, save for weddings and maximum capacity events.

Thanks for visiting, Grace Covenant! We hope to see you again soon.

Executive Coaches Retreat

At the beginning of this past month, we hosted the Executive Coaches Retreat at the Retreat at Balcones Springs.

The Executive Coaches were only here for one day and one night, but they were able to relax at our property and enjoy high quality meals, wine, and music.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Loved Tempur-Pedic mattress! Very quiet room!"

"People & Staff was very attentive & responsive."

"Really appreciate the flexibility of staff to accommodate the groups needs."

"Great selection of wine, liked the variety of music."

Thanks for spending the day with us, Executive Coaches Retreat! We hope to see you again soon.

Cargill Retreat

A few weeks ago, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted Cargill, Inc. for the second time this year in a mid-week business retreat.

Cargill guests utilized Balcones Springs' ample meeting spaces and were also able to relax in the tranquil Hill Country environment, taking down time between meetings to hike trails and explore the natural amenities of our property.

As one of our guests remarked:

"[This is a] great environment to relax and have team meetings. Very relaxing and enjoyed trails and walking the grounds."

We are so glad to have welcomed you for a second time this year, Cargill, Inc. We hope to see you again in 2015!

Clarke Henderson Pi Beta Phi

Several weekends ago, the Retreat welcomed the Clarke Henderson Pi Beta Phi sorority for a new member class retreat!

Although the group was only with us for a Sunday afternoon, our guests were able to spend their entire stay soaking up the sun at our spring-fed lake, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and relaxing on rafts and at our private beach, where sand volleyball was also available.

We hope you enjoyed your stay and look forward to seeing you again soon!

Mary Kay Weekend Retreat

Last weekend, the Retreat at Balcones Springs also welcomed Mary Kay for a weekend work retreat. Our guests spent their short time at the retreat in meetings, dancing the night away at a DJ-led dance party, having a bonfire, and even going for a sunrise walk early Sunday morning.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Gracias por su atension, que Dios los siga bendiciendo con mas trabajo."

"Awesome experience."

"Beautiful place."

"I will be back with my family."

Thanks for the kind words, Mary Kay! It was a pleasure hosting you, and we hope to see you again soon!

Huston Tillotson College Student Weekend

Last weekend, the Retreat at Balcones Springs welcomed the Huston Tillotson college student group for a day and night of Hill Country fun! Our guests enjoyed a bonfire and s'mores, movie night, swimming in our private lake, and ample meeting time in our facilities.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"The food was tops!"

"Being here was really fun. I had a splendid time with my fellow classmates and Dubas family."

"I had an amazing experience here- definitely coming back."

Thank you for your great words! We would love for you to come back!

Hope-Now Couples Retreat

Last weekend, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted Hope-Now for a couples retreat. The group spent most of their stay with us in meetings, making use of the retreat's varied and ample meeting space.

Although they didn't take part in our recreational offerings, our guests still had time to eat, and their feedback reflects that! Some comments left include:

"Great food & appreciate the gluten free options for my wife."

"The food was amazing... First time here. Better than expected."

"I cannot imagine any food improvements."

"I would recommend the retreat to others."

Thanks for such kind words! We hope you all enjoyed your stay with us, and we hope to see you again soon!

Barbara Hagedus Harte Hanks

From October 6 to October 9, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted the Barbara Hagedus Harte Hanks Group for a team-building event. Although most of their time at the retreat was spent in meetings and doing team-building exercises, our guests still made time to enjoy our facility's light recreational activities, like corn hole and kayaking on our private lake.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Staff was extremely friendly and helpful."

"Staff were very pleasant & helpful. Overall very good- thanks for your hospitality."

"Overall I loved it!"

Thanks for the kind words! We loved having you and hope to see you again soon!

Keene 50th Birthday Bash

On the first weekend of October, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted Anne Keene's family for her 50th Birthday Party!

Although our guests were only with us for one night, they made full use of their time, doing yoga, playing corn hole and washers, riding our zipline, and enjoying both dinner and cocktails. The party stretched through to Sunday morning, ending with a birthday brunch.

Thanks for allowing us to host you! We hope your stay lived up to such a big day!

Duffy Group Retreat

At the beginning of this month, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted the Duffy Group for a retreat. Amid their meetings, our guests enjoyed a movie under the stars, cocktail hour, a bonfire (complete with s'mores!), Zumba classes, and massages!

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Kitchen staff is top notch! 5 stars. Awesome staff, Lola [camp dog] and the camp parrot too! Thank you guys!"

"Had a great time and thank you to your wonderful staff!!"

"Very pleased with my stay here."

"What a wonderful retreat! Would love to come and try out all the recreational things you have."

Thanks for such kind words! We hope to see you back at Balcones Springs soon!

Furniture Row Retreat

At the end of September, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted Furniture Row's company retreat. Our guests enjoyed a bonfire and s'mores, kayaking and fishing, riding our zipeline, and shooting at our riflery range in between meetings and meals.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Great staff; very friendly."

"The staff was excellent!"

Thank you for the kind words, and thanks for choosing us to host your retreat! We hope to see you again soon.

Clagett/Puglisi Wedding

The Retreat had the privilege of hosting yet another incredible union in September with the Clagett/Puglisi wedding!

Guests kicked off the wedding weekend with karaoke, golf, a swim in our private lake, CrossFit classes, and kickball, all before the rehearsal dinner! A kid's dinner and babysitting was offered during the rehearsal for all youth in attendance. On Saturday, guests enjoyed horseback riding and skeet shooting before the main event, and they were even able to catch the day's football while playing poker in our game room! After the lovely ceremony and reception, guests enjoyed a special waffle bar Sunday morning before departing.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"Best experience ever, thank you."

"Everything at our stay was awesome. Special thanks to the horseback riding instructors as well as the lifeguards."

"Our Family had a wonderful time, I was most impressed with the friendly, courteous & professional staff. Thank so much."

Thanks for the kind words, and thank you for letting us be a part of your big day! It was an honor, as always.

Hammond/Shands Wedding

This past September, the Retreat at Balcones Springs had the honor of hosting the Hammond/Shands wedding! The wedding party spent four days at our retreat, enjoying yoga, playing tennis, riding our famous zipline, swimming in our private lake, and having a special "beach lunch" amidst a beautiful rehearsal dinner and wedding. The couple took fully advantage of what our retreat offers, making quite the statement exit from their reception on horseback!

Some comments from our guests include:

"The staff was "outstanding", keep up the good work."

"This is an amazing place! There were so many pleasant & courteous people. The staff was above & beyond! Be proud of your business-wonderful!"

"Do not have enough kind words to express how enjoyable and pleasant our stay was at The Retreat."

Thank you, Hammond and Shands families! We were honored to be a part of your special day.

St. Francis 4th Grade Trip

From May 7-9, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted the St. Francis 4th grade class for their class trip. Students got to experience all the fun camp has to offer, including swimming in Lake Ted, jumping of the Blob, soaring across the lake on our zipline, and climbing to the top of our rock wall.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"I loved it, the food rocks!"

"This camp is really fun, I love the swimming and zipline the most."

"Excellent experience, Thank you for everything, I always enjoy these 3 days with my students at Camp Balcones Springs."

"I love this place, I will back soon."

Thanks for visiting us! We are so glad you had fun, and we hope to see you again soon!

Rehab Without Walls Executive Retreat

From May 4-7, we welcomed Rehab Without Walls to Balcones Springs for their executive retreat. Our guests were able to utilize our indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, as well as take advantage of the many outdoor recreation and relaxation opportunities our retreat has to offer.

Some comments left by our guests include:

"You all went out of your way to accommodate my special food allergies."

"Your employees are delightful."

"Incredible staff-great customer service, but more important, staff enthusiastically contributed to make things fun & to add spirit!"

Thanks for the kind words! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay, and we hope to see you again soon!

Texas Allied Therapy

Last week, the Retreat at Balcones Springs also welcomed Texas Allied Therapy. These guests were only here for one day, but they were still able to utilize our team-building and meeting space offerings. We hope you enjoyed your stay, Texas Allied Therapy, and we look forward to seeing you again!

The Texas Allied Therapy event was coordinated by Tammy McKinney.

Daisy and Brownie Troops Camp Out

From April 26-27, the Retreat at Balcones Springs welcomed Daisy and Brownie Troops for a weekend camp out! Our Girl Scout guests had a blast using our ropes facilities, playing in Lake Ted, making arts and crafts, and enjoying s’mores at a camp fire!

Some comments left by the Brownie Troops include:

“The staff was amazing!!”

“This was an excellent experience and the nicest camp I’ve stayed at.”

“Loved the entire experience and will be back.”

We had such a fun time hosting you, and we are so excited you want to come back! If you just can’t wait until then, be sure to snag some of the remaining spots for our summer camp program! Visit the Camp Balcones Springs website for more details.

The Daisy and Brownie events were coordinated by Carolyn Hays.

UT Events & Entertainment Division

The Retreat at Balcones Springs also hosted the University of Texas Events and Entertainment Division from April 25-26. Our guests used our diverse and ample meeting spaces for various training and team-building exercises.

We enjoyed having you with us, UT Campus Events and Entertainment, if only for a short time! We hope we see you again soon.

The UT Campus Events & Entertainment retreat was coordinated by Carolyn Hays.

Southern Baptist of Texas

From April 24-26, the Retreat at Balcones Springs hosted Southern Baptist of Texas in a three-day retreat. Our guests utilized the ample and diverse meeting spaces on our property and enjoyed relaxation and recreation in our beautiful outdoor spaces!

Some comments left by the Southern Baptist of Texas guests include:

“It was all wonderful, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“We will tell all our friends about this place! May God continue to bless you.”

“It was a wonderful & spiritual experience.”

Thank you for the kind words, Southern Baptist of Texas! We are so glad you enjoyed your stay and were able to have such a meaningful and enjoyable experience with us. We hope to see you again!

The Southern Baptist of Texas event was coordinated by Samantha Schoen.

Day at Camp Groupon Special Event

Two weeks ago, Camp Balcones Springs launched its Day at Camp special through Groupon! On Friday, April 18, the Retreat at Balcones Springs opened its doors to children and families for a “taste of camp,” previewing our summer programs with a day packed full of camp activities! Our guests zip-lined across Lake Ted and took a dip in its cool waters, flying off of the Blob and down the slide to cool off. Guests also took a shot (or two) at the CBS riflery range, in addition to enjoying family-style camp meals in the Rio Grande dining hall. We were so glad to welcome all of our guests to camp—even if only for a day—and we hope we see more of you this summer! Visit the Camp Balcones Springs’ website to find out more about all of our summer programs, and join in the fun!

Day at Camp was coordinated by Tammy McKinney.

Smith/Cunningham Wedding

This past weekend at the Retreat at Balcones Springs, we had the pleasure of hosting the Smith/Cunningham Wedding. The wedding party enjoyed an outdoor rehearsal dinner on Friday evening and a picnic lunch amidst zip-lining across Lake Ted on Saturday, all culminating in a lovely ceremony Saturday evening, followed by a reception in our Rio Grande Banquet Hall and a beautiful sparkler send-off!

Some comments from the wedding guests include:

“All the staff were very helpful, friendly and fun but Samantha was OUTSTANDING! She took care of every detail with a smile and enabled me (mother of the bride) to relax and enjoy the celebration.”

“The entire weekend was wonderful!”

“I would recommend the Retreat Center for other weddings and Team Building Retreats.”

Thank you so much for the kinds words, and thanks even more for letting us be a part of such an important day! We wish your families the best as you move forward together as one.

The Smith/Cunningham Wedding was coordinated by Samantha Schoen.