Guest Comments - 2006 and earlier

Here are some comments from guests who have had enjoyable stays with us.

We enjoyed the peace and quiet of La Hacienda, gazing at the clear stars at nite, walking along the quiet river, S'mors at the campfire...watching for wildlife from the porch. We even enjoyed the neighbor’s cows one year; They seemed very interested in what we were doing around the fire. The first year we were there in October we enjoyed an unexpected parade in town. All 12 grades in school were in the parade for their Fall Festival. Last year in November, even though it was rainy we enjoyed the Fall Arts & Craft Fair on the square. This year we are going to miss being there. Our whole family is taking a trip to Wisconsin to be with family there for Christmas. Mary Ann - Meadowlakes , TX – Stayed Oct.2005 & Nov.2006

LeAnn & Anthony - We just returned home from your area; you were full & we had to reserve a vacation home from someone else. Oh, I wish we could have stayed at one of your lodgings. Truthfully, the place we stayed was dirty! My husband said it gave "icky" feelings. Dirt was obvious everywhere and cobwebs were in every room. All in all, it was not the best kept house. If you managed that house for the owner people wouldn't complain. As I said, we'll never stay anywhere that you don't rent again. We know you keep the places clean and that they're nice. The good Lord willing, we'd like to stay with you next August or September. Oh well, we had a good time in the river & area, but glad to be home where it's clean and I have my own bed. We'll never stay with anyone except Rio Frio Lodging again, we like your properties much, much better. Loyal Customer - Valerie Overstreet August 2006

We truly were impressed, both with your service and the immaculate and exceptional appointments of the Vacation Home property where we stayed. Your service is outstanding and we deeply appreciate the wonderful opportunity it afforded our Church Group to have a Weekend Retreat on the Frio. We look forward to many more such occasions and will strongly recommend you to all our friends. We have been bragging about you to all our friends here in San Antonio since our return. Keep up the good work! God Bless… Sincerely, Gary from San Antonio, TX - March 2006

LeAnn, Clay and I greatly enjoyed our stay at Rio Lindo. The house was perfect and made for a nice, quiet weekend. We also appreciated how clean it was when we arrived. Best regards, Lisa & Clay - New Years Weekend 2005

LeAnn, I was part of the group who stayed at your Hideaway cabin Friday and Saturday nights. Just wanted to say we loved it! It's really a cute and cozy place and your ranch is lovely. We hiked a long way with our 3 year old and Kim's 12 year old and they held up really well. We picked a great weekend to come because of the "late fall" and so enjoyed the red/orange leaves on the trees. I have spent a lot of time in the area at Concan most of my life (have an aunt with property on the Frio river), so getting to visit a new place in the area was really great for me. Also, hope we can come back and try this one again or another of your cabins. Hope you have a nice Christmas Season. Thanks, Carolyn from Austin Texas Area - November 2005

Hi, LeAnn: My group of friends has stayed at La Hacienda for Memorial weekend several times. The first time we stayed there, it was just because we found it on the website and it looked like a fun place for a weekend getaway. We fell in love with it immediately. The weekend at La Hacienda has become a yearly tradition. Our first night there is usually spent sitting on the deck, watching the fireflies along the river. My friend Jeff starts smoking his brisket on the grill, and by the next day at noon it is falling apart and absolutely delicious. Once it gets warm enough, we rope-swing into the river, and float back and forth all day long. Afternoons are good for lying in the warm sun, on that soft, grassy bank of the river. I love listening to the locusts in the heat of the day along that river, and snorkeling in the clear water and watching the catfish swim by. The home is large enough to allow several activities at once... we usually have music out on the deck, a game of dominos at one kitchen table and poker at the other, and a good movie late at night in the back living area. And of course, the hot tub is always popular. The volleyball net and fire pit are our favorites, too. Every year a storm seems to roll by while we are there, but we don't mind. We watch the lightning flash, listen to the thunder roll by, and usually sleep really well that night! We hope to be able to stay at La Hacienda again soon. Don't let it get so popular that we can't find a reservation! :) Alison from Corpus Christi – Stayed May 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

LeAnn, We had a wonderful, unbelievable experience. We are definitely coming back soon and for a longer period of time! The proximity to the Park is definitely a plus. Thank you so much for having this place available. The house was clean, cool, well decorated, and so close to the river. We felt bad we had only rented it for a couple of nights. We left in a hurry b/c of the rain. I wasn't able to write anything on the Memories book, but maybe this email serves the purpose of conveying the gratification from all of us about the place. Thanks, Tania from Pearland, TX- August 2005

Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, We wanted to take this time to thank you so much for starting a new tradition for me and my family. The Cliff Top was great and if you would like any type of letter's for your web site we would gladly do that. We loved the Cliff Top and we will come back. I would also like to rent some of your other homes as well. Thank you so much! Lalo and Ann Marie Vasquez - Aug. 2005

LeAnn & Anthony: Here are some thoughts on why we enjoy the Hideaway so much...feel free to edit, and use any part that you want. Looking forward to being there next month....... When I think of our stays at the Hideaway----almost all in fall or winter---I see the first glimpse of the rock and cedar cabin when you ford the creek below, and I remember how magical it feels to be there. It’s the luxury of calm, and of feeling like you’re living on your own beautiful slice of the hill country, where you hear wild turkeys calling and the breeze sifting through oak leaves. Cold gray days by the stone fireplace wall with a great book---punctuated by an invigorating hike across the ranch--- have their own special appeal. Climb the ridge and look for little stone cairns ---one of which we built on a long-ago hike to watch a beautiful December sunset. You can look out of the cabin windows almost any evening or dawn to see a gray ribbon of deer flowing down to the creek, and bluebirds like little sparks of Technicolor darting along the fence to their nesting boxes. Miles of wonderful back roads for bike trips, Lost Maples State Park for long hikes and picnics and the classic beauty of the hill country mean every day can offer something new to paste in your scrapbook of memories. And after a 30-mile bike ride, the hot tub at the end of the day can be your new best friend. We’ve always felt sad to leave the Hideaway, but equally fortunate to have the opportunity to return to this oasis in the hills. Jim - Houston, TX (Stayed many times in the past & came back Feb. 2005) Hi, just wanted to let you know how very much we enjoyed our stay at the Hideaway cabin. Even though we were not actually at it that much, mostly at my brother's place at Rio Frio, we did have a wonderful holiday and it was always nice to come "home" to the Hideaway and relax each night. The grandchildren loved it. Thanks again for making everything so cozy. Susan & Charles - Princeton, TX - July 2005

LeAnn We had a delightful time in the Hideaway Cabin - it is a super place and we were quite comfortable. I appreciate you making this special place available to us city dwellers. My mom and I had an especially delightful time with the humming birds. Thanks again, Julia from Houston, TX - July 2005

Just wanted to let you know that we enjoyed our stay! The cabin is just right for a girls only weekend! Plenty of room and the scenery was absolutely out of this world. Everyone enjoyed their stay, especially my niece, we celebrated her 13th birthday. We will definitely recommend this place to everyone and we will plan on coming back. Thank you, Patti- Ft Worth TX, * Sheila, Ashlea & Victoria Waynesville MO, * Vickie & Amy Lubbock TX, * Linda LA, CA - Sept. 2005 Just wanted to thank you for being so helpful and accommodating on our visit during the Easter weekend. We found the Cabin to be incredible, with a great view. The cabin was incredibly clean and the hot tub was wonderful. Thanks & Looking forward to staying with yall again. Rollin from Katy, TX - March 2005

Dear LeAnn, Hi sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you; since our visit in July I have had two surgeries for breast cancer and radiation. I am doing great now and things look fine, by the grace of God. Kevin is still in Kuwait but he has a possible come back date of April 2nd, he has been gone since June. As soon as I know for sure I am going to get with you about renting the Hideaway for a week in April. That’s all we think about for his return; money is tight going to military pay and the cancer bills but I am putting a little back each month so we can get the Hideaway for a week. Bet you never knew how much peace the hideaway would bring to a family, we love it there. Kevin has photos of our girls on the ranch with him in Kuwait. I hope things are well with your family and I know your daughter is in the military too and I pray she is doing ok. Take care and we hope to see you soon! God bless Melissa & Kevin - Houston, TX July 2004 & coming again in April 2005

Thank you so much for the use of T J’s Escape. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the cabin. We hope to get to come back next year. Thanks again and God Bless, Lisa from Madisonville, TX - July 2004

Looking forward to being in the Hill Country again, and glad we were able to reserve through you (we had a great experience last time). Brady & Melissa - Friendswood , Texas - July 2004

"Everything went well with our fishing trip. The cabin was comfortable and everything we had hoped it would be. Please thank your son Bain again for us. His advice on where to fish was excellent and he did us a big favor in shuttling us so we could use our canoe. The river was prettier than I had imagined, and I believe you showed us the very best part. I hope to do business with you again soon." Bob & Bill - fishin' buddies from Humble, Texas - October 2003

"Thank you so much for a great weekend at the Hideaway! We had THE BEST time ever. We enjoyed every bit of that cabin and the land around it. I hope we weren't too loud! I know you were just a stone's throw away! I plan on recommending your cabin to lots of people, so I hope they will be able to take advantage of the great getaway it is!" Jodi & Spencer- Ft. Worth, Texas - March 2003

Jodi loved her stay so much that she sent this email to everyone she knows.... "Hello all! I just wanted to let all of you know about a little place outside of Utopia that Spencer and I visited this past weekend! It is a drive from Fort Worth, but well worth it, if you have a few more days than a weekend to take off. We flew to San Antonio and drove to the cabin from there. It's about an hour and a half west of San Antonio... Anyway, it was secluded from the road and very peaceful. There is a creek running next to the cabin, a hot tub, and even some cows on the land! This is not the only cabin they have either! Check out their website, which I have attached...they have several cabins & vacation homes all in different locations around the area to choose from! Just email or call LeAnn, and she'll give you all the information you need! Another plus is our cabin was only 4 miles from Garner State Park (beautiful Frio River and lots of hiking) and about 25 min. from Lost Maples State Natural Area. Anyway, it's a plus, and I wanted to share it with all of you! If you know anyone who likes this type of vacation, please forward the website and information along to them! See ya! ~ Jodi & Spencer

"I just wanted to take a moment and tell you how much we enjoyed Rio Lindo. I can not tell you how much our family outing meant to us. From sitting under the stars on the banks of the Frio to the Friday night dance at Garner. Thank you for all your help and information." Dana & Sharon - McNeil, Texas - March 2003

"We loved the Rio Lindo! We enjoyed our stay, fishing was pretty good & relaxing was excellent-nice & quiet, tree swings great, walk along river fun. Will call soon to reserve a spot in November." Carole- Austin, Texas - March 2003

"We've walked the land of tall grasses and rocky roads... Along green rivers clear & cold. Had friendly companions, unasked canine and people kind... Who joined us on walks or told stories of the past. Found Lost Maples, watched clouds of Bats, saw turkey and deer and a ring-tailed cat. Today we must leave, how can it be? But in Our hearts we save rich memories. With many thanks & deep affection." Jameda & Rich- Cypress, Texas - March 2003

We enjoyed all the cabins we stayed in last year with ya'll. Can't wait for the opportunity to stay in more. Thanks so much!" Monica- San Angelo, Texas - January 2003

"Thank you for such an Enjoyable & Comfortable 'Home Away From Home'. This is a Perfect way for my Wife & I to start Our New Life Together. Great Food, Awesome Conversation! Roberto & Jennifer- San Antonio, Texas - March 2002

"What a great place! We've enjoyed the visit and especially the welcome (Thanks B.) You made us feel comfortable, fed us well and turned the sunshine on for us! The hummers were constant companions as we sat on the deck of the Texas Star Suite. The Texas furnishings were an enjoyable reminder of the culture and history of this great (but smaller) State." Merritt & April- Fairbanks, Alaska - April 2001