Crystal River Inn Bed & Breakfast
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Welcome to our romantic 1883 Victorian inn and garden complex. Twelve rooms in three buildings surround a garden with roses, fountains, and beautiful old pecan trees. The designer rooms have appeared in numerous publications such as Country Inns, Southern Living, and USA Today. Features include fireplaces, canopied beds, luxurious tubs, TV's, phones, sitting rooms, and horse drawn carriage rides.
Breakfasts are headliner events--Eggs Benedict, Bananas Foster crepes, and raspberry French toast. Fun theme getaways include spa packages, romantic escapes, ladies' shopping adventures, river trips, and original murder mysteries. Come along as we dish up some wonderful Hill Country flavor.
"One of the outstanding Bed and Breakfasts in the state." - Texas Monthly Press
"Sumptuous rooms...gourmet breakfasts." - Texas Highways
"A weekend of fun and fabulous food." - Houston Chronicle Travel Editor
It's been said that the Hill Country has a special spirit all of its own. That once you've been there you can't wait to go back. That it is almost magic. For over twenty years, the Dillon family and Crystal River Inn have been working hard to capture that spirit. Some of the peace, the beauty, the history, and the happiness of this unique chunk of Texas have been bottled up right here, waiting to be sampled. Guests can indulge in nonstop activity, or do absolutely nothing. Sleep until noon and have breakfast in bed, rock the afternoon away on the veranda. Join new friends for a sumptuous brunch. Hold business meetings and seminars in the sunlit library. Celebrate morning in the rose garden over fresh-ground coffee and homemade muffins.
Shop 'til you drop at San Marcos' famed designer factory outlet (Donna Karan, Saks Fifth Avenue, Adopho, Coach Leather, and 135 fabulous others). Float down a crystal-clear hill country stream. Go river walking in San Antonio, antiquing in Wimberley, dancing on Saturday night. Have a sunset picnic up on the Devil's Backbone, then come back to our favorite fountain courtyard, at nearby Palmer's Restaurant, for dessert and margaritas. If you're in the mood for fun, our specialty packages are famous. Die laughing at a murder mystery, run a whitewater river, learn some gourmet secrets. Taste wine, take a carriage ride, have a romantic interlude, get pampered in our very own spa. (After treatments with the finest Swiss anti-aging and detoxing skin care products, we promise you'll head home relaxed and glowing.)
The Crystal River Inn is especially known for our hilarious murder mystery weekends. Each year we do a New Year's Eve Mystery Gala, two January mysteries including a mother-daughter event, and mysteries in February, March, August, September, and on Halloween weekend. Book them early, even if it's several months away, because they are popular and the best rooms fill up quickly. Corporate retreats, birding, wine tasting, horseback riding, river trips (canoeing, rafting, and tubing), wildflower expeditions and candlelight cave tours. Whichever package you choose, or whether you want to come to the beautiful Hill Country to simply chill out and enjoy, we promise to send you home relaxed and smiling. After all, the spirit up here is practically magic! We look forward to seeing you soon.
Business Travel
If you're in the Austin-San Antonio area on business, and you're tired of freeway motels, consider making the Crystal River Inn your second home. We cater to business travelers, pampering you withluxurious facilities, convenient location, and all the amenities you expect from first-rate business accommodations.
"Thanks for the excellent stay. Places like yours certainly improve business travel.
I guarantee I'll be back." - Bill Brosius
"I will stay with you whenever I'm in Austin or San Antonio on business.
I love the apartment, and feel very safe and peaceful here." - Jane Armstrong
Our business suites offer phones, TVs, data ports, desks, comfortable reading nooks, multiple beds, private baths (of course!) and in-room coffeemakers. Breakfast times and menus are tailored to your needs. Our helpful staff is here to send your faxes, order in your dinner, tend to your laundry, and welcome you home with fresh-baked cookies. Enjoy beautiful surroundings, reasonable prices, total privacy and security, attentive service, and pleasant company when you're in the mood to talk.
Relax on the veranda with a glass of wine after work. Take advantage of San Marcos' scenic running trails, or our membership in nearby health clubs. Invite associates to join you in the library for a fireside strategy session. Hold business meetings, all-day retreats, or corporate dinners in our atrium dining room. (Idea: murder mysteries make excellent team-building exercises!)
If you're due to be in San Marcos for an extended stay, ask about our fully-equipped 2-bedroom executive apartments. Long term rates range from $75 to $125 per night.
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Murder mystery weekends are very popular, and for good reason. Seldom will you have an opportunity to participate in something so different, so absorbing, and so much fun!
Our 2009 mystery series will begin with our annual New Year's Mystery Gala, followed by two in January, and one each in February and March. The last weekend in January is our Annual Mother-Daughter Mystery Weekend. Bring your favorite (over age 25) lady to that one, and enjoy a wonderful bonding experience together. In the fall of 2009 mysteries will be scheduled in August, September, and October. All are currently booking. If you have a special group, we can accommodate them on other than scheduled weekends by advance arrangement.
Prices-- Our discounted January mysteries (consider giving them as a gift!) are only $75 per person plus the cost of the double occupancy room. Other mysteries throughout the year are $100 per person plus the room; the New Year's event is $150 per person plus room.
New Year's Eve Mystery Gala-- The New Year's Gala is $150 per person plus the cost of whichever room you select. Combine New Year's Eve revelry with friends, luxury, great food, and festive fun, and that's our legendary yearly Gala. "Sort of Big Band Era meets Casablanca" is how one New Year's guest described the theme of our annual ring-in-the-New-Year celebration. Centering their attention on a (mythical) nightclub in Monaco, 14 characters from cigarette girls to glamour queens and ditzy debutantes mix it up with hit men, sheikhs, and spies. They laugh, they party, and they kill each other -- but, of course, all in fun. The New Year's package includes two nights' accommodations; arrival night champagne and dessert buffet; guests themselves playing all costumed characters; afternoon boat cruise, cave or trolley tours; midnight hayride through the Historic District; karaoke party; a clue hunt through town; gourmet multi-course New Year's dinner featuring Beef and Chicken Wellington, wines, and hors d'oeuvres; brunch both mornings; two days of murder mystery fun; and a New Year's celebration complete with sparklers, champagne, and lighted ball descending off the balcony. We always promise that you cannot have a bad time at a murder mystery....and we promise that this may be your best ever New Year's Eve. And, when it is over, just totter upstairs and go to bed.
The BasicsAll our mystery weekends are complete packages, including:
- Friday and Saturday accommodations, double occupancy
- Friday night welcoming party and dessert buffet
- Guests themselves play all costumed characters
- Saturday afternoon glass bottom boat cruise, historic trolley tour, hayride, or candlelight cave walk
- Tubing trip (in season) down the San Marcos River
- Clue hunt through town
- Saturday night dinner at the Inn, features dinner wines, hors d'oevres, and several courses
- Gourmet breakfasts Saturday and Sunday mornings
- Two days of great entertainment
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Intimate or elaborate, garden or fireside, gourmet seated dinner or simple cake and punch, we love creating perfect weddings. We've been repeatedly voted "best caterer" and "best place to have a wedding" in our area. We can handle up to 200 people in our garden and under our tent. Package prices including venue, personnel, food and beverage, start at $4,000 for 100 people.
Because we are so affordable, our specialties are small weddings, economy weddings (although we regularly do huge expensive ones also!), and last-minute weddings. Short notice doesn't bother us…we love it…give us at least two weeks and we can produce miracles. Of course, long lead times are fine too. Whatever you envision, and especially if "stress-free" is your goal, our highly experienced staff can bring to life.