|
This is the waterfall picture in the Story of Trails West. Click to go there.
The very first
picture ever of our little waterfall on the day Betty fell in love with what came to be Trails West. This is the picture that Betty sent to her daughter Becky after discovering the little pool
with fish in it described in the
story of Trails West.
Round Top Spring and Fall Antique Shows are fun!
| undefined |
|
| undefined |
This deck overlooks the waterfall
 
Bridge over Serenity Creek just
after construction in 2004. When you sit on the
deck of Del's Retreat, you look straight out at the bridge.
Go ahead, walk over it, look down at the fish below and the rocky outcrops where ferns grow. The land on the other side is ours too, so enjoy the tree-covered meadow all the way up
to the next road. ********************************************** Centered in the heart of the Texas bluebonnet country at a point where the counties
of Washington, Austin and Fayette come together, you will find a refreshing little rocky creek with rippling waterfalls that
cuts through beautiful rolling hills of Central Texas. At one time, the cedars, oaks and sycamores were so tall and lush that
daylight hardly reached the ground. Here you will find a get away from the stress of the city life, a place to go back to
nature, a place to find yourself. Here you will find our treasure, our solitude, our gift to you... Trails West Retreat.
When current owners Betty
& Del Meischen stumbled upon this gorgeous little wilderness, they were so fascinated with its beauty that they decided
to share it with others seeking the solitude and serenity of back-country nature. No matter which way you get there, the drive
through the rolling countryside is breath-taking. Hilltops where you can see for miles and miles are followed by lush valleys
punctuated with quiet streams. The tranquil rural countryside fills with bluebonnets and a myriad of other Texas wildflowers
in the spring.
Trails West is a wonderful place to bring your children for a weekend of citystyle-camping in the
heart of the Houston-Austin-San Antonio triangle. Get away from the stress of the concrete jungle to the comfort of a small
cabin with all the modern conveniences or get back to nature, roughing it in your own tent. We strive to be kid and pet friendly!
 Del built the playscape near the Pavilion
Rebecca's
Cabin looks over Stephanie's Garden and the creek beyond that. Stephanie
was our 21 year old neice who drown in the Guadalupe River. Her dad planted two cypress trees in this garden on the day a
memorial was dedicated to her at nearby Luther Hill (2004).
The water in Serenity creek is crystal clear most
of the time. We like to watch the fish swim about. At night, generally the only sound you hear is the croaking of the frogs
along the creek. The stars are so bright out here at night.
When we bought this place on March 4, 2004, it was
totally thick and tangled, a wilderness so dense, we had to hack our way through. So everything from well, septic to electricity,
clearing & rock for the roads had to be accomplished. Trails West Retreat is a constant work in progress so bear with
us as new things continue to happen monthly.
|
|
|
One of the first pictures we took when we had purchased the land that became
Trails West Retreat. Of the many things that attracted us to this little piece of Washington County wilderness,
the abundance of wildflowers was high on the list. We found many species that we had never seen before...for instance beautiful
lilac colored foxglove growing wild. Of course there were bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush in the Spring but we found so
many various other flowers growing most months of the year. We are allowing wild grasses and flowers to reseed
so we will not cut or shred as often to allow their natural growth patterns.
Betty with Grandson Jake admiring the wildflowers in 2006.
Before him is a specimen of wild foxglove.
|
|
|
View of the bridge from Del's bench in Monique's Garden.
Our daughter-in-law Monique Meischen, wife of our eldest son Jeffrey, died suddenly of a brain tumor on February 24, 2004,
one week before our grandson Jake was born. We were supposed to close on this little piece of Texas wilderness the next day
but instead closed on it the day after Jake was born. We dedicated this garden to her memory.
Springtime
north of the Bridge view of a beautiful patch of bluebonnets. Great
idea for a gift! Kids from all over the USA booked a cabin for their parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The Lewis's
absolutely loved their 4 day stay in Rebecca's cabin. The children also bought them tickets to a concert at Festival Hill.
We can arrange for a greeting basket, wine or champagne and/or flowers to be in the cabin awaiting their arrival. Just tell
us what and how much you want to spend!
Betty with her cocker spaniel Lady on a rock outcrop above Serenity Creek. Most of coastal Texas near
the Gulf is flat with no rocks anywhere. So to find here at the border between the hill country and the coastal region a pretty
rock outcrop like this was completely fascinating to me.
|
|
|
These are BLUEBELLS. We found them growing in a field nearby TWR.
Del and Betty entered the 1928 Model A Ford in the Round Top 4th of July parade in 2008.
Did
you know that the 4th of July parade at Round Top is the oldest and one of the longest in Texas? 
Two hot ladies!
Betty & sister-in-law Pat, Stephanie's mom, ready to climb in the rumble seat and roll.
Betty has always been fond of old bridges
and the Cummings Creek bridge between Trails West and Fayetteville is one of the last in this area of its kind--a real page
out of the past. The scenery around Trails West Retreat is wonderfully pastoral and rural, punctuated by rolling hills
with woodlands and flower covered meadows. People come from Houston, Austin and San Antonio on the weekends to enjoy
this breath of fresh air and to eat in little country towns like Fayetteville, Warrenton, New Ulm and Carmine.
Who doesn't know about the spring and fall antique festivals
at Round Top but do you know that nearby Burton has an annual Cotton Gin Festival. Yep, they start up one of the oldest
cotton gins in the nation and bale some cotton every spring, along with a tractor pull event and a parade. Lots of fun!!
|
|
