WHERE TO STAY IN LIBERTY HILL

(Left) The farmhouse at Abbey Oaks is a four-bedroom home on 50 acres that’s perfect for large families. (Courtesy Photo) (Above) Rose Branigan, owner of the Casitas at Copper Ridge, says tiny home rental is a popular choice for vacationers in central Texas. PHOTO BY RACHEL MADISON

Vacation rentals: Where to stay in Liberty Hill

Whether it’s for a weekend getaway or a place for out-of-town family to stay during the holidays, our hometown has unique options

BY RACHEL MADISON

STAFF WRITER

Although Liberty Hill is growing at a rapid rate, the area still doesn’t have a hotel. And while a hotel could become a reality in the near future, according to city officials, that doesn’t leave a lot of options for out-oftowners to stay when they visit.

However, Liberty Hill is home to a few different places that may rival the amenities of a hotel, including a nearly 100-yearold farmhouse and a tiny home community.

CASITAS AT COPPER RIDGE

At the Casitas at Copper Ridge, guests can get their fill of the Hill Country thanks to the wide-open spaces and the grazing longhorns that can be spotted from the casita windows.

Each of the seven casitas are part of a two-acre tiny home community opened by owner Rose Branigan in the middle of the pandemic in May 2020. Branigan wasn’t sure if opening during that time would work out, but surprisingly, her tiny homes were constantly booked.

Two and a half years later, the homes continue to be popular with locals looking for a weekend getaway, out-of-towners who are visiting family nearby, and even people who are in the process of buying or building a home and stay for a few months. Each unit is 399 square feet, and everything inside is full size, including the kitchen, bathroom and living area. Each casita has its own unique floor plan, and is fully stocked with dishes, pans, silverware as well as shampoo, conditioner and soap.

Branigan said having these types of amenities is a big draw for people, because hotel rooms typically don’t have kitchens where people can cook and dine, or a place to relax. Each of the casitas also has an outdoor covered porch with rockers for guests to enjoy.

Each casita can comfortably fit a family of four. Two of the casitas have lofts with extra beds, which are better for families, Branigan said, but there’s also the option of renting more than one if there are several people traveling together.

Additionally, the trend of staying in a tiny home has made the Casitas at Copper Ridge a place in high demand.

“Tiny homes are a big thing right now,” Branigan said. “People want to stay in tiny homes, so they book because of that. Another thing people like when they come and stay is they get that Hill Country feel. A lot of people come in from the city and they want to get away.”

For more information or to book a stay, visit www.casitasatcopperridge.com.

ABBEY OAKS

Abbey Oaks in Liberty Hill takes visitors back in time when they book a stay at the 3,200-square-foot farmhouse surrounded by 50 private acres, numerous oak trees and three large porches to enjoy the outdoors.

Tiffani Scott, owner of Liberty Hill Pediatrics, also owns Abbey Oaks. She said the house was originally a dorm room from Southwestern University in Georgetown that was built in the 1930s.

“It was cut in half and moved to Liberty Hill and a house was built around it,” she said. “The original door numbers from the dorm room are still on the doors upstairs.”

The house was renovated again in the 1980s, and then again when Scott and her husband, Brian, purchased it a couple of years ago.

“We did not want to tear the house down, so we decided to renovate it and VRBO it,” she said. “We stayed mostly full during COVID because people wanted to get away from the city. We rent mostly to return customers and friends and the weekends are popular for local wedding attendees to stay because there are not hotels nearby.”

The house will accommodate up to eight people in the four bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom, but there is also more room for guests to sleep on couches

(Left) Inside the living area of one of the casitas. The tiny homes have fully-equipped kitchens and plenty of space to relax and enjoy Liberty Hill’s rural scenery. This home has a loft to the bedroom. (Right) The dining room at the farmhouse at Abbey Oaks offers plenty of seating for family mealtimes, and everything needed to make a home-cooked meal. (Courtesy Photos)

or air mattresses, Scott said, adding that they provide queen air mattresses for an extra four people to sleep comfortably.

“We have several wedding venues near us and it’s walking distance to the whiskey distillery, Fire Oak,” she said.

That’s the reason behind the home’s custom-built bar, which was handcrafted with whiskey barrels from Fire Oak. The farmhouse also includes two spacious dining areas, a sun room, a barbecue grill, coffee maker and a variety of board games.

For more information or to book a stay, visit www.vrbo. com/9459151ha?fbclid=IwAR1914K1kfTP3vu5w_1rN8-fXcsKtznorndzoLVOjkDPBB_kpGjjBlVc80w&preferlocale=true&uni_id=8538254&vgdc=HAUS.

WHEN WILL LIBERTY HILL GET A HOTEL?

Liberty Hill City Administrator Paul Brandenburg said there has been some interest in Liberty Hill from various hotels, but none that have committed to build in town—yet.

“I believe we are getting to that tipping point,” he said. “There’s no place to stay here. When people need to stay local, they have to stay in Leander or Cedar Park. What the tipping point is, I don’t know, but I think it’s coming maybe six months to a year from now.”

MORE PLACES TO STAY:

Leslie’s Liberty Bed & Breakfast

3257 CR 204, Liberty Hill

214-897-5776

www.lesliesliberty.com

River Ranch Inn

1030 CR 279, Liberty Hill

737-738-3166

www.riverranchinn.com

The Texas Troubadour House

Church Hill Lane, Liberty Hill

www.vrbo.com/en-sg/p2342627vb

Home on the Grange

Grange Street, Liberty Hill

www.vrbo.com/2306980