Walden Retreats | Johnson City, Texas, United States

The beautiful Walden Retreats is located just 1 hour west of Austin and 1 hour north of San Antonio in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.

Situated on 96 acres of private land along the Pedernales River, this is your private luxury camping getaway.

The Lowdown

Type: Banquet Hall / Event Facility Camping / Glamping

Views: Landscaped Grounds Meadow/Field River Rolling Hills

Style: Casual
Country
Modern
Romantic
Zen

Best type of Celebrations

Venue Setting

The event lodge, designed by architect Michael Hsu, is 3,500 square feet and climate controlled. Just outside of the lodge is a 5,000 square foot lawn that overlooks the Pedernales River. We can accomodate larger parties than the numbers listed above if the lawn is incorporated into the event. The lodge is beautifully lit with tons of natural light and has 6 fully expandalbe 12' glass doors. On one side of the lodge is a custom living plant wall and on the opposite side are two large wood burning fireplaces with lounge areas.

Whats Included with the lodge?

Catering kitchen with refigerator, table and storage space, commercial ice maker and & compartment sink
WiFi
Sonos music system (inside Lodge only)
Indoor bathrooms (wheelchair accessible)
Large fire pit with 20 Tamarack chairs and space for additional seating
Festoon outdoor lawn lighting upon request
Ample on-site parking
Pet friendly (on leash)
Ability to bring in your own alcohol
Tables & Chairs (we will set up and break down for you!)
(2) 10' live edge Pecan tables with bench seating (up to )*)
(16) 8' farm tables
(125) fruitwood padded folding chairs

Capacity

Seated: 160

Buffet: 120

Standing: 175

Fees

(Prices listed here are estimates only & are subject to change)

Price range: Join the party and sign in to view pricing

Does this include catering fees?: No

Insurance: Additional Insurance Is Required To Host An Event At This Venue

Connect

Call Venue

Event Logistics and Amenities

(Essential event logistics and amenities to ensure a seamless and memorable experience for you gathering)

Celebrations hosted here since: 2021
Curfew: 10 PM
Venue spaces: Indoor & Outdoor Venue Spaces Available
Catering: Client Can Select The Caterer Of Their Choice
Alcohol: BYO Permitted – You Can Bring Your Own Alcohol
Music: Indoors & Outdoors
Smoking: Non-smoking Venue
Accommodations: We have a total of 15 luxury tents for overnight accommodations. We have 2 premium suites, 6 suites, and 8 studios.

All tents include:
Heat & A/C*
Private ensuite bathroom
Handmade textiles by Marra Home
King-size Casper® bed
Public Goods bath products
Refrigerator
Breville Smart Oven
Clawfoot bathtub
Outdoor shower
Gas grill
Private fire pit
Complimentary WiFi at the Lodge
Our suites have an additional 110 square feet of space with a seating area and Jøtul® wood stove. The premium suites are in the most desirable location on the property perched near a cliff with spectacular views of the hills and Pedernales River.
Eco/Green Events: Yes
Pet-Friendly Events: Yes
Handicap Accessible: Yes

Amenities

A/V Equipment
Bridal Suite/Changing Rooms Onsite
Wifi
Ample Parking Onsite
Dining Chairs
Dining Tables

Inside Scoop

Ask our GM Amber about a private yoga class - she's a certified instructor!

Venue Features

The scene:: Walden Retreats is located just 1 hour west of Austin and 1 hour north of San Antonio in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Situated on 96 acres of private land along the Pedernales River, this is your private luxury camping getaway.
Perfectly positioned right along the Texas Wine Trail, easily explore Fredericksburg, Johnson City, Luckenbach, Pedernales Falls State Park, LBJ Historic State Park, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and much more.
Design:: Event lodge and lobby are designed by famed architect Michael Hsu and a notable design feature in our event lodge is our living wall which has more than 2,000 plants.

Our beautifyly appointed tents are designed to blend the comforts of a luxury hotel with the adventure of the outdoors.
Standout venue features:: You will enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Texas Hill Country as you rest in your tent or enjoy time in our event lodge. The sprawling hills, wild flowers, and beautiful sky will help you relax and unwind. Immerse yourself in nature by exploring the grounds whether it be hiking, canoeing on the river, or enjoying the fire pit at sunset. Additional experiences are also available such as a private mixology course, night time glow in the dark fly fishing, or a private string performance.
Extra perks:: Included with renting our event lodge:
Exclusive use of our 3,500 sq ft event lodge and 5,000 sq ft event lawn
Catering kitchen with refigerator, table and storage space, commercial ice maker and & compartment sink
Custom designed living wall featuring more than 2,000 plants
(6) 12 foot fully expandable glass doors allowing for and indoor/outdoor feel
Dual stone wood burning Rumford style fire places
Two fireside lounge areas
WiFi
Sonos music system (inside Lodge only)
Indoor bathrooms (wheelchair accessible)
Large fire pit with 20 Tamarack chairs and space for additional seating
Festoon outdoor lawn lighting upon request
Ample on-site parking
Tables & Chairs (we will set up and break down for you!)
(2) 10' live edge Pecan tables with bench seating (up to )*)
(12) 8ft farm tables
(125) fruitwood padded folding chairs

Awards & Notables

Awards, recognitions, or noteworthy achievements associated with the venue.

Travel & Leisure - https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/luxury-travel/walden-retreats-texas-hill-country-glamping
Texas Travel Awards (2021) - Best Small Market Boutique Hotel - https://texastravelawards.com/2021/boutique-hotel-small-market/
D Magazine (D as in Dallas) - https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2022/june/where-to-vacation-in-texas-now/
One of Best 9 Glamping destinations in Texas - https://travel.usnews.com/features/glamping-in-texas-the-best-resorts
Rolling Stone - https://www.rollingstone.com/product-recommendations/lifestyle/matthew-mcconaughey-longbranch-ranch-dazed-and-confused-1234633239/
Thrillist - https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/visit-texas-glamping-site-hill-country-views
Fox Business - https://www.foxbusiness.com/entertainment/matthew-mcconaugheys-longbranch-bourbon-partners-walden-retreats-outdoor-getaway
Travel & Leisure - https://www.travelandleisure.com/matthew-mcconaughey-longbranch-ranch-texas-hill-country-6830955
Men's Journal - https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/matthew-mcconaughey-inspired-longbranch-ranch-at-walden-retreats
Taste of Koko - Best Glamping Around Austin - https://www.atasteofkoko.com/visit-austin/glamping-near-austin

Venue matched with reports

Glamping Is Group Travel Gold—Especially When There’s a Plunge Pool, Wine Tastings, and a Fire Pit Situation

Forget sleeping bags. These plush glamping retreats come with watercolor views, plunge pools & alpine wine tastings. Some people like roughing it, and some people like a wilderness adventure that comes with king-sized beds and champagne service. Wrestling tent poles into the mud and trying to get cozy atop rocks are now officially optional, as the camping scene gets a glamorous makeover. From Utah’s red rock canyons to South Africa’s Sand River, today’s glampsites are basically boutique hotels in disguise—with just enough nature to feel noble, not feral. And the best part? Glamping is group travel gold. Everyone gets their own dreamy digs, but you still gather ‘round the fire for s’mores, stories, and maybe a surprise engagement or two. It’s bachelorette-ready, wedding-weekend-worthy, and ideal for that annual friend trip where no one wants to share a bunk bed again.The wild is calling—softly, from a bed with cloud-like pillows and a view. Find yourself and your crew toasting in Alpine wine caves by noon, and glamping at wedding venues with thread counts higher than the surrounding mountain peaks.

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