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About The Inn
A Texas country inn, how did we end up here? It was a journey, but we’d like to share our story with you. What an adventure it was to build a bed and breakfast that would rival a luxury hotel…
Our Story
We field so many questions about the Inn and its beginnings, so the owners, Janie and John Orr (pictured above with daughter Allison and granddaughter Genevieve), decided to answer a few of the most frequent ones for all to see here on our Web site:
Why a change and why an Inn?
We were on the lookout! We’d passed 45 and were approaching 50 – trying on new things. Life was changing – one child was in college, one close to it, and one leaving elementary school – we were experiencing some of the truth of the clichéd “empty nest.” First, understand that there was no long-held dream of having an Inn – this was a step into the unknown. It just seemed to evolve out of several things – a mutual love of landscape, a mutual love of architecture and the building process and the desire to try something new and challenging.
How did you decide on the Inn's location?
We chose northern Hays County because the land was beautiful and there were still intact original ranches. Highway 150 was picturesque. Onion Creek was picturesque. The original 500 acres we purchased became quite valuable because of its location on Onion Creek and was highly sought after by the City of Austin as water protection land for the Edwards Aquifer – that fact has been a gift of God. It has also given us a protected west view, which is an essential part of the beauty of the inn.
Why did you choose to build from the ground up?
We could find nothing to restore within the 30-mile radius of Austin, which was our original goal. Our architect, Emily Little, and builder, Tom Hall, assured us that we could build a wonderful inn on the highest point of our land that would echo the 19th century architecture we wanted…and they were RIGHT!
What about all the special features that make the Inn so unique?
The detail of the inn is the result of absolute focus on everyone's part. The synergy between owner, architect and builder was beautiful. I had a clipboard with specs that I took everywhere. The paint colors were meticulously derived and involved a great deal of time. Furnishings and fixtures with carefully chosen and the cypress doors and wood floors were imported from Louisiana. We wanted to create an upscale retreat experience for our guests, complete with fresh and seasonal food and luxury bathrooms. It was always our plan to name the rooms after significant figures in the Hays County area at the turn of the century. It has been such a rich experience to connect with the history of this area and to share the past with those who visit here.
Our Innkeeper
Innkeeper Amy Dolan has served in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, during which time she has maintained her focus on customer satisfaction to guarantee that every guest has an experience that exceeds their expectations.
Amy launched her career at Snowmass Resort Association in Colorado. She then moved on to San Francisco, California, where she was instrumental in the opening of a 300-room downtown luxury hotel, now known as the JW Marriot Union Square. She has also served as Vice President of Operations at Mo Ranch, a 500-acre non-profit conference center located in Hunt, Texas, and most recently, served as Spa Director and General Manager at The Guadalupe River Ranch Resort & Spa, a boutique guest ranch in the Texas Hill Country.
As a Geography graduate of Berkeley, Amy brings to her role as innkeeper a unique perspective combining her love of Science and the outdoors with her keen interest in people. Having served in operations, sales and human resources management, Amy's practical know-how combines with her energetic spirit to make certain that attention to every detail is observed so that guests who stay at The Inn Above Onion Creek leave with radiant smiles, wonderful memories and plans to return soon.
Our Chef
Coming soon |
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