The Bygone
10600 Ranch Road 12
Wimberley, TX
A Hill Country motor lodge with valley views and nowhere else to be.
About The Bygone
The Bygone sits in Wimberley, Texas, on five wooded acres above the Blanco River Valley. Chris and Stephanie Herndon bought a zero-frills roadside motor lodge in 2021, stripped it to its bones, and rebuilt it into something worth the drive. The original motor lodge structure stayed: single-story, exterior-facing rooms, contact-free check-in, a parking lot that puts your car at your door. Wimberley has become one of the more appealing small towns in Texas, with a serious local food and wine culture built around the Blanco River corridor. Blue Hole is five minutes from the property. Jacob's Well is six minutes north. The Blanco River is visible from the hilltop pool. The Bygone positions itself as the version of that trip where you actually slow down.
What The Bygone Is Known For
The Bygone is the product of two owners who took a motor lodge seriously. Not as a design project to be photographed and moved on from, but as a place to stay. The renovation preserved the exterior-access structure, the low-slung Hill Country silhouette, the parking-at-your-door convenience, all of it. What they added was intention: the Terrazzo vanities, the balconies facing the valley, the pool with the views, the fire pit with the s'mores.
Amenities
- WiFi
- Heated hilltop pool with valley views
- Pool cabanas
- Fire pit with s'mores kits
- Nature trail through live oaks
- DIY bar and reading room
What Guests Love
- Every room opens directly to the exterior in the original motor lodge configuration: the building's bones are intact and the access is exactly as unpretentious as it should be.
- The hilltop pool overlooks the Blanco River Valley: the view that makes guests book a second night.
- Blue Hole and Jacob's Well, two of the most sought-after spring-fed swimming holes in Texas, are within six miles of the property on flat roads. Few places to stay in Wimberley put guests this close to both.
Worth Knowing
- The Bygone is 5.5 acres of Hill Country terrain without a restaurant or breakfast service on site. Wimberley Square is five minutes away with strong coffee and food options.
- The property includes a vintage Airstream used as a bar amenity, not an accommodation unit.
- Wimberley weekends fill up fast in spring wildflower season and fall color season; book several weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday nights.
The Room
Rooms opening directly to the exterior in the original motor lodge configuration. Each has been redesigned with Terrazzo bathroom vanities, tiled showers, and a design palette that draws from Texas Hill Country without becoming a caricature of it. Select rooms have private balconies overlooking the Blanco River Valley. All rooms have a mini fridge. The finishes are well-chosen and the beds are comfortable.
The Grounds
A heated hilltop pool with private cabanas and panoramic views of the Blanco River Valley sits at the center of the five-acre property. A fire pit with s'mores kits anchors the outdoor common area. A nature trail runs through the live oaks. A small reading room and a DIY bar lounge are inside for evenings when the temperature drops. The grounds are maintained to a standard that guests notice and mention, which is not guaranteed at a property this size.
The Experience
The mornings here organize themselves. Coffee on a balcony while the valley goes from grey to gold. A slow walk on the nature trail. Then Wimberley: Blue Hole is five minutes away, Jacob's Well is six, the Square and its coffee shops and wine bars are three. Come back in the afternoon, pool, fire pit, Hill Country sunset. Guests who come for one night say they should have booked two.
Details
Wimberley, TX 78676
The Boutel designation is earned, not purchased. Boutels is editorially independent and has no financial relationship with any listed property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Bygone have EV charging?
No, The Bygone does not have EV charging.
Does The Bygone have WiFi?
Yes, The Bygone has WiFi.
What is there to do near The Bygone?
Wimberley Square: 3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there. Blue Hole Regional Park: 5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there. Jacob's Well Natural Area: 6 miles, about a 10 minute drive.
How far is The Bygone from Wimberley Square?
3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is The Bygone from Blue Hole Regional Park?
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
How far is The Bygone from Jacob's Well Natural Area?
6 miles, about a 10 minute drive.
Does The Bygone have a pool?
Yes. A heated hilltop pool with private cabanas overlooks the Blanco River Valley. It is one of the property's most consistently praised features.
Does The Bygone serve breakfast?
No. The Bygone does not include breakfast. Wimberley Square, five minutes away, has several well-regarded coffee shops and morning dining options.
What are the rooms like at The Bygone?
Rooms open directly to the exterior in the original motor lodge configuration, preserving the building's bones exactly as they were. Each has been redesigned with Terrazzo bathroom vanities, tiled showers, and a Hill Country design palette. Select rooms have private balconies overlooking the Blanco River Valley.
Is The Bygone pet friendly?
Contact the property before booking to confirm current pet policy.
How far is The Bygone from Austin?
Wimberley is approximately 45 miles southwest of Austin, about a 50-minute drive via Highway 290 and Ranch Road 12.
How far is The Bygone from Wimberley Square?
The Bygone is about 3 miles from Wimberley Square, a five-minute drive.
What is the Texas Hill Country like around Wimberley?
The Hill Country around Wimberley sits where the Edwards Plateau meets the coastal plain, producing spring-fed rivers, limestone bluffs, and live oak savannahs. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area is 60 miles northwest. The stretch of Ranch Road 12 from Wimberley toward Blanco passes through some of the most scenic Hill Country terrain accessible by car, and the Blanco River runs along the base of the ridgeline below The Bygone.
What is Wimberley known for?
Wimberley is a small Texas Hill Country town on the Blanco River with an independent arts and dining scene on the Square. Blue Hole Regional Park and Jacob's Well Natural Area are both spring-fed swimming destinations within 6 miles and rank among the most beautiful freshwater spots in Texas. The surrounding Hill Country landscape of limestone bluffs, live oaks, and clear rivers makes it one of the best short-drive destinations from Austin.
Is parking available at The Bygone?
Yes. Free on-site parking is available at The Bygone.
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Things to Do Near Texas Hill Country
Wimberley Square
3 miles, about a 5 minute drive, or you can bike there.
The historic center of Wimberley with independent coffee shops, wine bars, restaurants, and galleries concentrated around a small square on Cypress Creek. The Saturday Market Days draws artisans from across Texas. A reliably good version of a Texas small-town main street.
Blue Hole Regional Park
5 miles, about a 10 minute drive, or you can bike there.
A spring-fed swimming hole on Cypress Creek, shaded by old cypress trees and managed as a public park by the city of Wimberley. The water is cold and clear even in August. Reservations required in peak season; arrive early in shoulder months.
Jacob's Well Natural Area
6 miles, about a 10 minute drive.
An artesian spring that opens into one of the longest underwater cave systems in Texas. The circular pool above is one of the most photographed natural features in the Hill Country. Swimming access is timed and ticketed in summer; hiking the surrounding trails is open year-round.