Birthday Celebration at Camp Willow Lake House
While some travel just for fun and to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle of life, I’ve made traveling part of my everyday life. Whether it’s an anniversary, birthday, or memorable life event, instead of spending money on an expensive outing, dinner and drinks or a party, traveling has become a new way of celebrating things. With the cooler weather being upon us and it being to chilly for outdoor water activities, that surely didn’t stop us from celebrating a close friend’s birthday by the lake at Camp Willow Lake House.
Searching on VRBO for a getaway spot for a weekend away with friends, I stumbled across a waterfront home on Lake Dunlap. Familiar with the area, I had never heard of the lake and was curious about location of the property. (Lake Dunlap is a reservoir on the Guadalupe River near the town of New Braunfels in Guadalupe County, Texas, United States. The reservoir was formed in 1931 by the construction of a dam to provide hydroelectric power to the area. Management of the dam and lake was assumed by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority on May 1, 1963. Source: Wikipedia)
As much as I love staying in new fancy places, there is something about staying in older ones. They usually have warm welcoming energy and lots of character which makes your stay more interesting and unique. The lake house on Camp Willow was exactly that. The casual lake house is in a very peaceful neighborhood away from the city. It is the original farmhouse built on the property that has been renovated. It is quaint, comfortable, rustic, and is fully furnished with all bed & bath linens and kitchen utensils, dishes, pots, washer and dryer. Having a couple of chefs and a wine connoisseur among us, we sure ate and drank the good stuff.
The waterfront home is great for a family reunion, friend retreat, and girl’s weekend getaway as it sleeps 12+ people. It is a 3 bedroom and 2 bath pet friendly home. In front of the home is a sun-room and on the side, is a deck with patio furniture and a BBQ grill; both areas overlook the water. It’s beautiful, especially at sunset. Decorated in a fishing motif, it reminded me of all the times I went fishing with my dad as a little girl. It was hard to leave.
In front of the lake house by water was a fire pit and chairs that we took full advantage of. We all sat around the fire joking, sipping on wine, and making smores. It was the perfect way to celebrate a birthday. The lake stays at a constant level with 600 feet of water frontage with a new fishing dock/pier designed for skiing, lounging and swimming. There’s also a small boat ramp for those who wish to trailer their fishing or ski boat. Camp Willow is on 2 1/2 acres of lush green lawn with many 100-foot-tall trees; it’s truly scenic, tranquil, and relaxing.
Camp Willow is located within 5-10 minutes of Schlitterbahn, the Comal River, the Guadalupe River, Gruene Hall and Wurstfest. There are 2 other cottages on the property and the red house that sleeps 10 people; the entire property can sleep 38. For more info about the lake house and/or the camp resort, click here.
All opinions expressed and images are my own.
