Once you reach the top of the hill where this luxury resort sits like a wedding cake on a pedestal, you won’t want to leave. To the south, the lights of San Antonio twinkle against the night sky; the sun sets against the forested hills to the west. The 498-room property has been completely overhauled without losing the stately character of the design’s original inspiration—the grand King Ranch in South Texas.
There are five swimming pools. One is for children only. Another, an infinity pool lined with private cabanas with TVs and bottle service, overlooks the two golf courses that zigzag across a neighboring hill and is strictly for adults. The SweetFire Kitchen offers sophisticated regional home cooking, but you’ll find the best tortilla soup in Texas served downstairs at the contemporary Primero Cantina.
The main courtyard features benches, chairs, and tables tucked into the lush landscaping. At night the water features and fire pits create an intimate atmosphere to relax and stargaze.
You’ll also achieve serenity at the newly opened Loma de Vida Spa, a secluded 25,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor sanctuary. Maggie Dunphy, the executive director, is the visionary behind the spa’s focus on mindful living and treatments to clear the clutter from your brain.
Loma de Vida features 15 treatment rooms plus private decks for groups of six or less, outdoor treatment areas, three private garden cabanas, and a saline pool.
The spa was under construction during my visit, but I found contentment in the Sire Bar just off the majestic lobby. The bar turns out clever, hand-crafted cocktails, and Bocado, a small charcuterie kitchen in the lobby, delivers slabs of wood covered with house-cured meats and regional cheeses.
