 
TAPATIO SPRINGS
STAY A WEEKEND OR A LIFETIME
By Carl Mickelson |
Very few visitors to Boerne’s Tapatio Springs Golf Resort & Conference Center leave without wishing they could stay a little longer to enjoy the relaxing Hill Country atmosphere and spectacular amenities. With new luxury real estate offerings in three private gated communities, Tapatio’s owners are now urging guests to stay for a lifetime.
For a quarter century, this quiet Hill Country getaway has lured golfers and resort guests with its stunning visuals and 27 exhilarating golf holes, and has evolved with the times to become of one of Texas’ most intriguing low-density, upscale resort communities. If you’ve never seen Tapatio Springs, or if you haven’t seen it lately, you owe it to yourself to visit and see this one-of-a-kind Hill Country community for yourself. |
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The “Wow” Factor
Situated on 2,300-acres of uncommonly hilly and breathtaking former ranchland, Tapatio Springs’ resort and surrounding residential community features one-of-a-kind scenery, rolling topography and awe-inspiring Hill Country views that are rare gems, even in Central Texas.
“Many visitors have driven into Tapatio, down the hills and into the valley where the golf clubhouse and hotel are, and compared the views to the mountains on the west coast of California. They’re blown away at how beautifully green and hilly it is here,” says partner and president Jack Parker.
With elevations of almost 2,000 feet (compared to nearby San Antonio’s 440 feet above sea level), this cozy, gated resort community boasts amazing panoramic views, outstanding golf and a host of outdoor activities that become distinctively more enjoyable in this remarkable setting.
As a homebuyer, you might find comparably-priced floor plans in other Central Texas communities, but few locales can stack up to the relaxing resort setting and spectacular vistas found throughout Tapatio Springs.
“We have residents who have looked all over the country for the right place to call home and they could have chosen to live anywhere,” Parker says. “This beautiful Hill Country setting, the quality of life and the great people in this community is what draws them here.” |
Resort Life
Though Tapatio Springs is a full-service resort, it isn’t the mega-corporation/1,000-room hotel variety, so living there doesn’t mean sacrificing privacy or quiet. It does mean you have all the recreational amenities you’ve ever dreamed of right in your backyard.
The Tapatio legend is built around its acclaimed 27-hole golf course. Consistently named among the top 10 resort courses in Texas, Tapatio’s Lakes, Valley and Ridge layouts play up and down a winding and beautifully sculpted stretch of unforgettable lush and hilly terrain.
The three nines at Tapatio typify quintessential Hill Country Golf as well as any layout in the region. Carved through limestone walls and featuring eye-popping elevation changes, meandering spring-fed creeks and strategically-placed lakes, this golf course not only photographs well, it provides a fun, fair test of golf.
In addition to golf, Tapatio is fast becoming known for its nature trails. Long home to world-class horseback riding, the latest craze at the resort is the 10-mile hike and bike trail. You can also spend your non-golfing hours bass fishing in numerous lakes, playing tennis, swimming in pools or relaxing in a Jacuzzi or sauna. Another reason you’ll “feel better” in the outdoors at Tapatio is that the extra altitude keeps temperatures at Tapatio an average of 6 to 12 degrees cooler than the surrounding flatlands, making those steamy Texas summers a little more bearable.
Adding to the resort experience, top chefs make the dining experience at the resort’s Blue Heron a culinary delight. Look for great steaks, seafood and continental fare at dinner time, but don’t miss the delectable Sunday Brunch—folks have been known to drive great distances to take part in the weekly feast. |
The Location
While its position high in the roaming hills of Boerne will keep it forever isolated from noise and traffic, Tapatio Springs’ proximity to the best of small-town and big-city life is another attractive attribute for homebuyers.
“The heart of Boerne, one of the greatest small towns you could ever fall in love with, is five minutes away and the sixth-largest city in America (San Antonio)—with top business, infrastructure, recreation and hospitals is just 20 minutes away and seems to grow closer all the time,” Parker says. The San Antonio International Airport is an easy half-hour drive away and top shopping spots like the popular outdoor La Cantera Mall and The Rim are just twenty minutes from Tapatio.
Tapatio’s ‘City Close, Country Quiet’ slogan rings truer than ever, with proximity to not only the best of suburban San Antonio, but it’s also just four miles from the Rockwellian charms of Boerne.
“Boerne has a classic small town charm, but it’s really evolving into a very upscale, family-oriented town as people continue to move from the larger cities and discover the beauty of the area,” Parker says. “The antique shoppers love it and it’s just a great place to relax and spend time if you appreciate a true small town atmosphere and people who really care about their community.”
The word is out on the attractive lifestyle Kendall County offers. The exemplary Boerne Independent School District is ranked the sixth-best school system in the United States. Kendall County was recently named fifth-best county to live in by Progressive Farmer Magazine, and Boerne is listed on Money Magazine’s list of Top 50 Places to Live. |
Living the Dream
 Three new custom-home developments within Tapatio’s 2,300 acres give homebuyers the chance to enjoy a vacation/resort lifestyle every day. Breathtaking panoramic views can be found at every turn in Tapatio’s three gated developments. From luxurious patio and single-family homes from the $450,000 range in The Gardens development to large custom home sites in the awe-inspiring Ridge development (with homes ranging from $600,000 to $2.5 million and unbelievable far-as-the-eye-can-see views), Tapatio is fast becoming one of the San Antonio area’s emerging hot spots for single-family and second-home buyers.
“The Gardens is attracting a lot of established empty nesters who really enjoy the serenity and privacy of being at 2,000 feet of elevation and having amazing (seemingly endless) views of the Texas Hill Country. Estate-sized lots and really innovative custom floorplans also make this a distinctive enclave,” Parker says. “For privacy, spectacular views and easy access to amenities, there’s really nothing like it.”
Custom floorplans in The Gardens, designed and built by Tapatio Springs Builders Inc., range from 1,700- to 2,800-square feet and feature bold yet classic architectural designs with native and European stonework on the exteriors and custom features like exquisite tile work and granite countertops inside. The scenic hilltop surroundings really set these homesites apart. Outdoor kitchens, for example, are all the rage, but an outdoor kitchen (found in most of Tapatio’s floorplans) overlooking a deep canyon, beautifully accented trees and native brush is something truly special.
“You just have to see the amazing unobstructed views these home sites have to be able to make a fair comparison to other places,” Parker says. “We build custom homes that are distinctive and fit perfectly into this gorgeous natural setting.”
Tapatio isn’t just for second-homebuyers and empty-nesters anymore. A new private gated offering called Mountain View will soon break ground, and is designed for families looking to enjoy the quiet, relaxing confines of Tapatio every day while maintaining a manageable commute into San Antonio.
Mountain View offers 130 home sites that will accommodate floorplans in the 3,500- to 6,000-square foot range. Tapatio’s co-owner Michael Shalit says Mountain View is designed for active families who will enjoy this development’s clubhouse and recreation center (complete with an exercise center and swimming pool) as well as a chain of hiking, biking and walking trails. “These are the kind of residents who’ll take full advantage of living in a resort community,” he says.
“There was a time when people mostly looked here for second homes and retirement property, but San Antonio has grown so much in this direction, it’s now practical to live here and raise a family. In fact, it’s ideal. We have great schools and a way of life you simply can’t mimic in the city. It’s the best of both worlds,” says Parker.
At Tapatio, public underground water, water treatment, electrical service and DSL service come standard (without the burden of big-city taxes) thanks to careful planning by the developers. “When we say unobstructed views, we mean it,” Parker says referring to the networks of buried pipes and cables that provide modern power and electricity to Tapatio. “Many new communities have great homesites but most of them will also have cables blocking views or they’ll need to rely on well water or septic systems for plumbing. We’ve solved those issues and homebuyers appreciate that commitment to quality.”
For luxury homebuyers a secluded development called Mansion Hill offers multi-acre estate lots (ranging from two to 35 acres) in a private enclave that features splendid views from some of the highest peaks in Kendall County. |
See it and Believe It
If the thought of calling Big Sky Country in the heart of Texas your home while maintaining a manageable commute into San Antonio sounds appealing, you owe yourself and your family a visit to Tapatio Springs to see if your dream address is in these rolling hills. In 2005, Michael Shalit (now a Tapatio co-owner), a New Jersey native and successful real estate developer, took all of 18 minutes to decide Tapatio had everything he wanted in a residential community.
“I was here less than 20 minutes and I knew this was the place I had been looking for over the last six years,” Shalit says. “I saw these amazing views, found out they had underground electricity, water and sewage, they had all the custom features I wanted in a home and I met the wonderful local people. I had no other choice. I called my wife and told her to pack our bags and put our house on the market. This is the place we’ve been looking for.”
To arrange a visit to see all of Tapatio’s residential offerings, plan a weekend to experience the “City Close, Country Quiet” lifestyle. Book a room in either Tapatio’s 112-room hotel or reserve a beautifully-furnished deluxe town home complete with golf course views, full kitchens and easy resort access.
Service is an undeniable resort to love and return to Tapatio. Parker and his staff are proud to practice what they call PEC: Personal, Enthusiastic and Complete Service. “How many resorts can you visit where the owner or the head golf professional greets you personally and makes you feel welcome?” says Parker, who makes a point to get to know and entertain guests. “We have standards for service here that you won’t find at a typical resort. We’re involved in every phase of the guest experience, so our guests leave feeling like they’re part of the family. Some like it here so much, they choose to become members or residents.”
Just north of San Antonio and a few short miles from I-10, Tapatio is easily drivable from Houston, Dallas or Austin, so don’t wait to come see what this distinctive Hill Country community has to offer. Whether you stay for just a weekend or for a lifetime, you’ll be glad you did.
Call 800-999-3299 to book a resort stay or golf package. Call 800-584-4045 for real estate information. Visit www.tapatio.com for more details and photos. |
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