The last thing I tell Michael before nodding off for the night is, “After eating and drinking for several hours tomorrow night, I think I need to book a room in Bastrop. We don’t want to fall asleep on the drive back to Wimberley.”
So, here I am Googling B&Bs in Bastrop, and the first thing that pops up is a stately old house in Smithville—The Katy House. I click on the link. It looks great. Appropriately old, clean, fresh, and well kept. I book a room—the first one on the list—and print a copy of the reservation confirmation.
The Katy House
Several hours later, I ring the doorbell at 201 Ramona Street in Smithville. Minutes after that, a lithe and friendly young woman—fully masked—answers the door. We discover we are the only guests here this evening, and breakfast will be served in the dining room tomorrow morning. We follow the innkeeper, Tiffany, up to our second-floor room—The Texas Special.
The room is pristine, filled with charm, and punctuated with antiques. The soft gray palette soothes the senses, and immaculate white linens cover the king-sized bed. I peek into the bathroom and see walls of gray marble and marble tiles on the floor. The house is over 100 years old, and the character of yesteryear lives on. I can’t help but smile.
Left to our own devices, we open the doors to our private balcony and sit a spell, enjoying the quiet surroundings until it is time for us to leave and make our way to the evening’s festivities at Eden East Farm in Bastrop. When we return almost six hours later, we want nothing more than to tumble into the welcoming bed and lay our heads on the soft white pillows.
Breakfast
At 8 am, the sun is streaming in the window, and we are ready to greet the day. Walking into the formal dining room, it feels like home—the sound and smell of sizzling bacon does that every time. Seated at the table, dish after dish keeps emerging from the kitchen; included in the feast is Tiffany’s father’s recipe for perfect blueberry pancakes. They are delicious. For me, dessert is the long conversation I have with our hostess, getting to know her personal story and more stories about this old house.
I learn that the Katy House will be 112 years old in 2021—my kind of residence. Built by a local land developer and merchant, J.H Chancellor, this house was his home for the first twenty-nine years of its life. In 1938 after Chancellor died, a physician purchased the residence and utilized the bottom floor as a clinic, while the second floor became his home.
Fifty-six years later, the Katy House took on a new life as a B&B and has served the quaint town of Smithville in this capacity ever since. The current owners, Tiffany and Joe Prior opened the doors of their newly acquired B&B free of charge to first responders during the Covid Crisis and also during the latest crisis—a polar vortex invasion in February. This fact alone is reason enough for me and Michael to return. With this thought in mind, I climb the stairs to pack our single bag for the trip home.
Leaving Smithville, I see buildings, restaurants, shops, and streets that call my name, asking me to stay. But Michael drives on. We head east toward one more adventure. Googling Smithville as we fly down the road, I find it was the backdrop of more than thirteen movies, including Hope Floats. Austin Day Trip Destinations says VISIT SMITHVILLE, it is qunitessential small town Texas charm.
Now I know we will be back.
The Katy House – More Information
201 Ramona St, Smithville, TX 78957
Email: innkeeper@katyhouse.com
This early 20th Century Italianate B&B is a 6-minute walk to the banks of the Colorado River, and footsteps away from the historic downtown area of Smithville.
There are a total of 6 bedrooms at this B&B, each with a private bath that features claw-foot tubs. Two of the bedrooms located in the cottages in the back of the main house also have small kitchens. One room in the cottage section has an electric fireplace, a whirlpool tub, and a private deck. Free WiFi, cable TV, and a full country breakfast each morning are included in a night’s lodging.
For reservations click on the following link. https://secure.thinkreservations.com/katyhouse/reservations
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