Treehouse Utopia
Arriving a wee bit before check-in time at the Treehouse Utopia offices, we are not totally surprised to find no one home. The door is unlocked. A car is in the parking lot. But the bird has flown the nest. There is a car on the opposite side of the river. And people. I’m not too worried. Michael is not worried at all. We make our way to the shaded picnic table and wait.
Too impatient to sit still, I walk down the road to the low water crossing. This September day, the grass and trees are as green as spring. The river runs full. However, the Sabinal apparently doesn’t realize our need to drive across its breadth in order to reach our aerie high in the arms of the ancient cypress trees on the opposite bank. Calmly placid only inches away, it rushes and tumbles and is deep where it is meant to be dry. Heavy rains this month have made it the wettest one ever recorded in Utopia!
Using my cell phone camera, I try to capture the river in its disparate moods. Walking along the grassy bank I come face to face—almost—with the Chapelle, our intended home for the next two nights. Excited, I call uphill, “Michael that’s it! That’s our Treehouse!”
Guided by the friendly property manager, barely a half hour later, traveling on back, back roads, we are across the river and climbing the steps to our new nest. As we ascend, Laurel Waters—owner, chef, decorator, creative, brilliant, far-sighted entrepreneur, climbs up to greet us. I am delighted to see her. We dine at Laurel’s reservation only Laurel Tree Restaurant in Utopia as often as we can make the two-and-a-half hour drive west. Each day, each lunch has been delightful—no matter the season.
The Chapelle
Based on my knowledge of Laurel, her exquisite taste, her antique collections, and her magical talent at pulling it all together I can’t wait to walk into the treehouse towering above.
At the top of the stairs, I spy my first antique of the day- a wonderful gnarly wrought iron bench, reimagined twigs and leaves intertwined, flaking white paint adding to its charm. It is perfect with the repurposed wooden exterior of the treehouse. Old white pots filled with trialing pothos ivy and flowering blooms add a spark of color to the antique white on white of wood and iron.
A weathered stone angel holding a heart in her hands, with another heart lying at her feet leads us to the wide sliding glass door entrance. Walking across the threshold I enter a land of enchantment. The first thing I think is—honeymoon. Engagement. Anniversary. Young love. Luckily, old love works too. The room is filled with antiques, and flickering candles and sconces and books and light and air. Inside is out and outside is in. It is new and old. Cozy and charming. Every windowed-wall in this Treehouse sized great room allows the late afternoon light to filter through the tangle of tree branches that surround us.
The Bedroom
I take the two steps up to my left and discover the loveliest most romantic bedroom ever. Elegant and inviting. Natural wood. Natural cotton. Silks. Velvets. Pristine white bedding. All of it elegantly punctuated with French poppy red. It is a symphony of textures, from light to heavy, beaded to smooth. It is a space of modern comfort and old-world romance filled with gossamer fabrics and unique antique treasures. Again, windows on three sides filter the afternoon light. A convenient closet tucked away in a corner containing hangers and a suitcase rack is a welcome addition.
The Dining Area
Holding onto the sanded smooth railing as I descend the steps back into the main room of the Treehouse, I stop at the tiny kitchen area adjacent to the dining space. The cutest miniature refrigerator I have ever seen holds a supply of breakfast goodies, orange juice, and sodas. Wine, champagne and water glasses—two of each—are on the same counter as a Keurig coffee maker. A basket of baked goods and granola are on the dining room table. A golden cherub wall sconce holds a myriad of red votive candles. The realistic looking flames dance their welcome.
The Bath
The deck above the river shouts—come, look at me! But there is one more room to explore—the bath. How can such luxury so far above the ground, in the arms of Mother Nature’s greenery, actually exist? A huge tiled shower, a large claw foot tub, stained glass windows, the warmth of dark wood antiques, art, over-sized fluffy white towels, a hairdryer, and toiletries fill the space. And again, flickering candles.
Laurel Waters has thought of everything—in every room—for every need.
The Deck
This is the place I want to be. Waited for. The deck is embraced by ancient limbs and shaded by the delicate lace of cypress leaves. Blue sky peaking through. The sound of rushing water drowns out all else but our own quiet voices, as we sit and talk and reminisce and dream and drink dark red wine.
After dinner in town, we return to our romantic getaway with a full moon rising over the distant hills. The deck and the moon draw us outside. We pour one more glass of wine and watch the magic of the full moon through a web of branches as it plays hide and seek, disappearing for a minute behind thick sturdy limbs.
Imagine a pale blue sky, a bright orange moon, and deep green hills; this is what I see as we drive toward our treehouse, not the pale imitation above.
In the morning I wake to a world of fiery gold and deep green. Seen through the bedroom window, I rush outside to see it in person—inhale the morning. I try to capture the moment. I need a much better camera.
Sitting sipping our coffee, watching the day turn from gold to blue, the sounds of the rushing river beyond, I can’t help but think how lucky we are to have discovered this place–Treehouse Utopia. Taken the plunge. Booked an adventure. A memory. I really do believe serendipity rules my life. Chance encounters. Chance discoveries–this one began six years ago on a cold January day when an email slipped into my inbox, with the inviting word, Utopia. An unknown path I had to explore.
The Particulars
Utopia Treehouse, built by the Nelson Treehouse Masters in 2018, consists of a secreted village of four lovely, unique, private, and airconditioned treehouses in a park-like setting on the Sabinal River in the vicinity of Utopia, Texas. If you want to know more and are interested in your own Treehouse Utopia adventure, clicking on the links at the end of this blog will give you all the information you need.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
An assortment of breakfast goodies will be waiting for your consumption–there will probably be more than two individuals can consume.
The Lost Maples Cafe in Utopia is an easy, tasty, and economical solution for lunch and dinner. Beer and wine do not show up on their menu.
My one regret is that I didn’t pack a picnic basket of gourmet goodies (only good wine made its way west with us) to consume in the evenings. It was very hard pulling ourselves away from the beautiful views, the tranquility of the moment, and the sound of the rushing river, just to feed our face.
Next time. I can’t wait for next time.
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