Sporting 22-inch limestone walls to defend against raiding bandits and Comanches, the old stagecoach stop known as Ye Kendall Inn in the Hill Country community of Boerne 35 miles northwest of San Antonio offers a new legacy for the Texas traveler.
Where once this wilderness bastion provided safety from the harsh territorial environment of the Texas frontier, it now offers comfort and luxury in a remarkable pristine setting, a treasure cove for travelers seeking superior lodging services and a pleasing bed & breakfast-style experience that combines authentic period design with outstanding dining opportunities in a rural, country-like setting.
Almost as old as the State of Texas, this lodging hideaway provides the best of two worlds. Hoteliers Ed and Elisa McClure have carefully taken this registered historical landmark and turned it into a lodging paradise offering modern and even sophisticated amenities while maintaining the spirit of a region famous for frontier settlement and pioneering adventure.
From the original limestone building and it's unique rooms with English and American antique furnishings and plush country-decor, to a series of historic cabins and out buildings transported from across the region and erected behind the main hotel, each elegantly decorated to accent the pioneering theme of the region, there's plenty to marvel over in this themed lodge.
Situated on five-plus acres overlooking Cibolo Creek and the Boerne Town Square, the primary old stagecoach building is accented with front and back porches on two stories that offer the perfect setting for taking in the peaceful surroundings. Indulge yourself in the ambiance of a time long past. Each room in the primary structure is decorated to perfection with themed rooms like the Rose Room, the Marcella Booth Room, the Erastus Reed Room and the Victoria Suite. Decor ranges from elegant Victorian to French Provencial to romantic garden and more.
Or choose one of many themed cabins like the Texas Suite in the Little Red School House building, a circa 1920 Boerne structure highlighted by hammered-tin ceilings, or an historic cedar log structure called the Enchanted Cabin. Other themed cabins include the Waco Cabin, the Carriage House, and St. John's Suite, located within an old pioneer church relocated from a nearby community.
A highlight of your stay will be enjoying the peaceful landscapes with walkways that meander through the themed cabins behind the main stagecoach building. In addition to plenty of areas to sit and enjoy the birds in the tree-laden garden area, you'll find outdoor fireplaces, a hot tub large enough to accommodate a small party, and a restful, relaxing ambiance that accentuates the overall theme of this hideaway hotel and lodge.
But the offerings of Ye Kendall Inn don't end with the elegant beauty and themed surroundings of the property. A first class restaurant, the Limestone Grille, features a unique blend of progressive American cuisine. Enjoy fresh Texas coast seafood, opt for game and fine, aged beef from Hill Country ranches, or innovative culinary delights with a Southwestern flavor, Cajun specialties, and Northern Italian and French influenced dishes.
The Grille is under the capable direction of Chef Michael and complimented by pastry specialist Oliver Villegas. Four Star dining awaits in this elegant restaurant, an environment that offers the comfort of open space without giving up its intimate, cozy and romantic atmosphere. And with a good selction of fine wines including popular local labels, you'll easily find the perfect compliment to your expertly-prepared meal.
Great Texas wines are featured at Ye Kendall Inn with an abundance of special events designed to entertain and educate. Time your visit to the monthly "Why Not Wine Tastings" scheduled regularly throughout the year, where not only great wine but fine chocolates are offered up in a social setting well worth the time and effort.
Two other wine events regularly scheduled at the restaurant are the special Wine Maker Dinners and their special AWEsome Dinner series. Both provide hotel guests, area visitors and local residents a chance to experience and learn more about fine wines while enjoying the company of a new circle of friends.
During the Wine Maker dinner events guests enjoy an intimate evening hosted by some of the nation's finest vinters who share their expansive wine knowledge about the featured wine and the participating winery. The menu prepared for the evening is well planned to be the perfect compliment and often invloves an exceptional meal. The cost for the evening is about $80 per participant, a bargain considering the quality of the entertainment, the exceptional food and fine wines that often retail for $300 per bottle or more. It is recommended to make early reservations for these events as the evening is limited to about 30 participants.
Owners Ed & Lisa McClure have a passion for fine wine and exceptional food, so much so that they are dedicated to sharing these special events with as many as possible. They realize not everyone can easily afford the special Wine Maker Dinner events and created the AWEsome dinner series as an alternative. AWEsome stands for Affordable Wine Events, where participants are guaranteed a fantasic dining experience at a more moderate price. The food and wine quality remain high in this abbreviated version of the popular educational series.
The McClures are the real secret behind the success of the Inn and the Limestone Grille. They take great pride in the standards of quality in their menus offered at the restaurant and in the special wine events. Along with their executive Chef, they painstakingly plan their meals using only the freshest and most natural ingredients.
The McClures promote healthy living through proper nutrition and food consumption. In their book, "Eat Your Way To A Healthy Life," they demonstrate a proven method of nutrition and weight loss that Ed personally has used in his battle with excessive weight. The book is a guide hat promotes healthy living by eating only natural and wholesome foods. Their restaurant and wine event menus demonstrate that wholesome and nutritious food can be delicious, elegant, healthy and downright pleasurable!
Ye Kendall Inn is proving to be more than a simple and elegant lodging retreat. In addition to capturing the historic significance of a unique and culturally rich region through planned renovation and a themed approach to decor and furnishings, the concept of providing treatment to the mind, body and spirit is paramount to its success. In addition to the great wine events, fine dining and superior lodging accommodations, the Inn also offers a full service Aveeda Spa. There are two spas on the property currently and a third is under construction.
The Inn also caters to groups and special functions with a full service meeting facility that can accommodate 4-400 easily, a perfect setting for weddings, business meetings, small conventions and seminars.
And the Kendall Provisions Company inside the primary stagecoach section of the property offers gifts, books, fine wines and chocolates for purchase, so you can take home a little part of the Inn when you go.
To round out the offerings, the 128 Tavern just off the main lobby features a beautiful wood bar and the perfect ambiance for small gatherings with friends, or a place to make new friends. The tavern also serves as an intimate breakfast nook each morning where you can opt to take your first meal in the heart of the historic building, just off the main lobby.
The historic German settlement of Boerne (pronounced Bernie) may be the ultimate place for an Inn so rich in history and so careful in its preservation of authenticity. While the community is quickly turning into a convienent bedroom community that serves the ever-expanding San Antonio Metroplex, it has done well to preserve that elusive feeling of historic charm uncommon in a hi-tech world.
After two days of sheer comfort and substantial pampering by a well-qualified hospitatlity staff, we give our thumbs up to Ye Kendall Inn and highly recommend you schedule a stop on your next trip to San Antonio or the Hill Country region.
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