Texas’ First Waldorf Astoria Is Coming to Fredericksburg in 2029

This article is produced by TRIBEZA as sponsored content.

Austinites don’t need to be told twice about the beauty of the Hill Country. It’s in our backyards. It’s on our drives to work or to the lake. The only thing surprising is that more people haven’t fallen in love with the wide-open spaces the same way we have.

Fredericksburg has a way of pulling people in, and it has for generations. Now, three developers with backgrounds in hospitality and spirits are helping bring its beauty to even more people with Waldorf Astoria’s first Texas property, set to open in 2029.

The heart of Austin, or even Dallas or Houston, might have seemed like a more likely choice for the new luxury property. But the Hill Country calls. And we understand why.

The Waldorf Astoria will sit on 106 acres less than a mile from downtown Fredericksburg, in the heart of Texas wine country. It’s an easy trip for Austinites looking to make a weekend of it. Or, for some, a place to call home.

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Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country will feature 60 rooms and suites and a collection of private residences. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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The thermal pool at Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country is part of the Fredericksburg resort’s planned 11,000-square-foot spa and wellness center. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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Rendering of the event lawn at Waldorf Astoria Texas Hill Country at golden hour. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

Talk of the town

On a fall weekend in Fredericksburg, Main Street is simply magical. Antique shops prop their doors open, tasting rooms fill by noon and dance halls start warming up by dusk. Linger over a bottle of Hill Country tempranillo and you might find yourself thinking, “This place feels like Napa did before everyone found out.”

That’s what the new Waldorf Astoria’s lead developer, Mark Harmon, and his partners, Robert Radovan and Tim Sparapani, are betting on. Harmon opened Auberge du Soleil in Napa Valley in 1981 and went on to found Auberge Resorts. He watched a sleepy stretch of Napa Valley become a global destination. Now he sees similar potential in Fredericksburg as a center for wine, food and culture.

Radovan’s firm, Criswell Radovan, developed Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley and Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Dublin. Sparapani co-founded the Kentucky bourbon label Blue Run Spirits and has experience building a brand around a sense of place. Now the three are working together on the Fredericksburg property.

“From the beginning, our vision has been to create a world-class destination that is authentically rooted in Fredericksburg and the Texas Hill Country,” Harmon said.

The team turned to a local to help guide the project. Sales director Kathryn Sharrock grew up in Fredericksburg, her family owns nearby Ab Astris Winery and she has spent nearly 15 years in Texas luxury real estate. Sharrock wanted a hospitality partner that would embrace what already makes the town special.

Other hotel brands see the appeal, too. The Albert Hotel opened in 2025, and a Kimpton is on the way. Aman and Auberge have also announced projects in the Hill Country. It’s just the beginning for the region.

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Designed to follow the slope of the land, the villas pair natural timber and stone with terraces and outdoor living rooms. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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The first residential release includes 23 private villas with three- and four-bedroom floor plans. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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Villas start at $3.7 million, and owners can opt into the Fredericksburg resort’s rental program. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

A Hill Country home away from home

Fredericksburg has a storied tradition of second homes. In the 19th century, German farming families built small “Sunday houses” in town, places to stay when they came in for the market, church and time with neighbors before heading back to their farms. The idea was simple: a home base close to everything that made life feel full.

The Waldorf Astoria Residences take that idea and give it room to breathe. The first release includes 23 resort villas with three- and four-bedroom floor plans. An enclave of single-story estate homes with three to five bedrooms has yet to come to market.

Part of the appeal of a Waldorf Astoria residence is what it takes off the to-do list. Waldorf Astoria will manage the property and care for the homes between visits. Owners can also choose to enroll their homes in the resort’s rental program. Residences start at $3.7 million. The first release is nearly closed, with early-buyer pricing and benefits limited to the first group of owners.

Plus, they’re simply gorgeous. The homes are designed to follow the slope of the land and make the most of the light and the long views. Timber and stone echo the Hill Country’s building traditions, and floor plans open onto terraces and outdoor living rooms made for long evenings. Studio CABAN and Paul Duesing Partners are shaping the look of both the resort and the private residences. A furnishing package outfits each home down to the dishes and flatware. With only 60 rooms and suites, the resort is designed to feel more like a private estate than a hotel.

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The resort will have three dining venues, including a signature restaurant and a Texas take on Waldorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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A kitchen garden will supply herbs, vegetables and flowers for the resort’s dining rooms, and Texas wines will be served alongside bottles from farther afield. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

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The property is less than a mile from downtown Fredericksburg, close to Main Street’s shops and tasting rooms. (Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria)

Dining and amenities

A Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur will develop and oversee the resort’s signature restaurant. The team has yet to announce the chef or the menus, but it has hinted at a distinctly Texan take on fine dining, with wild game among the possibilities. Plans call for three dining venues, private dining rooms, terraces overlooking the hills and a Lone Star interpretation of the famed Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria New York.

The culinary team plans to draw on the region’s farming and ranching history, as well as its current crop of growers and winemakers. Texas wines will be poured alongside bottles from farther afield, and a working kitchen garden will supply herbs, vegetables and flowers for the dining rooms. Talk about farm-to-table.

The resort is also planning an 11,000-square-foot spa and wellness center with holistic treatments and thermal experiences, two pools, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails and a kids club. Terraced event lawns and a 4,000-square-foot event hall will offer space for gatherings.

And there’s still Fredericksburg itself. Main Street is minutes away, Enchanted Rock is a short drive north and more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms are within reach. Austinites have been making the drive for years. Soon, they’ll have another place to spend the weekend, or a reason to stay a little longer.