Tanna Wasilchak

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WHY STONEWALL MOTOR LODGE IS THE BEST PLACE TO STAY ON THE 290 WINE TRAIL

If you’re looking for a place to stay near Stonewall, Fredericksburg, or Johnson City with a rich history, excellent service, and trendy aesthetic then look no further than Stonewall Motor Lodge! Stonewall Motor Lodge is a 1960s roadside motel located right in the middle of the renowned 290 wine trail surrounded by over 75 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. There is quite literally a winery next and the rest range from 10-15 minutes away to about 20 minutes to Fredericksburg or the opposite way to Johnson City! Stonewall Motor Lodge was built in 1964 and then restored in 2019 where it was transformed into a modern oasis!

In this post I’ll be sharing my personal experience staying at Stonewall Motor Lodge, the history of the lodge, what all the lodge offers in amenities, and some of my favorite wineries/vineyards, restaurants, and farms nearby!

WHY STONEWALL MOTOR LODGE IS THE BEST PLACE TO STAY ON THE 290 WINE TRAIL

Disclaimer: This article is in partnership with Stonewall Motor Lodge, but as always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. This post also features some affiliate links, which means I get a small commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your love and support!

What are the rooms like at Stonewall Motor Lodge?

Stonewall Motor Lodge boasts 12 remodeled rooms in the main area, 4 cabins in the back, and multiple RV parking spots as well, giving guests numerous ways to enjoy the property. Ana and I stayed in one of the remodeled rooms with two queen sized beds and it was very spacious, especially with our huge suitcases full of outfits for days! The rooms were beautiful with a Southwestern touch true to the motel’s 1960s roots, but where they practical and comfortable as a guest?

100%

The rooms have updated bedding, William Roam bath products, hi-speed Wi-Fi, vintage mini-fridge, a Keurig with heaps of coffee, and Netflix provided! Ana and I definitely took advantage of the coffee and Netflix! We watched the Circle every night before bed, which was a really nice way to wind down. All rooms at the lodge also have contactless check in. There is a keypad on the door and the code is sent via email or text before check-in. In addition to all these amazing features the one thing I was absolutely obsessed with were the special Seek and Swoon blankets! I’m seriously considering purchasing one to take with me on travel trips. They were extremely soft and I loved that they incorporated Stonewall Motor Lodge’s signature blue.

Does Stonewall Motor Lodge have amenities?

Yes! In addition to the Keurig in each of the guests rooms, the lobby is a place you’ll want to visit at least one time to grab coffee or water. The lobby is absolutely gorgeous and the managers Tim and Errica are absolutely delightful to speak to! They shared some of their favorite places to go in the area and even shared some not so popular hot spots we’ll be adding to our list for our next visit!

Are there places to gather and relax on the property?

Absolutely! There are numerous places on Stonewall Motor Lodge’s property for groups or even a couple to gather and enjoy the great outdoors with a bottle of Texas wine or morning coffee. My personal favorite area is the 2nd floor deck overlooking the motel! Ana and I spent an evening up there enjoying a bottle of wine from Grape Creek Vineyards while playing Uno and taking in the stars. They even have cozy blankets in a chest up there for guests if they get chilly and had a wine opener on the table for guests to use as well.

I swear, they think of everything! It was truly an amazing way to relax after a day of vineyards and dinner. Other spaces to gather on the property are behind the motel rooms under beautiful trees wrapped in lights. There are cute signature blue chairs to sit in as well as a new space called the Barn. The Barn is an indoor/outdoor space to spend an afternoon with some wine or watch a game on TV.

What’s the history of Stonewall Motor Lodge?

The history is pretty incredible, actually. I knew about Stonewall Motor Lodge but I had no idea about its’ rich history! Be sure to take some time to stop by The Press Room which was originally reserved for the Associated Press when President Johnson was in town. They were hoping to snap a photo of President Lyndon B. Johnson during visits to his ranch. How cool is that?! The Press Room is now dedicated to the motel’s unique history but it is also available for booking! However you don’t have to book the room to receive a tour of the Press Room—if it’s available, let them know you’d love to check the place out!

What can you do near Stonewall, Fredericksburg, or Johnson City?

As I mentioned before, Stonewall Motor Lodge is located right in the middle of the renowned 290 wine trail surrounded by over 75 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and natural beauty of the Texas Hill Country. The location is truly right in the heart of Texas wine country! I’ve stayed in the middle of Fredericksburg and right outside of Fredericksburg but truly this location was my favorite because we were close to so many more things.

During our time in Stonewall, our hosts Errica and Tim took us to some of their favorite places around that I wanted to recommend and share with you!

- Crowson Winery in Johnson City

The most amazing and personal tasting experience you’re absolutely not going to get anywhere else. I’ve never had more fun at a tasting before!

- Bryan’s on 290 in Johnson City

Holy moly this place is amazing, y’all! It’s a wonderful place for a date night or nice dinner for the entire family. I had the ribeye, mac & cheese, and potatoes while Ana had the cast iron salmon and everything was mouth watering delicious.

- Ab Astris Winery in Stonewall

Ab Astris has a gorgeous property and even more beautiful family story. Their wine is delicious and the food pairings are… oh my gosh.. chefs kiss!

- William Chris Vineyard in Hye

William Chris has THE family story and is basically a museum! We had the opportunity to learn about the vineyard’s rich history and meet some of the wine makers (female!) and even had the opportunity to saber wine!

- Signor Vineyards in Fredericksburg

Signor Vineyards was by far the most picturesque vineyard we visited on our trip. When we arrived we sat in a cute little corner of the property and enjoyed beautiful charcuterie boards, sandwiches from Joanna’s Market, and of course wine!

- Chase’s Place in Fredericksburg

Chase’s Place is a cute little cocktail lounge right off main street in Fredericksburg. The cocktails were delicious and be sure to try the tacos!

The location map Stonewall Motor Lodge made is absolutely amazing and available to see up close on their website here and framed in their lobby.

Now it’s time to start planning your trip to Stonewall Motor Lodge and experience the Texas wine country firsthand. Also check out my friend Ana’s review on Stonewall Motor Lodge too right here!

Let me know if you have any questions!

XOXO

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