Harmonious Chords
At Tapatio Springs Resort
A venerable hill Country resort is being brought back to life by an unexpected duo. Country music legend George Strait and San Antonio area entrepreneur Tom Cusick purchased Boerne’s Tapatio Springs Resort and Conference Center in April with a vision to turn the rustic hideaway (that had fallen into disrepair) into a polished gem.
The ongoing renovation project includes complete overhauls of Tapatio’s 115 guest rooms, improvements to all 27 golf holes, re-working of the clubhouse and locker rooms, expansion of the dining amenities and beautification of resort grounds. Cusick says the resort’s Mexican themed interiors will now combine with a modern European flair and will be evident in native stone work and the redesigns of many of the property’s “high-traffic” areas.
“We’ve done more renovations in six weeks than most projects see in a year,” says Cusick. “We really want to have this place in extraordinary condition in time for Tapatio’s 30th anniversary this fall.” Tapatio Springs opened in 1981 and Cusick says the grand opening celebration on November 11 will be “one for the ages.”
With elevations of almost 2,000 feet (compared to nearby San Antonio’s 440 feet above sea level), Tapatio Springs showcases rolling topography and panoramic hill Country views. Though occasionally poor turf conditions dogged Tapatio in the past, Cusick says Textron invested $750,000 in improvements, including a new irrigation system that promises to keep all three nines green and lush. Carved through limestone mini-canyons and showcasing dramatic elevation changes and meandering Spring-fed creeks, Tapatio’s lakes, valley and Ridge nines play through a winding stretch of rugged terrain that has now been entrusted to local turf doctor Bill Bedford (a veteran superintendent from acclaimed properties like the Westin la Cantera Resort).
“anyone who has ever visited Tapatio knows it’s a special place,” says Cusick. “our goal is to realize the potential we all know this place has, then exceed it. It’s a beautiful piece of property and a special location to a lot of people, but they haven’t seen anything yet.”
“I have lived near Boerne, and over the years Tom and I watched what was happening at Tapatio Springs and we always believed it could be a real jewel,” says Strait, a self-described golf fanatic. “When the opportunity came up, we decided to go for it and make this dream come true.”
Tapatio Springs will remain open during the construction with plans to unveil the changes in November.