Blaze near Boerne

Spa at Hill Country resort previously owned by George Strait goes up in flames

The spa at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort was destroyed by fire on June 20.

Rendering courtesy of Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort

The spa at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, west of Boerne and formerly owned by country music legend George Strait, was destroyed by fire the night of June 20.

Firefighters from Boerne, Leon Springs, Bergheim, and Comfort Fire-Rescue responded to the blaze but were unable to save the 10,000-square-foot building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. A dollar estimate for the damage wasn’t available.

The fire happened less than two weeks after Fairfax, Virginia-based Crescent Hotels & Resorts announced it bought the 220-acre resort. Strait no longer holds a stake in Tapatio Springs.

“We are ready to take this strong resort concept to the next level,” Michael George, founder and CEO of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, said in a news release.

As of press time, representatives of Crescent couldn’t be reached for comment.

Strait purchased the resort with longtime friend and real estate developer Tom Cusick in 2011 after it went into foreclosure.

A recent multimillion-dollar renovation, lasting nearly two years, resulted in a new 35,000-square-foot clubhouse and an update of the 111 guest rooms. The resort reopened in October 2019. A fire in 2017 destroyed the previous clubhouse.

Among the property’s amenities are two restaurants, a coffee shop, a resort-style pool, a golf course, live music, and nature paths.

Aside from Tapatio Springs, Crescent owns these other Texas properties: Horseshoe Bay Resort; Hall Arts Hotel Dallas, Curio Collection in Dallas; Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center; Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Houston by the Galleria; Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria Area; AC Hotel Fort Worth; Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Plano/The Colony; Residence Inn Dallas Plano/The Colony; and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Dallas Plano/The Colony.

The company also is developing the Hall Park Hotel, Autograph Collection in Frisco.

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Airline News

San Antonio gets nonstop flights to this Washington, DC airport

Photo courtesy of American Airlines

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American Airlines will soon introduce long-awaited nonstop flights between San Antonio (SAT) and Washington, D.C. (DCA). One flight will be scheduled daily, starting in March.

Tickets for the new service will be available on sale starting December 23 through aa.com or American’s mobile app.

The route was tentatively announced in October, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has now formally approved the application by American Airlines.

“This new service will offer convenient nonstop access to our nation’s capital for San Antonians, while helping further connect customers to our comprehensive global network," said Brian Znotins, American’s Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planning, in a press release. "American thanks the many elected officials and citizens who supported our application, and we look forward to welcoming customers onboard this new service soon.”

Flight 1718, reflecting the year San Antonio was founded, will depart SAT at 6:35 am and arrive in DCA at 10:41 am. Flight 1947, reflecting the year the U.S. Air Force was established, will depart DCA at 7:45 pm and arrive in SAT at 10:43 pm.

“This long-awaited connection to our nation’s capital is a game changer for our community, opening doors to countless opportunities for travel and economic development,” said San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m grateful to those who have championed this effort and for the bipartisan support of our representatives in the Senate and House, whose advocacy was instrumental in making these flights a reality. We look forward to the positive impact this nonstop service will have for years to come."

San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh echoed the sentiments about economic development and pointed out some growth already happening in San Antonio. The release also notes that San Antonio is the largest city in Texas lacking nonstop service to DCA and the largest city in the U.S. with a majority Hispanic population without nonstop service to DCA.

“Serving the fastest-growing city in the country, SAT has achieved record-breaking passenger numbers throughout 2024. This nonstop service to and from DCA addresses a need for our military, business, educational and research communities, among others. It also promotes competition and offers more travel options for passengers flying to and from San Antonio, enhancing connectivity as we continue making progress on the airport Terminal Development Program.”

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