The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape

9.7 / 10.0

Outstanding(14 Ratings)

House in Lake Austin, TX

4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 1 bath

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area

Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more

About this house rental

One-of-a-kind-of-unbelievable.
West Austin | Fairy Tale Escape | Nightly Rental | 1100 Sq. Ft. | Sleeps 4

Ever stay in a giant seashell unicorn? No, you haven't, but now you can cross it off your bucket list. This magical work of art is part Willy Wonka, part Big Lebowski, and totally unlike anywhere else. Do it for the 'gram, but also for your soul.

Come take a vacation from the real world of right angles and ticky tacky boxes. Situated on a secluded lot and wonderfully restored, The Bloomhouse is a celebration of all things magical and mystical.

How the heck did this magnificent beast come to be? Like all the best things in Austin, it started with some hippies and a dream. See, back in the 70s, while Wooderson was wasting all his time away, two UT architecture students decided to build an escape from society that would become a monument to man and nature. Their goal was a home that would not only protect you from the elements but allow you to live in harmony with the environment. They wanted this quixotic vision to provide a place of peace and isolation, a place so far removed that for many years there was no physical address.

Then the hippie dream disappeared into the 1980's Austin real estate boom, and there in the hills, the Bloomhouse waited. It would need just the right person who could see the home's potential to bring this work of art back from the brink. And then the home's fortunes shifted on a chance event. In 2017, Dave Claunch saw a real estate ad fall out of an Austin Business Journal for the Bloomhouse – a local legend he had learned about during his time as mayor. Claunch knew he had to save and preserve this one-of-a-kind place. Since buying the home, Claunch has spent over a year meticulously restoring the home with period-specific details to take it back to its original form.

When you drive away from the shores of Lake Austin through West Lake Hills on your way to the Bloomhouse, you don't know exactly where you're headed, but you know it's up. Up, up, up, and up the high road (Bloomhouse is literally located off of High Road). With unbelievable views of downtown Austin receding in your rearview, you find the side street where the house awaits in a wooded valley. Traveling along the road, you see her—the fantastical beast in the clearing—and you laugh out loud at the ridiculousness, the joy, the sheer courage of a house built to bend the rules of what's possible. Is it a white wolf in the clearing? A merengue sculpture? A mirage? You appear to have entered another planet's architectural heritage, and you've arrived exactly where you're supposed to be.

When you stay at the Bloomhouse, you are entering a place where magic can and will happen. Without one straight line or corner in the entire structure*, your thoughts are free of the constraints that our angular world creates. At the Bloomhouse, you leave behind the confines of modernity and the rules of logic, to live only in whimsy. We are alive in a fairytale of our own making. Let the story begin.

*Ok ok, the sliding back doors are technically rectangles, but you catch our drift. ;-)

The Bloomhouse cannot accommodate children under the age of 5.

Amenities

Air conditioner

Kitchen or Kitchenette

Internet / Wifi

Parking

Laundry

Balcony or Patio

Dishwasher

Garden

Map of Lake Austin, TX

Nearby attractions

Bullock Texas State History Museum

7.4 mi

Inner Space Cavern

34.3 mi

Wimberley Zipline Adventures

47.5 mi

Zilker Park

6.5 mi

RRRR

The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape

RRRR

9.7 / 10.0

Outstanding(14 Ratings)

House in Lake Austin, TX

4 guests · 2 bedrooms · 1 bath

Reasons to book

Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating

Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area

Includes essentialsGarden, Kitchen or Kitchenette, Air conditioner and more

About this house rental

Amenities

Air conditioner

Kitchen or Kitchenette

Internet / Wifi

Parking

Laundry

Balcony or Patio

Dishwasher

Garden

Map of Lake Austin, TX

Nearby attractions

Bullock Texas State History Museum

7.4 mi

Inner Space Cavern

34.3 mi

Wimberley Zipline Adventures

47.5 mi

Zilker Park

6.5 mi

Ratings and reviews

9.7 / 10.0

Outstanding(14 Ratings)

10.0 / 10.0

Jul 2024

This was the perfect getaway! As a woman, solo trips can sometimes be a little daunting but this stay was a perfect balance of being peacefully secluded yet close to others. I went to college in Austin, stayed a year after, then moved away and yet despite being familiar with the city, staying in this home felt like I was visiting a place I’d never been before! Highly recommend. It was beautiful!

10.0 / 10.0

Sep 2023

The Bloomhouse is the most fun and interesting home I’ve ever visited. We admired the builders creativity. If there is one down side to the Bloomhouse it is the multi levels and long winding walk down to the house with luggage, etc. very steep. But once you open the door it removes that memory and you enter fantasy.

10.0 / 10.0

Apr 2023

We loved staying here! It was one of the most unique properties I've ever seen. The house was clean, welcoming, peaceful and in a gorgeous area. Every nook and cranny of this 1200-square-foot property is very well thought out and no space is wasted. The sound system hooked up was much appreciated!

10.0 / 10.0

Mar 2023

Renting this property is about investing in a unique experience and that it is. Probably not the best choice for a larger Austin trip, but great to cocoon in and right or read or cuddle. I’d write a book or a song there happily.

10.0 / 10.0

Feb 2023

This is a beautiful whimsical space that is fun to explore. The fog in the morning on the hillside is beautiful to wake up to. Everything you need is provided in this one of a kind space.

10.0 / 10.0

Jul 2022

The Bloomhouse is nothing less than Spectacular!!!! We will DEFINITELY be returning! XoXxoo

10.0 / 10.0

May 2022

Caveat: This is not a property for small children or those with limited mobility. I've always wondered what it would be like to live in a "high design" house (i.e. a home that is as much art as it is architecture). Charles Harker (the architect of the Bloomhouse) created a truly unique space that evokes Gaudi. The location is wonderfully peaceful and quiet. Our stay was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Now for practical matters. The kitchen is well outfitted and meticulously clean. The wifi works. The heating and cooling work perfectly. The bathroom is adorable (not the largest bathroom that you'll ever see, but you're basically staying inside a giant conch shell, so what do you expect?) but it is thoughtfully outfitted, functional and clean. Importantly, the water heater provided nice and toasty showers without fail. The bed and bedding are quite comfy. The sound system is a little tricky to use but it was nice that they had supplied a sound system so it was worth the few minutes to figure it out. I spotted a few flecks of dust (I am a bit of a maniac about dust so most people would never notice), but overall the property was very well maintained and clean. The property management was excellent about communication. I texted with an issue at 5pm on Good Friday and had a response within minutes. MINUTES. That alone earns extra bonus stars and I would highly recommend this property management firm (Lodgewell) for other rentals. This is a home in a nice neighborhood in Austin so it's not a place to have a party or make noise. We had a few local friends over for cocktails one afternoon but we were very respectful of the neighbors in terms of parking (there is sufficient parking but you must follow the instructions!) and in terms of noise. Although this house is stunning in photographs, in the end, we didn't take a lot of photos. It's an amazing property, yes, but experiencing the space was far more enjoyable than mugging for instagram. With that I would suggest those staying here take all the photos you want, but for just one morning put down the camera, open the patio doors, listen to the birds, and use the outdoor shower. Experience the space. I'm so happy that this architectural gem was rescued from certain ruin and is available to the public. This house isn't for everyone (see note about small children and people with limited mobility), but it is a wonderful, well-maintained property that fit the bill.

10.0 / 10.0

Apr 2022

10.0 / 10.0

Nov 2020

Overall excellent!

10.0 / 10.0

Aug 2020

This house is truly a one of a kind! There is nothing like it - we loved every minute we spent here admiring the architecture, the quiet woods, and the swanky interior. This place was a world of its own and it felt miraculous to have the opportunity stay in such a unique and exquisite space!

6.0 / 10.0

Nov 2019

PROS: A very interesting structure! This is a one-of-a-kind experience and opportunity. A very cool house indeed. Easy keyless/hostless access. Full kitchen. Climate control. Comfortable (albeit small) bed and seating. Easy communication with rental agency. Private. Views of mostly nature. CONS: Remote (no where near town, which can be good if you’re looking to get away.) Broken, and nearly dangerous dirt/rock road that can’t handle smaller cars and will dirty up even the biggest SUV. *Very* steep, windy, narrow path with sparse and dim lights is the only way to access the property. No driveway access (off limits for being even steeper than the path, but not by much.) The house has a very chemical smell (probably from all the sprayed on ceiling and plastic foam) that can be very unpleasant if you are sensitive or have allergies. Not at all quiet during the day. Major construction going on nearby means constant beeping and rumbling from industrial trucks coming in and out of the shared road and building the nearby houses. We had hoped to get away from the city noise and couldn’t even keep the windows open because it was so disruptive. Which means we were trapped in the closed up house with the irritating plastic smell. This was a big downer for us because we were looking for a little peace and quiet and fresh air while on vacation. There is a small detached utility shed nearby that gives off a whining hum constantly, which can be a nuisance if you have good hearing or are sitting on the patio. TIPS: Arrive in daytime when you can see where you’re going. Drive a vehicle capable of navigating off road, not a cute convertible rental that will get damaged from flying rocks and debris. Grocery shop before getting there because stores are not nearby and once you get all your stuff carted down from the access road above you’re definitely not going to want to go all the way back up the hill and out again. Make sure to bring all the food and ingredients you want, as the property does not provide even simple basics like sugar. Pack light or you will be carting big suitcases up and down this dangerous path, possibly in the dark. Ask manager if the construction has been completed before renting if you are concerned about ambient noise. The house is totally unique. Aside from the above mentioned issues, we were generally comfortable and enjoyed the ‘experience’ of staying in such a special place, but we just cannot give it a full 5 stars.

10.0 / 10.0

Jun 2019

This was a 3 night Hideaway for my wife and I to get away from everything. It could not have been better. This beautiful, clean, tasteful, weird, little hideaway was PERFECT! We decided not to go out to restaurants as we were too comfy and fascinated. Knowing the history added so much to the trip. Bottom line - exactly what we wanted, and needed

10.0 / 10.0

May 2019

We had a great weekend in this very special home. Very private, clean, and equipped with everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The design and construction was even more spectacular in person.

5.0 / 10.0

Feb 2019

My best friend and I utilized this amazing place for a restorative weekend in Austin. There are no words to fully describe how magical this home is. As if out of a movie, it invites you in to a place of wonder and peace from the moment you enter. The interior is impeccable and the views stunning. Chereen was so wonderful as the host. She made us feel welcome and supported the entirety of the trip. I recommend this unique oasis if you are looking for an adventurous and relaxing escape!

5.0 / 10.0

Dec 2018

Was a smooth and pleasant rental. Very clean and well appointed on the inside. If you're looking for something unusual this could be the place!

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Lake Austin?

The average price for a rental in Lake Austin is R 8,147 per night. This rental is R 7,521 above the average.

Is parking included with this house?

Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.

Is there a pool at this house?

We didn’t find pool listed as an amenity for this house. It may be worth double checking if a pool is important for your stay.

Is The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape pet friendly?

Unfortunately, this house is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"

What amenities are available at The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape?

We found 9 amenities for this rental. This includes air conditioner, kitchen or kitchenette, internet / wifi, parking, and laundry.

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Garden · Kitchen or Kitchenette · Air conditioner

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RRRR

The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape

House in Lake Austin, TX

Reasons to book

About this house rental

Amenities

Map of Lake Austin, TX

Nearby attractions

The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape

House in Lake Austin, TX

Reasons to book

About this house rental

Amenities

Map of Lake Austin, TX

Nearby attractions

Ratings and reviews

FAQs

How much does this house cost compared to others in Lake Austin?

Is parking included with this house?

Is there a pool at this house?

Is The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape pet friendly?

What amenities are available at The Bloomhouse by Lodgewell | Fairy Tale Escape?

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