The first time I came to the Dabb’s I was a very small child and it was still in the hands of the amusing eccentric Gary. There was a clear path down to the river, which was always a great swim — even with the leaches! I recall a litter of adorable kittens in the bushes that I always would sneak off to play with. My family went here a lot in the spring as a retreat. I do not have a single bad memory of it. Then in 2002 my family moved from our native Austin up north to Connecticut. I moved back 7 years later, memories of the Dabbs still in tact but no reason nor means to go there. Last year I got engaged to the man of my dreams. We explored various options for a wedding venue — The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, a very nice Chinese restaurant in Houston, and a country club to name a few. I remember the idea just struck me like lightning one day when I was talking to my fiancé, «What about The Dabbs?» With a quick explanation of my family’s long standing history with the place my fiancé agreed to go check it out. I found their website online and seeing the pictures was a bit of a shock. It looked much nicer, larger, and sophisticated than the place I remembered. The fountain worked, the dining area was huge, the rooms looked redone. I quickly called the number and spoke to the charming David Griffith who invited us up to Llano to stay the night and talk about having our wedding there. It was a lovely trip. Our bed was comfy, the view was beautiful, and our breakfast was delicious. We happily paid our deposit and went on our way. The wedding was some months away but we had found the perfect venue as well as a great caterer(another Llano local!). There was some hiccups in communication. When my parents arrived the Thursday before the wedding(on Saturday), the man managing the place had no idea there was going to be a wedding. Fortunately with a few phone calls and a small refund, they resolved the issues and everything went smoothly. We paid only $ 700 for a wonderful wedding experience in a place swimming in happy childhood memories for me. Now it has a happy memory for my husband’s family too. Thank you to Greg, David, Jimmy, and the other wonderful caterers! The food was delicious and you performed beautifully despite being short handed! You were a big part of what made that day wonderful! Thank you so much!
Brian C.
Classificação do local: 5 Chicago, IL
Forget everything you’ve read about Dabbs Railroad Hotel. Yes, it still retains the old charm of turn of the century Llano, but this bed and breakfast has undergone some major transformations over the past couple of years, all for the better. The old Dabbs that many remember from the late 80’s and early 90’s has all but vanished, replaced with an updated version of itself that manages to retain the«bones» of the original while adding a polish that the former self lacked. While this hotel is most notable for guests like Bonnie and Clyde, plus a host of current celebrities(who shall rename nameless!) it should be noted that the unobstructed views of the Llano River, biscuits and gravy in the morning, and the out-of-tune Llano Piano on the front porch that gave the place a sense of tradition all remain. The exterior and interior have been freshly painted, fixtures updated, the kitchen and dining areas expanded, the rooms and bathrooms thoroughly renovated… and yes, clean sheets and towels are provided. The cleanliness of this place cannot be overstated. This is the perfect place for a romantic getaway for two, or a group of 20 or more, as you can rent a room, the sleeping porch, or the whole house. Our peaceful weekend getaway to Llano included a tour of the local Fall Creek Winery, antique shopping, dinner at the Llaneaux Seafood house followed by complimentary beer while watching the sunset from the back porch. While Llano may be officially known as the«Deer Capitol of Texas,» once the secret of this riverfront hotel gets out it may become known hereafter as «Home of The Dabbs.»
Uncle D.
Classificação do local: 5 Austin, TX
When I’d watch Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, I’d think… «God, I would love to find someone who’s created their own little eccentric world away from everything». Then I met Gary Smith at the Dabbs, and nothing I can write can do it justice. The last of the old Texas railroad hotels, this is not some expensive high end re-creation of 1907 Texas — this IS1907 Texas. The house is rough around the edges, but the beautifully manicured and landscaped grounds go a long way to set the mood. Lazing the day on open porches, a walk down to the clear river, sunning yourself on the rocks, lying in the waterfalls, spending the night around the fire pit. Wake up to the most amazing cowboy breakfast of bacon, biscuits and gravy. The rooms are great, and if you want to go budget, you can camp in the back yard by the river for 20 or 30 dollars. This is summer camp meets bed & breakfast meets time machine. Go, relax, don’t worry about anything. .