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The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat

Photo gallery for The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat

Watch it all flow by...
Foggy River Sunrise
The Dome, Home to hundreds of plants and our Koi Fish
Breakfasdt in the Dome anyone?
Tropical Oasis in The Dome

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2+ bathroomsSleeps 8185.8 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Bastrop, TX
  • Bastrop Convention & Exhibition Center
    ‪7 min drive‬
  • Lost Pines Golf Club
    ‪9 min drive‬
  • Lake Bastrop
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.)
    ‪35 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

2 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat

There's this place that allows you to forget the world...

Enjoy discounts when booking 3 nights or more!

The RiverHouse is a pet friendly zen retreat located on a beautiful stretch of The Colorado River in Bastrop Texas. It features a 2000 sq foot 3 bedroom 2 and a half bath 110 plus year old farmhouse remodeled and modernized in a way that retains its old character and charm. Our popular air-conditioned sunroom offers views of the grounds, doors which lead onto the upper deck which is a popular gathering spot with a propane griddle, tables and seating areas. You’ll lose yourself on our shady sculptured grounds featuring eight different patios, each with their own theme and energy, our four zen hammocks and the abundant sounds of nature. You’ll find it hard to believe you’re only 2 miles from downtown Bastrop!

The property is truly Zen Central with access to the river where water activities such as swimming, kayaking, tubing and fishing are popular. You’ll be surrounded by the sounds of the water flowing by and hundreds of bird songs. Visit our tropical plant dome, home of our popular Koi fish, who think they are the star attraction as well as hundreds of plants. It is the perfect Zencation spot! We are also minutes away from two incredible State Parks where hiking and bird watching are popular. 


We have a feeling, like so many others over the years you'll fall in love with The RiverHouse. This is where ZenRiverHouse get aways all began and it is still the favorite of thousands of guest who have visited over the years. We have been told by many of our guest this is the nicest booking they have ever made. Its no wonder thousands of guests have visited us over the years and refer their friends and family to come out and enjoy the place.

Note: While the house is private, grounds may be shared from time to time with guests from our sister property Harmony House, located on the same grounds, but the grounds are large with ample patios and spaces for all.

The Space

The RiverHouse features a downstairs Master Bedroom with gorgeous double shower and huge soaking tub. 2 bedrooms and bathroom upstairs, Living Room, Full Kitchen, Sunroom and our beautiful grounds which include our tropical plant dome.


The Downstairs Master Bedroom has a King Size bed and its own double shower and soaking tub, a guests favorite. The Upstairs Master Bedroom has a queen size bed and a futon which will sleep an additional two. Inside bedroom two is a large bathroom with a walk in shower that offers panoramic views of the property. Bedroom three has a queen size bed. Both upstairs bedrooms have their own Smart TV’s.


The Kitchen has a full size electric range with oven. A breakfast bar which overlooks the food prep area as well as a bistro table for two. Microwave, juicers, pots pans and coffee/tea makers are available as well.


The Living/Movie room is equipped with a huge TV as well as theatre seating.


The Sunroom overlooks the property and doors lead to the spacious upper deck, a favorite gathering spot. The Sunroom is a great place to watch the large variety of birds we have on the property and is a guest favorite. The sunroom features a dining table, which seats 4 as well as its own TV and ½ bath.


Smart TV’s allows you to access popular streaming apps and Alexa will play your favorite tunes, give you restaurant recommendations or play games. Our High Speed Wi-Fi extends over most of the property for you modern convenience types!


It's a beautiful relaxing setting where you can truly forget about the world.


While a 2-night stay is possible, the vast majority of our guests have told us they wished they had booked an additional night. If a 3-night stay is possible we recommend booking at least 3 days as it is rarely possible to add a day at the last minute. Should you need additional space for more guest, check out our sister properties, Harmony House located on the same grounds or RiversEdge, RiverNook Located just down the street. Or, The PineyWoods House located in the forest about 15 minutes away.


We also offer The Serenity Kayak Experience, The Serenity Hiking Experience as well as tube and Canoe rentals. The Experiences are great ways to explore our beautiful river and forests with me as your guide and have become very popular with our guest. Or, try our rental packages if you prefer to explore on your own... Just message me for more details!


Please keep in mind that this is a nature sanctuary and not the 20th floor of a high-rise building. Dirt daubers and other insects are found here and will fly into the house if given the opportunity. Outdoors you may find a spider web, dirt or leaves on the outdoor furniture and hammocks. We try our best to keep them wiped down but it is nature, it changes daily, just wipe it off with one of our pet towels and enjoy the place for what it is, nature in its entire splendor.


We love having well behaved pets explore the grounds with their families. We do have a $75.00 per pet per stay fee that helps keep us pet friendly. The maximum number of pets for this property is 4. Emotional Support Animals are not service animals and will be charged the fee. If you did not include and pay for your pets in the reservation, please inform us of the number of pets joining you during your stay, we can bill your card or you can leave it with us before you leave. (Please see house rules for pets)


Whether a romantic getaway, family gathering or corporate retreat we are sure that The RiverHouse will delight the nature lover inside and rejuvenate your soul!


My greatest joy is having happy guest, please look over the photos before you book as well as reading the description and rules.


You may see us while we tend the grounds or gardens, just say hi and we'll introduce ourselves. We do give our guest privacy but we love to entertain and chat if you are so inclined.


Guest access


Guest have access to The River House, the tropical plant dome and the features located on the grounds... river access, hammocks, 8 patios, seating areas and chairs.


Other things to note...

The occupancy listed is the max occupancy this property can accommodate. If you intend to host any event, celebration or other function, you will need to disclose this to us in advance and obtain approval, including an agreement to all additional fees and terms.

We ask that you read all House Rules & Policies including the additional House Rules section prior to booking. Upon booking, you are stating that you understand them and agree to follow and abide by them.

We strongly advise trip insurance to cover your booking and will provide any documentation you may need to facilitate your claim. Our cancelation policy will be adhered to at all times during your reservation. We do not refund reservations outside of our cancelation policy. Unlike hotels who typically overbook reservations, we do not have that option. We have blocked off the property from all advertising once you booked it and typically have a hard time re-booking on short notice. If you do cancel outside of our policy, we will do our best to rebook the property and will send you any funds we collect to offset your losses. These funds may be less than you originally paid.


As mentioned above, while the house is private, grounds may be shared from time to time with guests from our sister property Harmony House, located on the same grounds, but the grounds are large with ample patios and spaces for all.

Your driveway parking is limited to 2 cars. Parking for an additional car can be found in the grassy area across from the drive.


Austin is about 33 miles
Bastrop State Park is about 5 miles

We cannot wait to share our sanctuary with you!

Property manager

Andy
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs and cats less than 23 kg per pet (limit 4 pets total)
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts cash
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 35
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit

About the area

Bastrop

Located in Bastrop, this holiday home is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park, while Museum & Visitor Center of the Bastrop County Historical Society and Lumberyard Music Hall are cultural highlights.
Map
Bastrop, TX

What's nearby

  • Bastrop Convention & Exhibition Center - 7 min drive - 5.3 km
  • Bastrop Opera House - 7 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Bastrop State Park - 8 min drive - 7.0 km
  • Lost Pines Golf Club - 9 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Lake Bastrop - 12 min drive - 11.1 km

Getting around

  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Whataburger - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬7 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows cats and dogs (limit 4 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

How much is parking at The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat?

Limited spots are available.

What time is check-in at The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The RiverHouse Pet Friendly Zen River Retreat located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is steps from Colorado River and within 3 mi (5 km) of Ascension Seton Bastrop and Fisherman's Park. Bastrop Convention & Exhibition Center is 3.1 mi (5 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 50 out of 52 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 52 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 52 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 52 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 52 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The perfect getaway for friends and family

Incredible property on the river. A truly relaxing and fun trip all around.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bradley P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peaceful Escape

The water view and relaxation delivered.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tammie G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful and serene

A lot of effort by the owner to have the grounds maintained. The house is very comfortable and homey feeling. The river is visible from the house.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Camellia F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Holiday

Great spot to spend a holiday with my adult family. Have already recommended to several people.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Timothy K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place to stay

The house was old and renovated with modern updates. Had an excellent air conditioning system and amazing grounds.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dominic A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Pretty cottage, great location

Spacious yet cozy cottage for a relaxing winter getaway. Lovely outdoor area with river access.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sarah A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mothers, Sisters & Daughters

Lovely property, beautiful grounds and nicely appointed inside. Definitely hope to return again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

Christy T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect zen retreat

Such a piece of heaven. Lovely home-like property with incredible views, yard, and access to downtown Bastrop. My son fished daily, our dogs have never looked happier, and we had the most relaxing, chill vacation together as a family.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

River house.

The property was beautiful. It just needed a lot of love. The shared deck needed some work. Wasn’t comfortable to sit at. The house was very pretty but needed a deep cleaning. The sunroom was everyone’s favorite.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Eric P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great home base for paddling weekend

It was great to be able to pull right into the yard and relax before worrying about the vehicle shuttle! Great property for our group, with everything we needed for an awesome weekend. Will certainly be doing this again!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Misty B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Peace Like a River

The RiverHouse was the perfect place to kick off our summer break. It met the needs of everyone in our group from ages 8 to 74, plus one dog. Relaxation, wildlife watching, swimming, fishing, paddling—it’s all here in a quiet neighborhood tucked just outside of historic Bastrop. It is a great central location for day trips to visit Brenham, Austin, Round Top and more. Good luck tearing yourself away from the river, though. The grounds are a true wonderland and Andy is a top notch host. The RiverHouse is definitely on our list of repeat destinations.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Serene Relaxation

We love the Riverhouse! A great place to relax and recharge. This is the second time we’ve stayed there; we truly love the peacefulness of the house & property. We especially love watching the birds from the sunroom and walking down the terraced steps to sit by the river. The spa-like bathroom, the entertainment room & the kitchen are all great. There is a comfortable king bed in the downstairs bedroom. (It was just the 2 of us for this stay) Andy is a wonderful host, readily answering questions & always super helpful.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2023

6/10 Okay

Tawny G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location

Our weekend stay

I’ve been really hesitant on writing this post but feel like there are quite a few things that could have made it better. The property was extremely clean! The beds were extremely comfortable and the house is really stocked with kitchen things that you might need! They have pots, pans, plates, bowls and utensils if you might need them which was great. It was equipped with cleaning supplies and many amenities like a fire pit and games to play! They had TVs in every room and Alexa to play your favorite music! Here were my issues: While the listing said it had a sister house, it doesn’t mention that it’s on the same property and within a few feet from the River House. You will share the property with others. The individuals we shared it with had a yappy dog that barked anytime we walked outside. It was super annoying and the other couple thought it was funny. The refrigerator does NOT work. We found that out after we bought $200 worth of groceries and they were spoiled. Everything had condensation on/in it and it was not cold. Andy was polite and respectful however we felt as though we were being spied on the entire time. He stood outside our door and talked to the other guests for well over an hour and it just felt very uncomfortable. While the views were beautiful, relaxing and peaceful, there was a feeling of having to walk on eggshells and uneasiness of having to share the property with strangers.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Amy P., North Dakota

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Breathtaking

We spent a lot of time in the kitchen that was fully stocked talking and singing as a family. The Alexa in the kitchen was a plus. We watched movies in the main room and played games in the sun room. The house was amazing and then you add the outdoor space and river and it’s an oasis!! Plus it’s pet friendly so our fur babies were able to enjoy the fun too. The owner was extremely helpful and friendly. Our family will be going back for sure!!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lori W., St Augustine, FL

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous and Unique

We enjoyed our stay at the River House. The house and grounds are beautiful allowing for a relaxing getaway. We highly recommend this property for anyone that wants to embrace nature and spend time in a warm and welcoming space.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

jana p.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Dreamy property on the river

This property is gorgeous! Don’t even hesitate to book here. Nothing short of amazing. Wish we could have spent more time there, but it was my daughters wedding weekend! The showers were a dream! Best rental Stay ever!!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2022

10/10 Excellent

Matt K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nice little refuge

Plenty of house seating, nice areas to relax in. Great proximity to Circuit of the Americas. Bastrop itself is a cute little town. We enjoyed our stay a lot!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

tiffany w.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Simply Amazing!

We had such an amazing time at Andy's place. We found this place when we were kayaking down the river and saw a sign that said "you could be staying here!". It turned out that this is the sister property, but we couldn't be more pleased. We were able to rent both the big house and garage apartment for the weekend and slept 12 (ages 4 to 68) comfortably. We hosted a birthday party for a small additional fee, and Andy was very accommodating, plus we had plenty of room for guests to visit. The grounds were stunning - the dome greenhouse, the terraces, the lawn. You couldn't ask for a more beautiful spot. Every person who visited said they'd love to stay again every year. Here are a couple of things to note - both the front and back entrances to the house have a few stairs, the back ones were more manageable for our elderly visitors since they had a hand rail. The primary suite in the main house is on the first floor, and has a walk in shower and a tub for those with littles who need baths or people who wouldn't do great with a lot of stairs. Both bathrooms are spectacular. I loved the wet room downstairs with the giant tub and dual shower heads, but the upstairs bathroom had a fabulous view (it was cool to shower in the moonlight!) The stairs in the big house are steep! We kept a close eye on our kiddos (4 and 6) and they did just fine. There are a few rocking horses and a jenga set the kids loved playing with, but the real gem was the outdoors space. The kids loved seeing the fish in the dome, and playing on the hammock. I loved that there were multiple terraces with viewpoints so we could watch them play, and set clear boundaries (aka don't go past the last white fence by the river). For the river loving folks out there, this is on the El Camino Real Paddle Trip. It starts at Fishermans Park in downtown Bastrop (where you can rent kayaks and canoes), and takes out at the Colorado River Refuge. The house is about 3/4 of the way through the trip on the left hand side. We were able to kayak from the Park to the house in 4 hours and stop there, pull the kayaks up the bank, and grab the kids for the last of the trip. The river here is fast! It's very shallow (knee deep or so) but at a tiny island so the water is moving fast on both sides. Well.. this concludes the longest review I've every written! Take the plunge and rent this place, it's 100% worth it.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sylvia O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Indeed it was too short of a stay enjoyed every single thing and did the kayak tour and omg it was amazing
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Selina R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful little oasis

A great place to rest and relax by the River. Andy is a great host. We had a wonderful time!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Sruti D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely awesome.....a little piece of peace and quiet...wonderfully designed and maintained.

One of the most relaxing stays. The property is beautifully designed and maintained. Close to Austin and Bastrop parks and lakes. Love the dome 😘
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Becky P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Bastrop Vacation

Wonderful scenic and peaceful getaway with amenities of town also within 5-10 minutes. River view and nature sounds were serenity itself with the ability to escape the heat to air conditioned sun room and wonderfully restored farmhouse.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jeff S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

We'll be back!

Very nice house with incredible backyard and river views. Very clean - will definitely go back next year! Thanks Andy!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Margaret C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing stay - we left fully recharged!

Lovely house and beautiful grounds - super relaxing get-away! Amenities were great - spa-like showers/tubs, convection oven, great theater-room set-up. Our favorite parts of our stay: watching birds from the sunroom, listening to the soothing wind chimes and sitting by the river at sunset. Andy was very helpful with anything we needed. Highly recommend!
Stayed 9 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

CONNIE E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent!

The property is beautiful and peaceful, with recently updated accommodations: new fridge, nice big shower and soaking tub. The owner is super friendly and helpful, too. He recommended some restaurants in town, guided our kayaking adventure, and let my little girl feed the goldfish with him. It’s a great spot for a retreat from the hustle and bustle of life!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2022

About the host

Hosted by Andy

Host profile image
Growing up in small town Texas, I was fortunate that it was situated on a River. I love the River life and sharing my properties along the river here in Bastrop. I love kayaking the river and hiking our two State Parks. Ask me about our Serenity Experiences... A favorite with our guest!

Why they chose this property

The property has an almost magical energy to it. It truly is a great place to get away from it all!

What makes this property unique

You will definitely find something to fall in love with here. Whether the sounds of the river, the wind chimes around the property, the bird songs, the wildlife, there is truly something magical about this place. Discover nature, rediscover yourself, or just chill and let the stress fade away.

We also offer The Serenity Kayak Experience, The Serenity Hiking Experience as well as tube and Canoe rentals. The Experiences are great ways to explore our beautiful river and forests with me as your guide, or our rental packages if you prefer to explore on your own... Just message us for more details!

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests