NESTLED
ON A GORGEOUS HILL COUNTRY RANCH ON A BLUFF ABOVE FAMED ONION CREEK IN
DRIPPING SPRINGS, JUST BENEATH THE HEAVENLY TEXAS SKY, CAMP LUCY IS HOME
TO THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY’S PREMIER WEDDING AND SPECIAL EVENT VENUES
AND LUXURY ACCOMMODATIONS. THE 275 ACRE PROPERTY, OWNED BY WHIT HANKS,
IS NAMED FOR HIS MOTHER, LUCY HANKS, AND ITS HISTORY AS AN IDYLLIC
FAMILY GETAWAY.
From the moment the gates swing
open, welcoming you to Camp Lucy, you know you have found your dream
destination and a true inspiration for your event. Camp Lucy's four
venues include Ian's Chapel, Sacred Oaks, Whit's Inn and The Vineyard.
Each of these venues boasts picture-perfect backdrops for your wedding
or special event. Camp Lucy also offers one-of-a-kind settings built
around the exclusive line of
Sperry Tents by Whim.
As a Whim Hospitality
managed property, Camp Lucy offers the ultimate event experience with
unparalleled service thanks to our premier in-house cuisine, floral
design, and event decor rentals.
Camp Lucy’s path from family ranch to wedding and special event
destination began when Whit’s oldest son Ian moved to Asia several years
ago – an odyssey that, quite unexpectedly, would marry this Texas
property with French Colonial buildings from Vietnam and inspire Whit to
open up the family’s land so others could experience the Hill Country
dream.
Upon Ian’s suggestion, Whit visited Asia, including Hanoi in Vietnam,
where he discovered a wealth of French-Colonial antiques. As an avid
antiques dealer and collector, Whit is always on the hunt for the truly
unique and special antique and, in Vietnam, he found what could be the
ultimate antique – an 1880's Catholic church. On the brink of
destruction to make way for a new church, the gorgeous 19th Century
chapel, built from intricately carved ironwood, was available for
purchase. Whit was sold.
The chapel was carefully disassembled and packed in sea-land
containers, all of the timbers and tiles painstakingly photographed,
labeled, and provided with a diagram and video to show how the church
would go back together for its new life in Texas.
After a long sea and land voyage, the chapel arrived in Dripping
Springs where it was reassembled and a campanile added to hold a 19th
Century French bell which, today, signals happy events at Camp Lucy. The
original chapel was soon joined by a second French Colonial church from
the 1930's, reconstructed at Camp Lucy and roofed with 1920's Ludowici
tile repurposed from the Bexar County Courthouse in downtown San
Antonio. The courthouse was getting a new roof and now the deep green
glaze of these antique tiles is the crowning glory on the Camp Lucy
pavilion.
The next chapter in the Camp Lucy storybook was written in December
2011 when the doors opened to a magnificent events hall. This addition
to Camp Lucy, created from a repurposed Amish barn originally built from
hand-hewn white oak timbers in Ohio in the 1800s, continues the unique
design aesthetic of Camp Lucy.
Today, the original chapel, pavilion, and events hall, along with
surrounding gardens, stone terrace, arch, and great lawn are
collectively known as
Ian’s Chapel to honor Whit’s son.
Sacred Oaks,
Camp Lucy’s second venue, opened on September 22, 2013. Named Sacred
Oaks to honor the space’s remarkable setting, the venue expertly blends
the impeccable design and enviable style that are the hallmarks of Camp
Lucy with the natural surroundings. The stunning ceremony site, with
lights dripping from the canopy of ancient oaks, has rapidly become a
sought-offer backdrop for weddings. Also in 2013, the Hays County
Historical Commission pronounced the big live oak at the Sacred Oaks
ceremony site as the biggest live oak in the county and we’ll keep those
bragging rights until a larger one is found (no word yet).
In the spring of 2014, Camp Lucy was very excited to introduce our first on-site lodging. The Camp Lucy Cottages
are private and spacious luxury hotel rooms with exceptional amenities
and, of course, offer the ultimate convenience for our guests.
In October 2015, we opened Whit’s Inn On the Creek,
a gorgeous luxe-rustic rehearsal dinner and corporate event venue
nestled by Onion Creek. This venue is ideal for weddings of fewer than
80 guests and for the foodie bride who is looking for a gastro-pub
reception experience.