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The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!

Photo gallery for The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!

A rustic outdoor seating area with a wooden table and chairs, surrounded by a lush garden and a scenic view of rolling hills.
A rural landscape with trees, a bird feeder, and a flower pot.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and decorative items.
A living room with a brown sofa, patterned cushions, a wooden coffee table, a grey armchair, a TV, and a patterned rug.
A bedroom with a large bed, two bedside lamps, a nightstand, and a view of trees through the window.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • The great outdoors
    Guests love the outdoor space here.
  • Unmatched views, unforgettable moments
    Guests like the location for the scenic views.
1 bedroom1 bathroomSleeps 2

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Air-conditioning
  • Barbecue
  • Outdoor furniture

Explore the area

View map
Dripping Springs, TX
  • Place, Field of Dreams
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Place, Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Place, XLR8 Ranch
    ‪17 min drive‬
  • Airport, Austin, TX (AUS-Austin-Bergstrom Intl.)
    ‪59 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

1 bedroom (sleeps 2)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Shampoo

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen

About this property

The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!

The Cowhouse is a charming hilltop guesthouse nestled within Barkspin Oaks Ranch, a 61-acre ranch in the picturesque Texas Hill Country. Located approximately 8 miles southwest of Dripping Springs, this cozy retreat offers breathtaking views that stretch for miles. It’s conveniently close to local wineries, distilleries, and wedding venues, including Alexander at Creek Rd, Camp Lucy, and Cricket Hill Ranch. Other scenic hill country towns like Wimberley and Blanco are within a 30-minute drive, while Fredericksburg is easily accessible within an hour.

The Cowhouse provides a secluded and private haven for relaxation, complete with a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. The kitchen seamlessly opens to the living area, featuring recently updated stainless steel appliances. The living room boasts a large window with an eastward view, perfect for enjoying spectacular sunrises. For entertainment, there’s free Wi-Fi, a Smart TV that also receives local network channels and a DVD player stocked with assorted movies.

Step outside onto the expansive 12 x 30 ft covered porch, which also faces east. Here, you can savor the breathtaking views throughout the day. The porch is equipped with a gas grill and multiple seating areas, making it an ideal spot for relaxation and outdoor dining.

Inside, the bedroom offers a comfortable king-sized bed, a spacious closet, and blackout curtains for restful sleep. The bathroom features a combination tub/shower, toilet, and vanity. Additionally, the laundry room houses a large top-loading washing machine and a sizable dryer.

The Cowhouse has a heartwarming backstory: Built in 2008 by the owners, Andi and Jerry, it originally served as their weekend home. Back then, there was no fence to keep out the livestock, and the curious cows would often approach the house. Their grandson affectionately dubbed it the Cowhouse, as he and his sister loved watching the cows up close. The name stuck, capturing the essence of this rustic retreat.

Barkspin Oaks Ranch, part of a larger ranch settled by Andi’s grandparents nearly 100 years ago, remains rugged and teems with wildlife. Deer, rabbits, and a family of foxes call it home. Bird feeders attract a variety of avian visitors, and occasionally, a pair of hawks graces the skies. It’s a place where nature and tranquility converge, inviting guests to unwind and connect with the land.

The Cowhouse is over 200 feet away from the owners' home and both are on top of a hill inside a 4-acre fenced area. The main house is located where it does not impact the great views seen from the Cowhouse. Outdoor living areas for both homes are separated by trees and there is enough space between them to ensure privacy. The owners and guests will share the private road to the public road but the Cowhouse has a separate parking area. The Cowhouse is 0.3 miles from the public road.

Guests will be allowed to walk around the mowed areas of the fenced 4 acres at their own risk. Guests are not allowed outside of this fenced area except when entering or exiting in their vehicle.

No Smoking or Vaping.

Check-in is 4pm and Check-out is 10am.

No Pets are allowed.

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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

Adults only
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Guests are not allowed outside of the 4-acre fenced area on the hilltop except when entering or exiting the property in their vehicle.
Fireworks are not allowed. Discharging firearms is not allowed. Campfires are not allowed without permission from the homeowner or caretaker.
Parking is allowed only in the designated area next to the Cowhouse. Guests are required to lock the front door whenever all guests are away.

Important information

You need to know

Property # 2612346vb
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
Cashless transactions are available
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
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
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Dripping Springs

Located in Dripping Springs, this cottage is in a rural area. Pedernales Falls State Park and Jacob's Well Natural Area reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Jump Wild and Hill Country Lavender Farm. Ready for a night out? Consider Dog 'n' Bone and Hays City Store. Relax and indulge in the area's winery tours, or seek out an adventure with horse riding nearby.
Map
Dripping Springs, TX

What's nearby

  • Field of Dreams - 12 min drive - 7.2 km
  • Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm - 16 min drive - 10.5 km
  • XLR8 Ranch - 17 min drive - 12.4 km
  • Pedernales Falls State Park - 23 min drive - 24.7 km
  • Bell Springs Winery - 24 min drive - 25.1 km

Getting around

  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) - 55 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Whataburger - ‬23 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Circle K - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Sonic Drive-In - ‬22 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!?

As of 28 August 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views! on 31 August 2026 start from NZ$489, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Cowhouse, a cozy hilltop guesthouse at Barkspin Oaks Ranch. Beautiful views! located?

Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 6 miles (10 km) of Field of Dreams, Onion Creek Kitchens at Juniper Hills Farm and XLR8 Ranch. Dr. Pound Historical Farmstead Museum and Twisted X Brewing Company are also within 12 miles (20 km).

About the host

Hosted by Andi Berry

Host profile image
My mother's parents lived on a large ranch that Barkspin Oaks was originally part of and my father's parents lived on a farm about a mile away. When I was a kid I would ride around the ranch with my uncle. I grew up in Austin and then moved to San Antonio, but continued to spend a lot of time at the family ranch and Dripping Springs. The hill that the Cowhouse is located on was, and still is, my favorite place. And in 2015 I was finally able to move to the ranch and have my home on that hill.

Jerry and I are retired but we are very active doing projects around the ranch. We are here most of the time and are available if you have any questions. We also will respect your privacy. Please let us know if you prefer no contact. Feel free to ask for something you need or to inquire about the area.

Why they chose this property

The first thing everyone who visits does is stop and take in the view. Our 4-acre fenced tract covers most of the hilltop and you can walk and see in all directions in minutes. Sunrises and sunsets can be spectacular. We are far enough away from cities to have great views of the stars. We see storms coming from miles away.

What makes this property unique

The Cowhouse was our weekend home for seven years. We designed it to be comfortable for us and have the amenities we needed. We wanted it to have enough room and feel homey and not like we were in a hotel room. Jerry insisted that we have the 12 x 30 ft covered front porch so we could relax, grill, and eat outdoors, and enjoy the views. We want our guests to enjoy what we also enjoyed for years.

Languages:

English

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