Stay the night at an aerial resort after ziplining through a canopy of Cypress trees. Photo courtesy of Cypress Valley
Spend the night in a treehouse after ziplining through a canopy of trees at Cypress Valley.
In 1998, entrepreneurs David and Amy Beilharz sold their home in Austin and bought 88 acres of undeveloped land in Spicewood. After raising their four children, the couple wanted to share their property with the public — and Cypress Valley was born.
“They had been contemplating stuff to do with the land for awhile. They had an organic farm, they had bison, and they wanted to do something more substantial,” manager Shelby Semon said. “David went and experienced a canopy tour in Central America and decided that’s how he wanted to share their property with the world.”
[image id="21939" title="Cypress Valley Canopy Tours Spicewood"] The treehouses are beautifully decorated on the inside with views that will take your breath away. Photo courtesy of Cypress Valley
The Beilharzes opened Cypress Valley Canopy Tours in 2005. It was the first true canopy ziplining tour in the continental United States.
Today, the property is an aerial resort. It now boasts four treehouses with a fifth one in the making. Each treehouse is accessed by a long, wooden rope bridge. The treehouses tower above the ravine, the life source for the cypress trees. The valley becomes a beautiful explosion of color in the spring.
At night, the property is pitch dark. Guests can see millions of stars and are treated to a stunning view of the Milky Way. Fireflies light up the cypress forest, making the stay a magical experience.
The Juniper and the Willow are the property’s small, but sweet, treehouses. They are the first you’ll see on the property and are at the start of the canopy tour, so guests can watch the tour in action from the comfort of their private porch.
[image id="21937" title="Cypress Valley Canopy Tours Spicewood"] The Juniper and the Willow are the property's smallest treehouses. Photo courtesy of Cypress Valley
Families will feel right at home in the Nest, the biggest treehouse. The Nest is settled into the ravine with several lookouts, a kitchen, and an outdoor solar shower. It has a huge platform for exploring and a beautiful, curving steel-support structure holding it all up.
[image id="21940" title="Cypress Valley Canopy Tours Spicewood"] The multi-story Nest treehouse is settled into the ravine. Photo courtesy of Cypress Valley
Romantics will delight in the Lofthaven, a secluded treehouse yurt. Lofthaven connects to a private bathhouse with a waterfall and a soaking pool. It’s the most private of the four.
“There’s no TVs, no WiFi, limited cellphone service,” said Semon, who encourages guests to disconnect. “Enjoy each other. Read a book. Get outdoors.”
[image id="21938" title="Cypress Valley Canopy Tours Spicewood"] The Lofthaven is the perfect treehouse for a romantic outing with a yurt high above the ravine and a private soaking pool. Photos courtesy of Cypress Valley
“The treehouses were designed and built by ArtisTrees, which is actually owned and operated by their son, Will Beilharz,” Semon said. “ArtisTrees builds our treehouses and treehouses all over the world. It’s all a family business.”
Guests staying at Cypress Valley also have access to the lake (complete with a rope swing, a water zipline, and a row boat), a pristine swimming pool, barbecue grills, picnic areas, and other amenities on the property.
Cypress Valley is located at 1223 S. Paleface Ranch Road in Spicewood. Go to cypressvalley.com or call 512-264-8880 for more information.
