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APRIL 2021, Vol 1 l Issue 3
TEXAS
SON’S
TRAVEL
How the locally owned
VIBES!
San Marcos river fun plus
company is investing in nightlife at Kingsbury’s
the area’s waterways
newest music venue
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2
THIS ISSUE COVERSHOT
4 22
Michael and Chasity
Son’s Blue How one Coloring, Bond with their daughter,
River Ranch property on puzzles & a Maniyah, grill out at
kicks off its Geronimo chance to Sun’s Blue River Ranch in
11
first season Creek became win a $25
Kingsbury.
of live music Son’s Travel gift card! Photo by Lizz Daniels
STAFF
GENERAL MANAGER SALES MANAGER
Darren Dunn Nick Spence
WRITERS ADVERTISING Welcome back to another issue of Seguin Today! We’re excited
Cindy Aguirre-Herrera, Laurie Cheatham, you’re here.
Mike McBride, Lizz Daniels, Linda Duncan, Zana Paiz,
Tess Coody-Anders Mary Jane Windle Seguin Today is a monthly print publication by KWED and
Seguin Daily News, which was originally begun as a single page
GRAPHIC DESIGN OFFICE MANAGER flier in 1972 by the radio station. Back then, it was distributed to
Lizz Daniels Priscilda Rodriguez local restaurants and coffee shops for locals to learn more about
what was going on in the community.
It grew in size over the years, up to 4 page, until in 2002, it
was expanded to a 32 page small tabloid size news magazine. Well,
times did what they always do and changed things up, and today
the Seguin Daily News is a free digital newspaper published online
Monday through Friday.
Two months ago, we launched this print publication as a way
to feature stories that dig deeper into the community and hopefully
spread some good news around.
This months stories take a look at Son’s Travel, and how the
locally owned business is investing in the areas waterways while
providing an experience locals may not know about.
So flip the page, and dive on in. The water’s fine!
Photo by Jarred Kindles
3
Blue River Ranch
offers fun in the
sun & live music
under the stars
Story & Photos by Lizz Daniels
T
exas summers are coming, and for many people, that means
hitting the road to explore the Lone Star State. To visit some
of the state’s most iconic destinations, this can mean com-
mitting to hours of drive time, which can be both cost-pro-
hibitive and generally off-putting for those seeking a short weekend
getaway. Fortunately, Seguin residents have access to a few hidden
gems that don’t require a road trip and won’t break the bank.
Son’s Travel is locally owned and offers four camping retreats that
boast some of the best water access in the Guadalupe County area.
Under the Son’s Travel name are Son’s Island, Son’s Blue River
Camp and Son’s River Ranch, with a fourth property, Son’s Guada-
lupe, currently under construction in New Braunfels. Each of the
retreats offers different water access with options from kid-friendly
river areas to deeper lake waters for more adventurous swimmers.
The Son’s Blue River Ranch location in Kingsbury opened in
2018 but was damaged by floodwaters. Stephanie Tate is the mar-
keting and social media manager for Son’s Travel and said a lot has
changed since that first year.
“We didn’t actually get to fully open,” she said. “2019 was our first
up and running year. We had just a couple of cabanas and a couple of
tents. Last year, 2020, was the year we actually boomed.”
4
TEXAS
& REAL close to HOME
5
B
lue River Ranch on the far east end
of Guadalupe County has every-
thing needed to explore the San
Marcos River by tube or kayak. A
forest of towering two-story cabanas pro-
vides guests a premium experience made bet-
ter because personal watercraft are allowed.
“You can pull the jet ski or boat right up
to your cabana as long as you’re in the right
section,” she said. “If you’re a Texan, you
love to tube, and so that’s what we do when
we come here [Son’s Blue River Ranch]. We
go kayaking year round at this property. We
were kayaking in December this year, and
even my four year old loves it.”
Blue River Ranch is now also a music
venue. Over Easter weekend, they introduced
their first live performance on the outdoor
stage.
“All of the nightlife is still very family
friendly,” Tate said. “All of the artists we will
have out here will be kid-friendly. It’s really a
good social time. We’ve got the picnic tables
all spread out. The two story cabanas will be
for private rental for a VIP experience.”
The picnic tables nearest the stage are
available to reserve for those eager to get that
front-row feeling. David Beck brought a flare
of Tejano music when he opened at Blue Riv-
er Ranch, but the venue has something for
everyone.
“We’ll have country cover bands; we’re
really looking to have a variety,” Tate said.
“This will be our first year as a music ven-
ue. We wanted to start last year. We built
this awesome stage and couldn’t use it with
COVID and everything. It’s all over by 10:30
pm. Quiet hours start at 11 pm, and we still
abide by our own rules that we set out for
people. Everybody can be out and about, we
don’t restrict anybody, but we ask that they’re
courteous of everybody else.”
All of Son’s Travel locations are designed
with comfort in mind so that visitors can
focus on enjoying their experience. Their
all-inclusive camping options include tents
furnished with two queen beds and fans in
addition to a dedicated picnic bench, bar-b-
que pit, furniture, and hammock at each site.
“We sell luxury,” Tate said. “The cabanas
are super nice, and we upgrade our ameni-
ties and accommodations all the time. It’s a
beautiful place. Right now, with the winter
storm, we’re having to replace all of our trop-
ical plants. Normally, the foliage is gorgeous.
We have lemon and orange trees, and it really
gives off tropical vibes.”
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T
he sounds of kids playing of a local experience. Moore puts it
in the river as dads grilled plainly.
filled the air made it easy “This is the closest you’re going
to envision the venue to get to a Mexico beach vacation in
blaring music with a canopy of stars Texas,” he said. “I think locals tend
sprawling overhead. to kind of hate this sort of deal be-
But something was missing, cause it is commercialized and we’re
and that something was the locals. allowing city people to come in, but
On a sold-out Saturday with no they need to come out and enjoy
state-mandated COVID-19 capacity their river. This is your home, this is
limits, not one family from Guada- where you’re from, this is your area
lupe county could be found enjoy- –– come and immerse yourself in
ing the local spot. it.”
“What’s funny is the local com- Texas has a lot of incredible lo-
munity, they don’t seem to realize cations to visit, but the state is enor-
we’re here, which is so crazy –– mous. From Central Texas, it’s fast-
we’re right in their backyard,” Tate er to drive to Mexico than to get to
said. “So that’s what’s really trig- another state. Sometimes, that can
gered me to try and get involved in make it feel like the most incredible
our own space.” places are too far away to enjoy. As
Son’s Blue River manager, the Saturday crowd splashes in the
Colton Moore, is a self-described river and the employees load up
‘outdoor guy’ and suspects locals ei- another trailer of tubes, Son’s Blue
ther don’t know about the location River Ranch in Kingsbury proves
or aren’t interested in what they per- you don’t have to go far to find a
ceive as a commercialized version genuinely Texan experience.
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Story by Tess Coody-Anders
Photos by Jarred Kindles
L
ive oaks and scrubby mesquite, sand hills and
pecan bottoms dominate the terrain in and
around our area, but waterways are the lifeblood
SON’S
of that landscape. From the creek systems to
the rivers and lakes that pool throughout, Seguin’s best
assets are some of its most undervalued as destinations.
That’s changing, thanks in large part to Son’s Travel, an
innovative hospitality company that develops and manag-
es unique retreats on the banks of those creeks and rivers,
TRAVEL
proudly headquartered in downtown Seguin.
“We’ve experienced a record-breaking year,” said
Harrison Wood, managing member for Son’s Trav-
el. “People were so tired of being cooped up, and our
unique, outdoor and private properties offer families a
establishes
safe way to spend time together being active and outside.”
More than 10 years ago, founder Byron Reidel
couldn’t know that his first distinct property on the
Geronimo Creek would blossom into a concept that
HOME BASE in would endure - even thrive - during a pandemic.
“As an outdoor enthusiast, I’ve spent so much of my
time kayaking and enjoying the water in our area, and I
could see all these hidden gems,” Riedel said. “More than
anything, I wanted to protect these areas from overdevel-
opment and share them with people.”
He married his experience as a custom home builder
with his passion for the outdoors to create Son’s Trav-
Hospitality company el, which today boasts six properties located on water-
ways from Kingsbury to Geronimo, Lake Placid to River
promotes water getaways Road - with two new destinations opening this summer.
Son’s properties draw visitors from all over the United
in Guadalupe County States and world, putting Seguin “on the map” as a bona
fide tourist destination - something the city has not been
known for in the past. Properties include Son’s Island,
Son’s River Ranch, Son’s Blue River Camp, Son’s Guada-
lupe, River Road Treehouses and Geronimo Creek Re-
treat
“For years, when you thought of Seguin, you thought
of our strong manufacturing base first and foremost,”
Wood says. “Other cities were better known for leverag-
ing their natural assets, like New Braunfels or San Mar-
cos.”
In the early days, a focus on Seguin in their adver-
tising actually hurt web traffic to their site. “We had to
say ‘13 miles south of New Braunfels’ to attract people’s
attention,” Wood explained. That’s no longer the case.
“We really see our success and Seguin’s success linked
together. We’re proud to tell people where our properties
are located. We are even more proud to share recommen-
dations with our guests for great restaurants and shops,
and to encourage them to check out our charming down-
town,” Wood said.
11According to Josh Schneuker, executive director for the
Seguin Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the
hospitality company’s success has a multiplier effect. “It’s tre-
mendously exciting to see how the growth at Son’s Travel cor-
relates to economic growth in Seguin, as tourists from outside
the area spend money on supplies, dining, shopping.”
Wood said Son’s six properties draw about one million
people here annually, and each takes away an impression not
only of their stay at a Son’s Travel property - but of Seguin.
“These families are creating incredible memories, of this
awesome place in Seguin where they kayaked, swam, floated
on the river - and they share those stories with family and
friends. That’s a powerful halo effect for both Son’s Travel and
Seguin,” Reidel said.
The company employs about 300 local individuals, like Se-
guin-native Ashley Smith, who returned to Seguin in 2016 after
being away for ten years. She began as a part-time employee in
hospitality services and worked her way up to become director
of reservations. “Growing up in downtown Seguin, we would
ride our bikes for miles around town, and when I think about
how much has changed, how much growth I have seen since
then, it’s amazing and exciting,” Smith said. “I am really proud
of the ways Son’s Travel is helping us grow and compete.”
Wood, an Austin native, came to Seguin to attend Tex-
as Lutheran University, where he graduated with a degree in
criminal justice before joining Son’s Travel in the earliest days,
12growing to his current role leading property mendous potential for tourism here, and with our area that Son’s Travel fully supports,” Wood
management operations. “It has been so ex- so much competition around us, a great partner said. He says they acknowledge the challenges
citing to stand beside Byron and hear his cre- like Son’s Travel helps change the conversation of managing rapid growth in their community
ative vision for these properties, and then see about our area, and helps visitors really ‘see’ but appreciate the importance of working with
them come to life,” Wood said. “There’s really Seguin,” Schneuker said. “We find that getting business owners and entrepreneurs.
nothing else like our properties anywhere in the people off the interstate and into town changes “I hope we will continue to support tour-
area.” their impression of Seguin entirely.” ism,” Reidel said. “The Guadalupe River, our
While Schneuker and SEDC continue to Reidel and Wood express appreciation for parks and trails and downtown are incredible
attract large manufacturing and industrial em- the great relationship they have had with city resources. With support and a sense of partner-
ployers to the Seguin area, he says Son’s Travel and county leadership in recent years. “Our city ship from the city and county, businesses like
and other new ventures in downtown are critical manager, mayors and county judge have been ours can have a really positive impact on the cul-
to diversifying Seguin’s economy. “There’s tre- incredibly supportive. They share a vision for ture and economy of Seguin.”
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Just Hatched!
SPRING SAVINGS!
Hop in to these local businesses
& peep their Spring specials!
Body Expressions
Veronica’s $299 Eyebrow or
Lip Blush Special Water Tree
Vintage Boutique Alkaline Water
406 E. Kingsbury St.
Vintage Clothing & Decor Seguin, TX 78155 944 S. Austin St.
830-401-4026 Seguin, TX 78155
111 E. Gonzales St. bodyexpressionstattoo.com 830-401-9009
Seguin, TX 78155 facebook.com/watertreeseguin
830-463-9197
facebook.com/Vintique43
16APRIL
Events and special To promote your May event
on this page contact advertising
promotions happening at 830-379-2234 or email
locally this month! tradingpost@kwed1580.com
Spring
Clean-Up Day
Saturday, April 10
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Seguin Events Complex
A maximum of 10 automobile
tires will be accepted. For a
complete list of accepted items
plus additional info call
830-401-2416 or visit: Seguin Events Complex
www.bit.ly/cleanupseguin.com 950 S Austin St. Seguin, TX 78155
830-401-2416 | www.seguintexas.gov
Featured Events
April 14 April 14 April 17
Sat, April 10 Seguin Small Business Roundtable Blood Drive Dance
There will be a small business roundtable with There will be a Blood Drive Wednesday April 14 in There will be a dance featuring Paul Sanchez &
TruLight127 Blue Jean Ball speakers Josh Schneuker, Kyle Kramm, Jeffrey Seguin. To Schedule an appointment, call 512-809- Wrangler Country at The Crystal Chandelier Ballroom.
There will be a silent auction, dinner, program, 1497. All donars will choose from hundreds of gift cards. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a $10 admission. For
Coleman, and Elton Price discuss small business
and entertainment featuring the Spazmatics. presale tickets or to reserve a table, call 830-303-6612
For ticket ino text BLUEJEAN2021 to 797979 certifications and more. 1945 W. Kingsbury St. Seguin, TX
Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce 9:00am-2:00pm 510 E. Court St. Seguin, TX
1001 E. McCarty Ln., San Marcos, TX 5:00pm
6:30pm-5:00pm 6:00pm
817-219-8316 830-379-6382
www.seguinchamber.com
April 18 April 21 April 24
Sat, April 17 2021 Aggie Muster VATS Golf Tournament
Outdoor Painting Event The 10th Annual Veterans Alliance of Texas State (VATS)
Farmer’s Market There will be an outdoor painting event in downtown The Guadalupe County Texas A& M Club will have
Golf Tournament will be held beginning with registration
The first and third Saturday of each month Seguin and Walnut Springs Park on Sunday, April 18 their Annual Aggie Muster at the Big Red Barn. The
there will be a farmer’s market held at the Big and Friday April 23. Show and sell your paintings to speaker is Jim McAdams, class of ‘76. RSVP by Friday, at noon and a shotgun start on Saturday, April 24.
Red Barn. Come check out a wide variety of the public! For entry forms and full details visit the April 16 to Chuck Willmann at 928-279-0499 or email Sponsorship are available. For more information, email:
produce from local growers! Seguin Art League’s website. blindsofallkinds2@gmail.com jjr112@txstate.edu or visit the website.
The Big Red Barn Downtown Seguin & Walnut Springs Park Texas Agricultural & Heritage Center Bandit Golf Course, New Braunfels TX
10:00am-2:00pm 8:30am-5:00pm 5:00pm 1:00pm
www.texagedu.org www.seguinartleague.com www.sdi.txstate.edu/ProgramsResources/Veterans
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Service that’ll leave Mom FLOORED! 20
Sushi and Asian Bistro
AtanSeguinSushi.com l OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
830-491-5013/5011 l 320 W. Nolte St. Seguin, TX
2122
23
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