Drippin’ is for Business: Liney Moon

The Liney Moon owners Caroline and Stephen Bradford knew they were building something special when they created their unique lodging and wedding venue, but their belief was validated when they won the 2018 Dripping Springs Chamber Star Award for Business of the Year.

“We were beyond excited and honored to receive Business of the Year at the Star Awards,” Caroline said. “It has been such a busy, yet rewarding, few years for us, so it was incredible to be able to stop and take it all in for a moment and enjoy the recognition with our family and friends. ”

The idea for The Liney Moon occurred when Caroline and Stephen couldn’t find a Dripping Springs venue for their wedding in 2009; but the idea didn’t become reality until August of 2015, and then only after a careful search for land and thoughtful planning.

Caroline and Stephen describe Liney Moon as a “fun and unique place to stay. Featuring the modern ‘Stellar House’ and 13 quirky cottages, The Liney Moon can host your special event or accommodate guests for weddings, retreats, bachelorette parties or a birthday getaway.” The facility also features a swimming pool behind the main guesthouse, Stellar House.

When asked about the unique architecture of their main guesthouse and the cottages, Caroline said, “A few years ago, while my mom and I were looking at different plans for the Stellar House, I found myself leaning more towards the modern and industrial vibe. Once the house was built we wanted the cottages and chapel to give off the same unique vibe, so we just ran with it. We wanted to be different, not just that same rustic hill country vibe that has been done many times before.”

The property also has a unique family friendly vibe that uniquely reflects the Texas Hill Country, with cottages grouped together and the Stellar House serving as a focal point to the eight-acre facility. “We basically wanted to build a property that we could envision using ourselves with our family and friends. Then we just crossed our fingers that others would agree with us!” This family friendly vibe came in handy when in 2017 Stephen and Caroline made the property available, free of charge, to Hurricane Harvey evacuees and their children. “Without hesitation is how Caroline and Stephen described that decision.

“It was without hesitation. We had something to give, and it was lodging, and it was what was needed at that moment. And so, there was absolutely no hesitation about making the free lodging offer to evacuees,” Caroline said. “I immediately put a big Facebook post, and the calls started coming in. I’m also from Rockport, I grew up there, and we still have a place there—So it hit home.” The main 4-bedroom Stellar House, and 13 cottages were immediately spoken for. With a capacity for 70 guests, The Liney Moon quickly housed 50 evacuees. The extended family that stayed at the Stellar House, spoke about what the “blessing” the Liney Moon’s lodging gift was for them.

“Having a place to evacuate to was a great blessing,” Sugar Land evacuee Lydia Buhanan said. “We thought we were safe because the hurricane had passed, but surprise, surprise—We got the order to evacuate because they thought the levees might fail. At first, they were basing it off like Hurricane Ike where the wind was very bad and the power went off for days. So once the hurricane had passed we thought the worst of it was over. But then the rainfall just kept coming and coming and the next thing you know we’re told to evacuate. We went from playing board games to packing everything into our cars. We didn’t sleep that Sunday night.”

When asked how they found out about the Liney Moon’s offer of free lodging, Buhanan said, “I have a friend I grew up with, Elizabeth Blackwell, who lives in Wimberley. She knew Caroline [Bradford] personally, and said she would call to see if she could find us a place to stay, as we were a rather large group. Finding out we were welcomed here was the greatest blessing ever.”

The Buhanan’s luck held. Upon returning they found that while the street behind their house had flooded, their house was OK and above water. Looking back on the experience, and thinking of her children in the Liney Moon swimming pool, Buhanan said, “We went from evacuation to vacation.”

Caroline and Stephen also support the community through scholarship money donations and are also donors to the Dripping Springs Education Foundation.

The owner/couple also thinks outside the box for rental use of the property. “We have a summer special of renting out the pool and patio area for fifty dollars an hour. Youpool-grill-fun, what’s not to love?” Caroline asks.

The Liney Moon is located at 5401 W Fitzhugh Road. Its website is the lineymoon.com, and its phone number is (512) 954-8534.