Melrose River Club is a gem built alongside the San Marcos River. There are 12 casitas and 30 cabins on the 12 acres, as well as a resort-style pool and bar, a boho-chic lobby with a champagne vending machine, and breakfast burritos and mimosas available in the mornings. There’s a dining pavilion perfect for big feasts or intimate gatherings, chairs set on the riverbanks great for slow mornings with coffee or enjoying the sunset, and fire pits scattered around the property begging for s’mores and deep conversations. But, the heart and the soul of Melrose River Club, which is adults-only (16 and older), are the couple who own it, Max and Melodie Schleder. Max and Melodie have been married for 25 years. They have two grown boys and prior to taking the hotel on full-time Melodie was in graphic design at Mckinsey Co. before starting her own interior design business, Primitive Modern Design, after their house was featured on HGTV’s Small Space, Big Style. Max was (and still is) in real estate development.
They were drawn to the property by the river, which Max frequently boated past as a child who grew up nearby. And, while it’s easy to spend days poolside, enjoying refreshments from the well-stocked bar, the hotel also offers an easy way to float the river – a Texas right of passage. Guests can drive or uber a few minutes upstream to Texas State Tubes or Don's Fish Camp to rent a tube and then guests of the hotel can hop off at The Melrose River Club after a 1.5-hour float and they’ll return the tubes for you. Or, you can continue for the full 3-hour float.
The beach club-inspired feel of boutique hotel Max says, “Was all Melodie.” He explains, “We have traveled a bit and wanted an Acapulco meets Palm Springs feel...on the river in the Hill Country!” Melodie adds, “I wanted it to feel like a welcoming place with all the feel of Acapulco, Oaxaca, mixed in a little surf shake from Huatulco, throw in some Palm Springs and top it off with some Texas to celebrate our home state.”
The renovations took a one year, but this creative pair is always ideating. They launched a Supper Club series last year which caters to both guests of the hotel as well as attracting people from San Marcos and surrounding areas like Austin, a 35-45 minute drive away. Looking ahead, they’d like to host more wellness retreats, corporate retreats and group events. “The Melrose River Club was built on an idea to create a place to hang out with our friends and family. One we loved and never wanted to leave,” Melodie shares. “I feel like we have achieved it ... but we are not done yet. Stay tuned ... the best is yet to come.”
Melrose River Club is located at 70 Riverbend Dr., San Marcos, TX 78666
To learn move visit https://www.melroseriverclub.com/ or follow them on Instagram @melroseriverclub