“My life story and career has had a lot of twists and turns. I think just starting super young,I knew I wanted to create something, to build something, to ultimately to start a business and be an entrepreneur. It just took me a long while to figure out what that was and what the thing was that I truly loved and was passionate about. All of the different aspects of my path have influenced and led to what's become Onera and a true passion for building very unique experiential and landscape hotels.”
We’re in great company with Ben Wolff, Co-Founder and Developer of Onera, a treehouse landscape hotel in the Texas Hill Country. Offering a secluded, luxe, nature escape with nearly a dozen architecturally stunning glamping accommodations, Onera evokes a sense of wonder everywhere you look.
Perfectly positioned just outside of the charming town of Fredericksburg, Ben and his team have curated an assortment of local recommendations and on property experiences, so guests can enjoy a sense of adventure or settle into a serene stay.
In this episode, Ben shares how a series of events sparked an idea in his innate entrepreneurial mind, and how that idea has become a movement that is redefining experiential hospitality through landscape resorts, boutique hotels, and luxury retreats, starting with Onera.
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Top Takeaways
[1:55] While Ben always had an entrepreneurial mindset, it took a career full of twists and turns, a global pandemic, a wedding day realization and a cross-country roadtrip to set his path towards creating Onera.
[9:00] How Ben found a white space in the nature seeking hospitality market and what led him to fill that gap starting in Texas Hill Country.
[15:20] A few words come to mind when Ben shares what he wants his guests to experience with Onera…Inspired. Enchanted. A Dream. An Oasis.
[20:40] Staying at Onera comes with a dip in their signature cedar tubs, a view of deer, wild turkeys and the occasional armadillo, a communal gathering space amidst old oak trees, and curated experiences from dinner with a private chef to an in-room couple’s massage.
[24:00] Take your pick from this collection of architecturally stunning accommodations - ranging from glamping to a bungalow, a dome to a stilt house, a treehouse to tiny homes - each unique in their design and experience.
[31:15] There’s so much to see, sip and savor in and around the charming town of Fredericksburg, from its Hill Country wineries to its German culture and cuisine, from endless fields of wildflowers to shops full of antique finds.
[33:50] A sneak peak into where Ben is taking Onera next, this time with even more focus on sustainability and sunset views. And if that’s not keeping him busy enough, Oasi is concepting a tropical fruit tree boutique hotel, what sounds like a delicious stay!
Notable Mentions
AirDNA Vacation Rental Data Analytics
Amangiri, Utah
The Adelphi Hotel, New York
Fredericksburg Shops & Restaurants:
- Wildseed Farms
- Caliche Coffee
- The Peach Basket General Store
- Frisch Juicerie
- Otto’s German Bistro
- Hill & Vine
Texas Hill Country Activities:
Visit For Yourself
Instagram: @stayonera
LinkedIn: Ben-Wolff
