Cotton Gin Village

We found the perfect place for our three-night 44th anniversary trip, especially since we love trying bed and breakfasts and had never been here before. The breakfasts delivered to the door were outstanding, and the on-site restaurant was delicious. Our room had coffee, hot chocolate, and water, with daily room service for towels and dishes. They also left a snack box with cookies, s’more fixings, and granola, plus an anniversary gift. We’re definitely planning to return.

The staff made us feel welcome from check-in through housekeeping and checkout. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and professional, and we’re already thinking about coming back next year. We spent two nights at Cotton Gin Village, January 30-31, for our 34th anniversary, staying in the Upper Frio Cottage. It was cozy, quiet, beautifully kept, and had a lovely feel inside and out. The large stone electric fireplace made evenings especially relaxing. Breakfast was fresh, generous, and clearly made with care. We appreciated the granola and snacks in the room, along with the gift bottle of wine labeled with our names and anniversary years. That personal touch meant a lot. Just across the sidewalk from the cottage, the Gin Mill Lounge was an easy, atmospheric spot for a cocktail, wine, or beer before or after dinner. Dinner at the onsite Cabernet Grill was outstanding, as usual. In my opinion it’s the best restaurant in town, and we’ve gone there for our anniversary dinner for the last 10 years. It never disappoints. Cotton Gin Village remains one of our favorite places we’ve traveled to, and it sets the bar for a relaxing, special getaway.

For our first wedding anniversary, we stayed in one of the cozy, homey cabins and loved it. Everyone was kind and welcoming. Brett at the bar was great, remembered names and orders, and made excellent drinks. The food was incredible, both dinner at Cabernet and the breakfast brought to our door each morning. Nothing to complain about. We’ll be back, thank you!

The breakfast was probably our favorite part, which made the first morning especially frustrating. We visited Cotton Gin Village for our 20th anniversary, a big trip for us as a busy military couple with four kids. The cabin was cute, bigger than expected, and cozy. The snacks, personalized anniversary wine, and Roku were nice touches. But the stay left us disappointed. We arrived on a day the lodging office was closed and received a text with entry instructions. It didn’t mention that cones blocked the parking area nearest our cabin. Thinking they were there to keep neighboring businesses from using the spaces, my husband moved them and parked. On our anniversary morning, a tree trimmer knocked and asked us to move the car. Then a tree was cut down right outside our cabin for an hour and a half before we finally left. The wood chipper was parked beside our wall, and the truck, work, and workers yelling to each other were so loud I could hear them in the shower. Our breakfast was ruined. This came as a complete surprise. At the lodging office, an employee explained that because we hadn’t been formally checked into their system, we didn’t receive the text she had sent the night before. But the blocked parking area made it clear they knew the work was coming before we arrived. If we’d been told, we would have stayed elsewhere. The employee gave a quick apology and moved on, with little concern that our anniversary morning had been spoiled. Her lackadaisical response led us to cancel our Cabernet grill reservation because we didn’t want to support the business further. There were other problems too, which added up given the cost: stains on the sheets and towels, a broken shower sprayer, a shower that didn’t match the Sabine listing photos, dust on the bedposts and in the bathroom, and just one tissue left in the box, with no replacement. The highway noise mentioned in other reviews didn’t bother me, mostly because I’d been warned. If you don’t like sleeping at a regular hotel beside a highway, this place won’t suit you. And if you move around in bed beyond ordinary tossing and turning, the sheet metal barrier underneath is LOUD. It’s not secluded. It feels like a bed and breakfast in a busy area, with some privacy in your own space if you keep the blinds drawn. We took a chance on somewhere new, and it was a bust. Such a disappointment for our 20th anniversary and for what we paid.