For More Information, Contact:
Fredericksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau
(830) 997-6523
communications@fbgtx.org
Jill Harpold, owner of Escape to Fredericksburg
(830) 998-5008
Sweet Escape, a historic vacation rental in Fredericksburg, Texas, celebrated its 150th year in 2024. The estate home, owned by Jill and Stephen Harpold since 2008, is a historic Sunday house originally built from 1871-1874.
According to “Old Homes and Buildings of Fredericksburg” by Elise Kowert, the townlot was purchased by Wilhelm Doebbler in 1853 for just $16. It was later sold to Martin Heinemann in May of 1871 for $100. The McKay Family purchased the home in 1945 and with the help of Albert Keidel, started the expansion of the home which was completed in 1968.
Originally, the house only had two rooms with an indoor stairway which led out of the back room to the room located on the second floor. The original double door with an old-time wrought iron latch is still in place on the main door. Parts of the home have been featured in magazines such as Southern Living. The piece was devoted to the distinctive finish of the ceiling in the dining and garden rooms. The beams and boards were coated with a stain and then applied with a cementicoat.
“This was allowed to dry thoroughly and then the beams and boards were put up by carpenters,” Kowert states in her book. “Just enough of the white flaked off to give the effect of old fashioned whitewash.”
“The McKay family owned it for almost 100 years and have been helpful sharing the history of the house with us” Harpold said. “We raised our family and restored it over an 11-year period. We initially remodeled the carriage house and ran it as a bed and breakfast from 20011-2019. We won the VRBO “Above and Beyond” Award in 2018 for our superior property and customer service. In 2019, we opened the main home as the Sweet Escape Vacation Rental.”
Today, the home maintains its historic story with the limestone front, double doors, some interior Limestone and stucco walls, and whitewashed ceilings in the sitting room and dining room.
The home is perfect for gatherings of multi-generational families, couple groups and even corporate retreats. Situated on a private ⅔ acre, the home boasts four bedrooms and three baths and sleeps up to 13 guests. Modern amenities include a gourmet kitchen, a pool table, a pool and hot tub, and outdoor grill and entertaining area. The home is located just one block from historic Main Street and six blocks from Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg.
For more information or to rent the property, click here.