Hotel Magdalena is creating a slice of 1970s-inspired lakeside culture in the heart of Austin, with its timber frame and lush outdoor pool.

Hospitality company Bunkhouse Group tapped Texas firm Lake|Flato to collaborate on the 89-room Texas hotel, with Hotel Magdalena being the first mass timber hotel completed in North America. Wood runs throughout the building’s interiors, forming slatted ceilings, serving counters and folding wooden shutters.

The hotel sits on a stretch of land off South Congress owned by legendary musician Willie Nelson in the 1970s. He turned the five-block enclave into a haven for musicians, opening the 1,700 seat music venue Austin Opry House there as well as accommodations for travelling musicians.

Interiors draw on this 70s heritage: plush orange sofas sit in the lobby, while bedrooms include walnut beds, desks, and flashes of salmon pink. Walls are adorned by vintage photography by Scott Newton taken at the Austin Opry House, and bathrooms also add a splash of bright colour, tiled in solid red, blue, yellow or green.

Hotel rooms open out onto decked terraces, overlooking Hotel Magdalena’s pool and rock quarry. While lounging, guests can order a cocktail from the terrazzo bar or pick up a snack off the grill from the hotel’s restaurant,
Summer House on Music Lane.

1101 Music Ln, Austin, TX 78704, United States

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