MILL VALLEY, Calif. (December 11, 2019) – Auberge Resorts Collection, a portfolio of award-winning hotels, resorts and residences, today announced that it plans a Spring 2020 opening for its first urban retreat in the dynamic destination of Austin, Texas. Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection will be a modern interpretation of a residential estate from yesteryear, where guests are invited to sit back, celebrate and inspire thoughtful conversation. Designed by internationally known designer Ken Fulk, the resort will bring a new level of contemporary glamour, whimsical soul and effortless luxury representative of Austin’s uniqueness. The intimate 10-acre resort offers a uniquely Texas familiarity brimming with character, independent spirit and charm boasting 42 rooms and 12 suites, and amenities including an organic urban farm, Lutie’s - the signature garden restaurant, a member’s club and a serene outdoor swimming pool.
“It is with great pride that we welcome Commodore Perry Estate to the Auberge family. Bringing a combination of exquisite design, exceptional location and an authentically Austin experience, this one-of-a-kind Estate introduces a new level of style and distinctive luxury to the diverse city.” said Marco Bustamante, General Manager, Commodore Perry Estate. “We are delighted that Auberge Resorts Collection has been welcomed so warmly into the vibrant Austin community, and are excited to be a best-loved destination for events, weddings and celebration.”
Built in the Jazz Age in 1928, Commodore Perry Estate was originally the country home of Commodore Edgar and Lutie Perry, a place for them to entertain and connect with family when they weren’t traveling through Europe. The 10,800-square-foot Italianate mansion was designed by Dallas architect Henry Bowers Thompson in 1927. Declaring the home, “a great place to throw a party,” Perry was popular for his Gatsby-esque soirées on property. In subsequent decades, Commodore Perry Estate went through many chapters, housing several schools and adding a chapel, serving as the site of prominent weddings and important Austin events. Located just north of The University of Texas at Austin in the historic neighborhood of Hancock, Commodore Perry Estate is surrounded by expansive grounds, lush green English gardens, spring-fed Waller Creek and a stone wall enclosing the property to create an ideal setting for year-round getaways. The intimate chapel and gardens are the perfect backdrop for special events, weddings and private celebrations.
Commodore Perry Estate features signature imaginative elements from powerhouse designer, Ken Fulk, known for projects such as San Francisco’s The Battery and Saint Joseph’s Arts Society, Legacy Records in New York’s Hudson Yards and notable private residential commissions. The layered aesthetic is part history, part imagination and all Austin. The imaginative interiors represent over two years of Fulk’s shopping excursions to Round Top Antiques Show, the Lone Star State’s haven for antiquing. Fulk has curated a mix of custom and heirloom vintage pieces creating an atmosphere that feels collected over time. Fulk worked in collaboration with renowned architecture firm Moule and Polyzoides and local Austin, award-winning firms Clayton & Little and Ten Eyck Landscape Architects to restore Commodore Perry Estate to its former glory.
“When I first saw Commodore Perry Estate, I was simply mesmerized. It was as if a European country estate had been transported to a bucolic Texas hill country landscape.” said designer and Creative Director, Ken Fulk. “We strived to craft experiences that combined a relaxed European elegance with true gracious Texas hospitality with an ease and comfort to every experience that will welcome members and visitors to sit back and enjoy themselves.”
As the centerpiece of the property, the original Mansion instantly communicates an elevated, residential atmosphere. Guests will feel as though they’re arriving at the stately home of an old family friend. Handed keys upon arrival, guests will be invited to enjoy the Mansion as they would their own private estate. The five bedrooms from the Perry’s original residence have been transformed into uniquely charming hotel suites as a nod to its original inhabitants. Edgar Perry’s Suite, with its safari-inspired play of patterns, reflects a love of world travel and high culture, while Lutie Perry’s Suite presents a softer side in a palette of pink velvet, faux fur and muted leopard carpet. The downstairs Living Room boasts a new cocktail bar, and the sunny Solarium, with its original tile floors, is perfect for small bites or cocktails. The Dining Room and Breakfast Room are dedicated to informal dining experiences throughout the day. With a wide range of indoor and outdoor lounge options, including the Loggia and Terrace, Members and Resident Members can enjoy a daily menu of Estate favorites and signature cocktails with prime seating for club programming, such as intimate concerts, lectures or tastings. Membership at The Commodore Perry Estate offers members and their guests’ exclusive access to the resort in addition to inspired, cultural programming, experiences and events.
The new private members club at Commodore Perry Estate will draw membership from the diverse fabric of the ever-changing Austin community. Offering a stunning environment for locals to meet, dine, collaborate and nourish while cultivating community connection and building on the Estate’s history and traditions. The club also seeks to acknowledge and support exceptional local and national talent in the arts, fashion, culinary, wellness and finance realms to not only provide a rich and unique experience for members, but to also give back to the Austin community.
Adjacent to the Mansion is the Inn, a newly built three-story hotel with 42 new guest rooms and seven terrace suites housed in a beautiful courtyard-style hotel structure shaded by Post Oak trees. Guest rooms and suites will feature private balconies, custom furnishings and regionally sourced period pieces. The building, designed by celebrated firm Moule & Polyzoides, features an elegant colonnade perfectly suited to the history of the compound. Inside, the guest rooms and amenities envisioned from conception by Ken Fulk offer an elevated hotel experience with an eclectic mix of mid-century Italian and 1920s Spanish pieces, a collection of vintage rugs and framed artworks.
Guests and locals will delight over the new dining experience at the resort’s signature restaurant, Lutie’s, which will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, offering old-fashioned southern hospitality within a refined garden setting. Decorated with delicate ivy, the restaurant boasts a sophisticated, yet classic country club-style aesthetic that includes a patio and all indoor and outdoor seating arranged to take in views of manicured English gardens and fountains.
Commodore Perry Estate is the vision of Austin developer and filmmaker Clark Lyda, who first discovered the property as a high school student at St. Mary’s Academy, where he imagined an illustrious future for the space. Lyda worked for many years to acquire Commodore Perry Estate and has collaborated with Austin partners the Marchbanks Company on the expansion and preservation of one of Austin’s most cherished gathering places.
About Commodore Perry Estate
A treasured historic landmark reborn, Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection will introduce something entirely new to Austin – a hotel set on a 10 acre estate in the heart of the city, offering an ultra-luxury experience brimming with style and charm, a sophisticated complement to the city’s traditional chain luxury hotels. The Commodore Perry Estate will be significant news for destination Austin. The first-of-its-kind luxury hotel with intimacy and character, heritage and independent spirit, it will occupy a unique niche in the Austin hospitality market. Commodore Perry Estate offers an authentic Austin provenance that will attract both sophisticated leisure and business travelers from major markets, alongside affluent Texans who will be able to gather, dine and celebrate in contemporary style at a true Austin landmark. Construction is already underway, and the resort is expected to open in Spring 2020. For more information, please visit: https://aubergeresorts.com/commodoreperry/.
About Auberge Resorts Collection
Auberge Resorts Collection is a portfolio of extraordinary hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs. While each property is unique, all share a crafted approach to luxury and bring the soul of the locale to life through captivating design, exceptional cuisine and spas, and gracious yet unobtrusive service. With 19 hotels and resorts across three continents, Auberge invites guests to create unforgettable stories in some of the world’s most desirable destinations. For more information about Auberge Resorts Collection, please visit aubergeresorts.com. Follow Auberge Resorts Collection on Facebook at facebook.com/AubergeResorts and on Twitter and Instagram at @AubergeResorts and #AlwaysAuberge.
About The Friedkin Group
The Friedkin Group is a privately-held consortium of automotive, hospitality, entertainment, golf and adventure companies. These organizations include: Gulf States Toyota, GSFSGroup, GSM, US AutoLogistics, Ascent Automotive Group, Auberge Resorts Collection, Imperative Entertainment, 30WEST, NEON, Diamond Creek Golf Club, Congaree and Legendary Expeditions. The Friedkin Group is led by Chairman and CEO Dan Friedkin. For more information, visit www.friedkin.com.
