When Helena Hauk purchased Wimberley’s largest and longest-running bed and breakfast, she knew she had found a gem—but not a polished one. “We’re like a rough, tumbled stone that has its own beauty,” she said. “I like to be unusual. Everything I produce has a little flair.”
The flair comes with a commitment to hospitality that goes beyond a sumptuous breakfast and a peaceful night’s rest. Creekhaven Inn & Spa has amenities not found in today’s Airbnb “fend-for-yourself” model, and the it focuses on addressing the soul-health of each guest. “We care about connecting with other human beings and about them feeling cared for,” said Hauk.
She says her guests are looking for relaxation and an authentic connection with the people around them and the Hill Country landscape. The property is one-third mile off Ranch Road 12 and only a 10-minute walk to the heart of town, Wimberley Square. But it’s also near Cypress Creek Nature Preserve and Blue Hole Regional Park, so it’s quiet and naturally beautiful.
“We’re 3.3 acres with 650 feet of creek access,” Hauk said. “You do not feel like you’re as close to town as you are once you’re on the property. It’s the best of both worlds. We’re kind of like an island.”
Hauk opened the inn December 1, 2018, and began a complete refresh of the property, including adding a spa. She has a team of six to nine therapists who offer a variety of massages and all-organic facial treatments. “We added that to the offerings in late 2020, with demand for spa services booming and people wanting to be pampered,” she said. “We created our packages to provide as much blissing out as possible.”
Hauk began her hospitality journey at age 14, as a volunteer at the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, where she loved, “supporting the curiosity of folks.” Later she earned a scholarship to attend the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston. Following an internship with the chamber in Calgary, Canada, she followed her parents to Texas and worked with the Kyle Chamber of Commerce, becoming its executive director at age 24. But her life took a turn after health issues led to an interest in holistic living.
“I began a wellness journey and pursued certification as an integrative nutrition coach. Living well is integrating all your facets of living—clean and nontoxic and vibrant, being supported, getting sleep.” And sleep is one of Hauk’s priorities for her guests. “We set out to clean up the sleeping environment and make the room as comfortable as possible,” she said. “We put diffusers in the rooms and created our signature essential oil blend, which I blend in small batches every week. It’s called Creekhaven Signature Blend. It contains cypress, which honors our bald cypress trees on the property.”
Guests wake to a scratch-made breakfast delivered to their door, with locally roasted organic coffee from D’s Roastery Coffee. Hauk has expanded her food offerings by opening The Kitchen last spring. Breakfast and lunch are served daily, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., by reservation only.
But what Hauk is most excited about is her High Tea service. “My mom and sister and I have always loved tea experiences, and I said, ‘When I have my own place, I’m gonna do it.’ We do high tea with a Hill Country twist. It’s been beautifully received,” she said.
When guests make a reservation, they can choose from four options: light tea, afternoon tea, high tea, and grand tea. Each service includes scones. “I have over two dozen scone recipes, all different flavor profiles, including café mocha, mixed berry and lime, peach, bacon cheddar chive,” she said.
Deirdre Taylor, president of Wimberley Valley Arts and Cultural Alliance, says the teas can’t be beat. “It’s really elegant—not stuffy elegant, but quaint and interesting,” she said. “Helena has poured herself into making Creekhaven a very special place. She’s brought a whole new fresh energy.”
Overnight guests, day visitors, and local residents can experience a High Tea Social, a special event which combines the fun of a tea with a different Worthy Workshop each month. “We’re taking important discussions on learning how to be well and take better care of ourselves and marrying that with a high tea,” Hauk said. “We want to feed you well with food and fuel your soul with these engaging experiences.”
Creekhaven Inn also hosts wellness retreats, corporate retreats, and private retreats. “We can design a retreat together. We’ll design it around their itinerary,” she said.
Creekhaven hosts many special events on site, which have limited ticketing available to the public. Offerings include outdoor concerts, classic movies by the creek, pop-up dinners, sound immersion sessions, and Saturday morning yoga on the lawn, taught by Hauk herself. “It’s a whole other layer of therapeutic experience under the trees, with the sun and the wind, the birds, next to the creek. True immersion,” she said.
For guests who don’t want to drive during their visit, Hauk also operates Wimberley Shuttle, on-demand van service, offering airport shuttles, brewery and wine tours, and transportation for special events in the Wimberley Valley. “I started it with the intention to alleviate congestion in the downtown area,” Hauk said. “We have packages we can curate and customize for a guest and their private party.”
Wimberley is welcoming more and more tourists who like its easy access to the Hill Country while still allowing guests to feel like they’ve escaped from it all. “Starting about noon on Friday, the people start coming to town,” said Mayor Jim Chiles.
And when they arrive in Wimberley, Hauk says layers of stress shed away—even for her, when she’s been away. “Every time I hit the city limits, it’s one layer of peace, then another when I hit the property line, then another at the driveway, then one more when I get out of the car and go inside.
To book a visit to Creekhaven Inn & Spa, visit creekhaveninn.com.