Arch Ray Resort — Restaurant in Fredericksburg

Saying that this is a huge facility is an understatement. Not only do they serve some great wines but they also have a distillery and brewery here. Talk about a one stop shop for all. If that was not enough, they also have an excellent local restaurant, 1894 Ranch, serving delicious farm to table cuisine that is to die for (including locally raised Wagyu beef). Oh boy! So, how did this great place come to be? Many longtime Texas wine friends are already familiar with Fiesta Winery. The same people, Stephen and Sally Baxter, have taken their next adventure to a whole new level. They come from many generations of family ranchers, the Baxter and McCoury families, and have named this new inspiring location from a blend of a couple of their family background names, Archie, and Ray. The winery, distillery, brewery, and restaurant aren’t the only things to admire here. There’s a great RV park being built, cabins, as well as plans for a future Wyndham built but locally managed resort hotel on this site. This will definitely raise the bar on the ultimate full service stay location in the ever-booming Texas Hill Country.

There is so much to share about this place, but for this blog let’s focus on the wines. The “old” tasting room was opened in 2022 and this brand new spacious facility opened up to the public last summer. Family member Weston McCoury from Fiesta has been overseeing the winemaking for Arch Ray. In addition to Fiesta wines, you can now sample some great Arch Ray wines. There are currently five main flights to choose from: Sweet White, Sweet Red, Dry White, Dry Mix, and Dry Red. For this visit, the focus was on the Arch Ray wines Dry White and Dry Red fights. Grapes for these Arch Ray wines are sourced from the Texas High Plains AVA. First up for the whites was the 2021 Viognier. It has a light tropical sensation with notes of honeysuckle. This was followed by the 2021 Gewurztraminer. This white wine is big on pear and dried apricot with a pleasant floral note. The 2021 Pinot Grigio has a light refreshing feel with notes of crisp apple and a touch of honey. The last white sampled was the 2021 Riesling. This German semi dry style wine packs a zesty floral note coupled with notes of apple and pear. For the reds, the first one sampled was the 2019 Mourvèdre. This well-known Texas wine varietal had a touch of smoke and a bit of oak to compliment the peppery feel and smooth finish. The second red was the 2019 Sangiovese. This Italian style wine had rich cherries and spices. Another well-known Texas varietal in this flight was the 2019 Tempranillo. This one packed some bold cherries, and mouth puckering tannins with just the right shade of ruby color. Last, was the 2019 Tannat. This bold and dark fruit wine was quite elegant with well-balanced acids and a satisfying lip puckering finish. You honestly can’t go wrong with any of these wines, so feel free to dive in and enjoy.

In addition to the large indoor location, there is a covered patio area for scenic outside seating for you to soak up some classic Hill Country scenery. If you have time, plan to sample some of their food while you enjoy your tasting. The food items were sourced directly from the Baxter ranch. This is a sensational property that is still being developed, but for now, this destination is worth a stop. There are some great wines and tasty foods to enjoy here, along with a nice shop in the front of the main tasting...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting 1894 on the Ranch at The Arch Ray Resort and I must say, it was an incredible experience worth a 5-star rating!

From the moment we stepped foot onto the premises, we were greeted warmly by the staff, immediately feeling welcomed and appreciated. The manager, Jodie, deserves special mention as she went above and beyond to ensure our visit was nothing short of exceptional. Her friendly and accommodating nature truly made us feel like valued guests.

The atmosphere at 1894 on the Ranch is absolutely charming and exudes a rustic elegance that perfectly encapsulates the essence of a ranch retreat. It truly felt like we were transported back in time to the late 19th century, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the food. While it may not have completely blown us away, it was still satisfactory. The selection of dishes offered was impressive, and there was something for everyone's palate. The flavors were decent, but perhaps there is room for improvement in terms of fine-tuning the culinary offerings to match the exceptional service.

Speaking of service, I cannot emphasize enough how amazing the customer service was throughout our entire visit. The waitstaff was attentive, prompt, and readily available to cater to our needs. They were knowledgeable about the menu and offered insightful suggestions, further enhancing our dining experience. The level of care and attention given to each guest was truly outstanding.

Overall, we had a great experience at 1894 on the Ranch and, despite the food being okay, the exceptional customer service outweighed any minor shortcomings. Jodie, the manager, deserves high praise for creating such a welcoming and delightful atmosphere. We left with a sense of satisfaction and definitely plan on returning soon.

If you're looking for a unique dining experience that combines a charming atmosphere, excellent customer service, and decent food, I highly recommend giving 1894 on the Ranch at The Arch Ray Resort a try. You won't be...

Dec 30 2024 update. We stayed in town again for Christmas. Drove passed Arch Ray many times. And visited a friend staying here. STILL no amenities after being customers of thr park a few times over the years. Nothing to justify the unreasonable cost of this place. Not that it is expensive but for the price, you can stay at other parks that have bath houses, spas, pools, laundry, etc. This place had none of it. Just ni r, big spaces. Clearly the RV park aspect of their business is on the back burner with the stove turned off because they just don't care to improve what could be a badass park. I did enjoy seeing only half the spots with RVs though. Maybe others see the disparity like we do. The Vineyards and Fredericksburg RV Park are recommended instead even though they may be older and smaller. They know what RVers want and need.

Their music is heard at the RV park! We are not paying a premium to be staying at the Carnival Cruiseline of the RV park world. They must think that blaring music will attract customers from the RV side. This is the last time we stay at the RV park/resort. The wine we were not a fan of. Also the last time we stayed we were provided 1 complimentary tasting. Who travels solo? Nobody does. They can't afford 2 tastings? Unbelievable. They can build up the resort side and the neighborhood thing but not the RV park because the road/290...