Chanticleer is a turn-of-the-century log cabin, restored by the Mellengers (that's us!) on our Lake Travis property in the hill country near Marble Falls.  It was originally a seed house in Bertram, Texas, then purchased and moved to a ranch in Blanco.  It was not assembled after the move to Blanco and sat for a few years.  Then we bought the logs (and the original roof rafters), which had been numbered "for easy reconstruction" as they had been disassembled in Bertram.  We drove off into the sunset with high hopes and ignorance. 

Need we tell you that the numbered logs did not fit together in that order?  Two years later, the cabin had been reconstructed, with a room added as a bathroom and kitchenette.  Christmas Eve 1995, was our first night in the cabin.  We purchased the bed the day before in Llano, set up a small Christmas tree inside with our gifts and managed to get the claw-foot tub connected to the plumbing for a Christmas Eve bubble bath at 10:00 pm.  What a special gift it was! 

After completing the finishing touches, the decorating began.  Our goal was to make the cabin feel like a country home for our guests, with all-cotton linens (line-dried, weather permitting), homemade soap, cheery fabrics, lots of pillows, books and magazines, games and...  Well, we don't want to spoil all of the surprises!  In July 1996, we opened for business as Chanticleer Bed & Breakfast with "An Evening in the Hill Country" preview party. 

This venture was a test for several things: could we construct a log structure ourselves, would it be fun to have a weekend bed & breakfast business, would others appreciate our efforts...  We can now say "yes" to all of the above. 

We hope you enjoy what we so enjoy:  watching the deer in the early morning and at dusk, listening to the hens as they nest and the rooster as he begins his day, watching the hummingbirds and the various other birds in the spring, gazing at the stars on a clear night, resting and reading in the hammock, walking along the waterfront, sitting on the porch... 

 

This is Chanticleer.

Home | Information | Rates | History | Directions | Links | Email