Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in the area?
Mindy Morgan Avitia and I own and operate the hill country vacation rental Hilltop Hacienda in New Braunfels.
Where are you originally from and how long have you lived in the area?
Originally from the Jersey Shore, but I’ve lived in Texas for 11 years this fall.
Tell us about your business. Share as little or as much as you would like. This is your space to share with the community.
My husband and I just launched our first vacation rental between Canyon Lake and Gruene. We’re excited to welcome up to 8 guests at Hilltop Hacienda. We take great pride in providing guests with a comfortable modern Texas Hill Country vibe, where you can relax under the Live Oak trees, swim in the plunge pool, or even have some drinks in the hot tub. We specifically designed the home for families and friends to gather for a quiet getaway—or for that much-needed mom’s trip! I’m a mom of two little girls and know how important rest and recovery are for so many busy families, and now we’re happy to be able to provide this for y’all!
What brought you to open your business? What did you do previously?
Unlike a lot of real estate investors, we didn’t buy the property to turn it into a vacation rental. Instead, we thought we were purchasing our dream home. But life had different plans for us, and we had to move our family closer to the city. We really wanted to keep the home because it really is a dream. So we put our heads together and decided that we wanted to open this little retreat off the beaten path for everyone to enjoy. We love this house and we want it to be an extension of our home to our guests, which is why we self-manage the property and chat with every guest before and during their booking process.
When I’m not managing a vacation rental, I’m a writer and I’m working on my first book!
When did the idea of creating your business start? How long have you been in business? What was your inspiration to start?
Like I said before, we didn’t mean to be vacation rental hosts. But life had different plans, so we pivoted and were inspired by all the beautiful properties out in Gruene, Canyon Lake, and New Braunfels. We wanted to share the property with folks who needed a place to stay after a night at Whitewater Amphitheater, or for some friends who were looking to getaway in Gruene for a weekend—or more! There’s so much near the home that we knew it would be a popular destination for families and friends to gather.
What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
I love being able to provide guests with a beautiful retreat-like home. Especially moms. Being a mom is the hardest job I’ve ever loved, and I know a lot of moms feel it. But it’s important to have space close by where we can still feel like we’re getting away. Maybe we can’t leave the state because our babies are still nursing. Or there are too many activities to plan. I love having a quiet place to offer people to do the one thing we all need—relax!
What makes you unique?
I’m a Jersey-born Texan, who loves it down here. You can’t quite ever take the Jersey grit out of someone, so I’m proud of those roots.
Can you tell me a few things you offer?
We allow up to 8 guests to enjoy a private pool, hot tub, and luxury kitchen. We have two king bedrooms, a queen, and two twins. We have a dedicated private workspace for anyone who needs to also work while they’re away, with high-speed internet. The home is fully stocked with all your kitchen essentials to cook and host for 8!
What is your favorite part about what you do?
As someone who’s always been in marketing, I love that side of the business. I love getting the word out and inviting new people to stay at our place.
What does the future look like for you and your business?
I hope that this home of ours can bring joy to family and friends from all over. As the home grows and we get more bookings, I would love to invest in this little slice of heaven to make the guest experience even more enjoyable for anyone who stays.
What advice would you give to others who want to start something new?
Just do it. Being risk-averse is important sometimes, but overthinking and over-analyzing sometimes is the antithesis of action. I learn best by failing forward. So learn from your mistakes and just go follow those dreams!
Any advice for juggling all the things in daily life?
This is very hard for me, so maybe I’m not the person to give this advice. I am a writer, I work a full-time job, own and operate Hilltop Hacienda, am mama to a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old, and sit on the board of a local nonprofit. I wear A LOT of hats and it’s not always easy, but the thing that keeps me successful and moving forward is to consistently bring myself back to the present. Not to worry about what’s to come in 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, etc. Yes, plan for it, but don’t let anxiety take hold. The only way I’ve learned to do that is through staying in the present.
Also, to keep my child’s caregivers happy and paid. They are the lifeblood of why I’m able to juggle so much and truly couldn’t do it without them (thank you, Gracie & Esme, we love you!)
