Delaware North, a global hospitality and entertainment company, has acquired Cactus Moon Lodge, a resort-style, special-event venue set on a hilltop and surrounded by a scenic 22-acre property in the Texas Hill Country.
Cactus Moon Lodge regularly hosts weddings and other special gatherings and events. It’s conveniently located just off Interstate 290 about 5 miles from downtown Dripping Springs, known as the “wedding capital of Texas,” 30 miles from Austin and 70 miles from San Antonio.
The venue features eight cabin-style lodging units and a main lodge with a grand room, dining area and open-concept kitchen. The main lodge features an outdoor deck with seating for about 100 people and overlooks an outdoor pool while providing ravine views. An adjacent 6,000-square-foot Spanish-style courtyard can seat about 300 people for weddings and other events and can be covered by a large tent. There is also a 100-space parking lot to accommodate guests.
The surrounding property includes a collection of springs, waterfalls and natural watering holes, with hiking trails for guests.
Delaware North’s parks and resorts division, which operates lodging and hospitality in national and state parks and owns and operates a portfolio of hotels and other lodging, will operate Cactus Moon Lodge. Delaware North plans to expand the group and event business at the lodge by making a full calendar of dates available year-round.
“Cactus Moon Lodge appealed to us as an ideally located destination in the gateway of the Texas Hill Country, showcasing its beautiful rolling hills, creeks, natural pools and historic ranches,” said Scott Socha, president of Delaware North Parks and Resorts and Australia operations. “It’s a secluded retreat offering the type of connection with nature that we look for – but still easily accessible from Austin and San Antonio.”
Cactus Moon Lodge has been family owned and operated, and Socha praised co-owners Lizzy Berry, Cindy Ollig, Ron Berry and Cate Berry and their team for creating and operating a memorable resort.
“When you’re at the property, you can see and feel the passion the family has put into Cactus Moon,” Socha said. “That’s something we greatly appreciate and are very familiar with at Delaware North.”
Delaware North is also a family-owned-and-operated business, with the Jacobs family in its third generation of overseeing the now global enterprise after it began as a modest concessions company in 1915 in Buffalo.
“What really resonated with us was how closely Delaware North’s vision aligned with our own,” Lizzy Berry said. “They weren’t looking to change what we built, but to honor it – to grow what we had already created and to carry forward the projects we had in motion. The respect they showed for the passion behind Cactus Moon meant so much and the fact that Delaware North is also family owned made it feel like an even more natural fit.”
While Delaware North is familiar with Texas – most notably that its Sportservice division operates food, beverage and retail services at Globe Life Field in Arlington for the Texas Rangers and its travel division has operated restaurants and retail stores and strongly supported the music program at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for over 25 years – Cactus Moon represents the company’s first foray into operating lodging in the state.
“The Austin area has tremendous appeal for outdoor recreation and leisure, attracting nature lovers and adventure seekers. It’s also a cultural hotspot, tech hub and live music capital, so we think Cactus Moon can be a destination for many types of groups and travelers. We are very excited for this opportunity,” Socha said.
Delaware North’s lodging portfolio includes nearly 25 locations in the United States, Australia and New Zealand, representing more than 3,000 lodging units. In addition, the company operates food, beverage, and retail services, recreational activities, adventure tours and educational programming at many of the same locations.
As a global leader in the hospitality and entertainment industry, Delaware North is committed to sustainability and responsible stewardship. Its proprietary GreenPath® platform helps organize and accelerate efforts throughout the company to reduce its environmental impact.
