Have you ever considered staying in a Shipping Container on your next road trip vacation? Ok, it is not exactly what you are thinking… it is much better! What’s old is new again, and it is a whole lot cooler at the FlopHouze in Round Top, Texas. A short drive from the Brazos Valley, Mike and I set out to explore the city of Round Top and find our next Texas retreat destination, the FlopHouze.
The road to Round Top was winding, with bluebonnet fields and wildflowers that hugged the sides of the road. From the car window, we enjoyed watching the big blue Texas sky and pastures filled with livestock and rolling hills. The sun was shining and guided us all the way there.
We soon arrived at the FlopHouze shipping container hotel, and it was time to settle in for our extended stay. As we walked through the front door there were so many details to take in and I was so intrigued by the attention to detail of each shipping container. From the interior walls to the floor of each “houze”, they are outfitted with reclaimed lumber from a Kentucky distillery and sustainably harvested wood from the owner’s farm in upstate New York.
The FlopHouze property is also home to a working ranch, and we watched the cattle grazing in the distance through salvaged windows from a Philadelphia grade school. Reclaimed Texas bowling alley floors were repurposed as countertops that adorn the kitchen cabinets that once housed lab equipment in Brooklyn, New York.
From coast to coast and around the world, walking across the original floors in the shipping container hotel takes you on a trip of its own, reclaiming the past. Vintage textiles and finishings tell a story from the front door to the bedroom. In the evenings, we stargazed from our patio and found retreat and relaxation by the pool and hammock right outside our door.
Things to Do in Round Top
And in true Satterfield family travel tradition, day one of our road trip to Round Top included stopping to look at the smallest church in Texas, St. Martin Catholic Church, and photographing a few architecturally interesting buildings and homes we found along the way. Sometimes we find a little inspiration just beyond the well-traveled roads.
We love exploring antique and vintage stores for one-of-a-kind treasures to take home during our travels. Round Top is a premier location for discovering art, upcycled, reclaimed, and “uniquely you” furnishings for the home. We are still trying to determine our combined style, and we enjoy learning about each other’s tastes in home décor. In addition to hunting treasures, we had to stop by the famous Junk Gypsy flagship store to top off our shopping excursion. You have been warned! It’s way too easy to walk out in style with a new cowboy hat, cowboy boots, and even tutus!
In Round Top, we enjoyed an excellent burger spot, Popi Burger, and of course we could not resist their chocolate milkshakes for dessert. For a wine-tasting experience close to the FlopHouze, we found an Aggie-owned and operated winery, Busted Oak Cellars, in Carmine. We timed it right for their Taco Thursday special and relaxed on their patio while listening to live music!
For a destination close to home, with a slower pace of life, we recommend Round Top as a great place to unwind with your significant other, antique shopping, and treasure hunting, or plan your next girls’ trip. Many of the comforts we find right here remind us of the Brazos Valley, from small and local businesses, family-owned and operated stores and eatery, and artists, creators, and innovators, you can find on a Round Top road trip.
