Serana

Serana Situated on 53 acres of private Texas grasslands, Serana is a 21+ glamping destination for those seeking a place to reset, relax, and reconnect.

There’s so much more to share about this day and what it meant for both of us to be guests at the place we’ve been build...
05/26/2026

There’s so much more to share about this day and what it meant for both of us to be guests at the place we’ve been building for six years, and share it with the people who’ve been with us through every phase.

But for now, here’s the highlight reel.

It’s the privilege of a lifetime to build something with your partner. And to be able to share it with the world - to have Serana be even a small part of your weddings, your retreats, your reunions, your weekends away - is something we don’t take for granted.

We’re excited for what’s to come 💛

And a very huge thank you to our wonderful photographer extraordinaire .co and incredible food by Chef Mike and team

The year was 2020.Before there were cabins, there were tents. Before the tents, there were teepees. We built one ourselv...
04/06/2026

The year was 2020.

Before there were cabins, there were tents. Before the tents, there were teepees. We built one ourselves 🙃 then quickly decided not to go that direction. Found a woman on Craigslist to buy them all for 50% of what we paid (*lights money on fire*). She was amazing and we were so glad they went to a good home!!

Year one of Serana was three Kampinas and five canvas glamping tents. All off-grid. Tents with wood-burning stoves. Beautiful for about five months a year. The rest of the time? Texas weather. Freezing nights in winter, unbearable by June. We quickly added electricity to the Kampinas but kept the tents off-grid.

And when it rained, like really rained, we’d be out there in the mornings bailing water out of the stoves with buckets. The ceilings leaked around the stovepipe holes. We tried everything. Nothing worked. Miraculously it never once rained this hard when it was cold enough to need the stoves, but still such a grind.

And if there was any bad weather (rain, cold, hot, hail, lightening, etc.), neither of us slept. We’d lie awake refreshing Airbnb, hoping guests were okay. We never got a single complaint (again, miracle. And a testament to our amazing guests!) But that didn’t stop the anxiety.

One night there was a proper Texas deluge. Again, barely slept. Saw the guests the next morning, bracing for the worst. They said: “THAT WAS AWESOME. It felt like sleeping inside a thundercloud.” And were cracking up about it.

Great guests. Still absurd.

We’re past the tent phase now. But we’re glad we did it. The slow, phased approach taught us how people actually use the space. And some things carried forward: every cabin door still faces east, just like the tents did. And old camping tradition. Wake up with the sunrise.

We don’t miss the buckets. But from time to time we do miss the tents 💘

Most often, people ask how we designed Serana. The true answer is it that it was one decision at a time, usually figurin...
03/22/2026

Most often, people ask how we designed Serana. The true answer is it that it was one decision at a time, usually figuring it out as we went. All over the course of 5 years. (It was originally an old cattle ranch with only a few pole barns).

Some of those decisions felt small in the moment. Building the communal kitchen first - before we even had cabins. Enclosing the Spa House instead of leaving it open-air. Drying flowers and framing them instead of buying art. But those little choices ended up shaping everything. What help make our space feel so intentional.

The communal kitchen and amenities became our differentiators as hubs that makes Serana work for retreats. The Spa House evolved into a Japanese-inspired sanctuary we’re so glad we invested in. The art, the vintage furniture, the objects we actually love. These are why guests say it feels like staying in someone’s home instead of a basic short-term rental.

We agonized over a lot. Sauna size, materials, the view out the window. Pathways and fencing. Where to create privacy and where to preserve the view. Really none of it was in the original plan. Most of it we figured out along the way, usually just the two of us.

Turns out that’s how it works.

Morning light at Serana. That’s it. That’s the post.
02/26/2026

Morning light at Serana. That’s it. That’s the post.

Six years in and we’re still learning. We’ve made a lot of decisions we’re proud of. Most of them. And a few we’d do dif...
02/23/2026

Six years in and we’re still learning.

We’ve made a lot of decisions we’re proud of. Most of them. And a few we’d do differently. Not because they were wrong! But because we know more now.

Someone asked us recently what we’d change if we started over. And while we carry a mental list of things that are definitely too specific 🤪 we’ve distilled it down to a few themes that we thought would resonate.

And we’d do it all over again. No amount of research replaces the education of actually doing the thing. But hopefully this helps someone along the way!

Long weekends at Serana ❋❋One of our favorite recent guest reviews. Grateful for each one everytime! “Serana is a specia...
02/17/2026

Long weekends at Serana ❋❋

One of our favorite recent guest reviews. Grateful for each one everytime!

“Serana is a special place, imagined, created, and shared by special people — Zach and Carlyle. In concert with the land, Serana’s cabins, meeting spaces, and sauna reflected the essence of our gracious hosts in vision, connection to nature, autenticity, humility, and attention to detail. From simplicity to luxury, all is approached with consideration and purpose. An experience that continues as a conversation — and a feeling that will travel with you — until your next visit.”

Join us www.seranatx.com

Six years ago, we left the Bay Area to build a life and hospitality business in the middle of nowhere in Texas. We moved...
01/12/2026

Six years ago, we left the Bay Area to build a life and hospitality business in the middle of nowhere in Texas. We moved an hour from the nearest city, 45 minutes from the nearest airport, and 25 minutes from the nearest grocery store and coffee shop.

We had no construction experience. No country-living background. And absolutely no idea what we were doing.

But what we did have was a shared pull toward something slower and more grounded.

Since then, we’ve built a wellness retreat we never could have imagined when we started. And along the way, we’ve learned a lot — mostly by doing things the hard way.

We get asked all the time what moving to the country is actually like, so we put our biggest lessons here.

For us, none of this would have been possible without the opportunity for remote work. And now with Starlink, working in rural areas is much more possible. You don’t have to burn it all down and quit your job to do this. Use your day job to support your daydream.

What we didn’t fully understand at the time was how much of that “slower life” would actually come from learning new skills, making hard decisions, and sitting in discomfort longer than we were used to. The lack of “convenience.” The lack of “efficiency.” There were seasons that felt isolating and overwhelming and made us question every single life decision that got us here. 😅 But then others that made it all click at once.

If you’re thinking about making a similar leap, ask us anything! Let us know where you want a reality check 🤠

Address

197 Orts Lane
Paige, TX
78659

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