Join Jessica Mittel, the founder of Gästehaus Schmidt in Fredericksburg, Texas for a conversation with correspondent Tom Wilmer about the historic German guesthouse experience.
Gästehaus Schmidt was a pioneer in vacation rentals. When she started the business in Fredericksburg back in 1985, before the advent of the computer age, everything was done with pen and paper.
Second Home, one of Mittel’s favorite guesthouses is Just two blocks from Main Street, many locals and visitors have coveted this impressive two-story home over the years.
Built in the late 1800s, Sussie Staudt lived in the house until 1990. A few years later the home was sold and renovated as a guesthouse. A large front porch with rockers has been restored with gingerbread to bring back the original look.
The colors inside have kept with German tradition by declaring each room's personality painting with a different color and tying them together with red and deep blue. Pine floors and fabulous antiques are displayed both upstairs and down.
Mittel watched the guesthouse vacation rental experience boom over the years in Fredericksburg.
Today, in addition to traditional hotels and motels, there are more than 1,000 historic German guesthouse rentals in Fredericksburg. Mittel’s business manages 175 properties including classic historic guesthouses, bed and breakfasts and country inns.
The underbed music in this show was performed by renowned Hill Country musician John Arthur Martinez, based in the historic town of Marble Falls.
Funding for Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer is provided by the Foundation at Hearst Castle
Conserving the past to inspire future generations of dreamers and preserving the legacy of Julia Morgan.
Experience authentically curated historical events that recreate what it was like to be a guest of William Randolph Hearst. Learn more about becoming a supporting member of the Foundation at Hearst Castle.
You are invited to subscribe to the six time Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel podcast, Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, featured on the NPR Podcast Directory, Apple Podcast, the NPR One App Stitcher.com and more than twenty other podcast hosting sites including iHeartRadio and Spotify
