NEWS & REVIEWS

Read what the media and our guests are saying about their experiences at The Retreat at Artesian Lakes and Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant .

Media Coverage

“…majestic Big Thicket forests have grown up around the 500-acre Chain-O-Lakes resort near Cleveland,… …an outdoor Shangri-la where families reconnect with nature – and each other… …world-class Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant is worth a trip in itself… …my 10-year-old son said it was one of the coolest things he’s ever done (and we’d just been to Australia)…” Texas Parks & Wildlife - March 2007

“At Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant , almost every dish incorporates herbs grown in the resident herb garden, from Monterrey chicken with red jalapeno jelly sauce and gingered peas and yellow squash to mango and tomato chutneys or bread baked in mini flowerpots. Garden tours and self-tours are available. Restaurant founders Jim and Madalene Hill retired to Cleveland, Texas in 1957 to grow herbs. The meals they served were ground breaking for their use of fresh foods and herbs. Executive chef Jim Condra, who trained in France, now presides over the kitchen. (832) 397-4020.” Endless Vacations Magazine, September-October 2005

" ...a tranquil oasis… ...attentive resort staff… ...rustic but pleasantly appointed cabins… ...and a restaurant serving gourmet meals prepared with herbs from its garden… "
Family Fun - February 2005

" ...it's as beautiful, peaceful, and safe an ecoresort as I've ever seen. Each cabin has a balcony that hangs out over what seems to be your own private (bayou) lake… ...the true measure of a "resort," after all-someplace where idling is magically transformed into something worthwhile… "
Gourmet - January 2005

" ...This was a gravel quarry before dentist James Smith cleared hiking trails and turned it into an ecotourist destination-creating one of the signature resorts in the area. …Chain-O-Lakes' Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant is one of the best in the state in the unlikeliest of places… "
Travel & Leisure - December 2004

"Chain-O-Lakes was built for those who seek solace and pleasure when surrounded by birdsong, rustling foliage, stars, sunsets and wildlife. Don't bother to pack the PlayStation-there are no TV's. Instead, one recent visitor remarked that it has been years since her kids sat and played a game of Clue."
Bellaire Buzz - February 2004

" …the Crown Jewel of East Texas... ...remote Texas getaway designed to showcase the serenity and tranquility of East Texas… ...where nature sometimes steps right up to your front door… ...an unforgettable experience… …more than just a bed and breakfast... "
Texas Country Reporter - April 2003

"In the early morning hours visitors to Chain-O-Lakes Resort step out of log cabins and are greeted by the pine-scented air. If the day is bright, the sun casts dappled shadows through the trees. The lakes are so still and quiet that turtles can be heard slipping into the water from a nearby log. In the distance, the muffled clip-clopping echoing in the calm signals that the horse-drawn carriage is on its way to take guests to Hilltop Herb Farm Restaurant ."
Log Homes Illustrated - March 2002

Guest Comments

"...You have the best kept secret, not just in Texas but the whole world!!! ...I simply can't say enough about your hospitality, food, family style fun, and BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS!!!!…"
David Harvey - Corporate Retreat Guest

"…The executive Leadership Training was fantastic-I would recommend this for every company... …a fantastic corporate retreat…"
Jeff Larson - Corporate Retreat Guest

"The peace. The tranquility. The nature. The beauty. The wildlife. When you're on the porch of your cabin, it feels as if no one else is around."
Rick & Catherine Carson - Leisure Guest

"Our kids were upset when we told them we were going somewhere else for our next vacation."
Helen Bauer - Leisure Guest

"I have come here four times… …my favorite place in the whole wide world. I think I should even live here. …every time I come it gets better and better!"
Mackenzie - Leisure Guest (age 9)

"…The legendary Texas disposition did not disappoint! I was extremely impressed with the staff's friendliness, willingness to go beyond the norm., and hard work… …Excellent…"
Ryan Saksan - Church Retreat Guest

"Great opportunity for pictures. Food was exceptionally delicious - every meal. …No TV. - great for communication with family! Distance between cabins - great for privacy & relaxation. Back to nature - a beauty for kids & adults almost lost. Serene atmosphere - great getaway from busy lifestyle… …Outdoor living with indoor comforts…"
Betty Schiel - Leisure Guest

"The kids were upset when we arrived and there were no televisions in the cabins; by the time we left, we had come together as a family."
Leisure Guest

"…The area is absolutely beautiful. The way the cabins and campsites are set up, they don't interfere with the natural beauty. God made a beautiful place here…"
Leslie Ray - Leisure Guest

"My husband was mad when we arrived and the cabin didn't have a TV set; it was the best anniversary because we got to know each other again."
"Lovers' Package" Guest

"My boyfriend proposed to me right after we had our 'Table for Two' dinner. It was fantastic! The whole 'romantic getaway' this weekend made this so special for us… ...Thanks for making our special weekend even more special-I loved it! Oh, by the way, ...I said 'YES!!!"
Stephanie McLane - "Lovers' Package" Guest