"This is the most peaceful place I’ve ever been," I thought as I relaxed in a weathered swing under an ancient live oak. Little did I know that was the exact same thought, contemplated on the exact same swing, that led Carter Schildknecht and her husband, Ellis, to purchase this little piece of heaven in 2001. And luckily for the world, they have chosen to share the serenity with guests of Palo Alto Creek Farm Bed & Breakfast.

Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend getaway, an encounter with nature and wildlife, a step back in Texas history, a luxurious, pampering spa treatment, or all of the above, look no farther.

Long before the appearance of that swing, Indians probably camped under this same massive oak. In 1852 Peter and Christine Itz came from Westerburg, Germany with five children, including a son named Karl. They were in the Fredericksburg area about a year before buying the land along the banks of the clear Palo Alto Creek to settle and farm, building the log cabin in 1855. Their son Karl married Henriette Evers in 1856, and after the Civil War, built the two-story stone house you see today.

Palo Alto Creek Farm is one of the most complete pioneer farmsteads remaining in Texas. Seven original, native limestone buildings still stand. The two-story house (1875), barn (circa 1880), and log cabin (1855) have been restored and "modernized" to comprise the guest accommodations. The smokehouse (1896) is now the spa room for The Itz House (both The Barn and The Log Cabin also have private spa rooms). The tank house (1924), root cellar, and hand-dug well, alongside a 3-legged windmill, also remain. The only building not in the original location is the log cabin, which was built atop the root cellar and moved decades ago because it was too close to the house.

The farm stayed in the Itz family for five generations. It then passed through several owners until 2001 when Carter and Ellis Schildknecht bought it.

Although the Schildknechts live in Lamesa, ...

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