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Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout (SOLD OUT/waiting list)

October 25, 2021 - November 1, 2021

Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout (SOLD OUT/waiting list) 1

Oakwood RV Resort • Fredericksburg, TX • October 25 - November 1, 2021

This Hangout is currently sold out, but join the waiting list and we’ll let you know if a spot opens up!

Indulge in the "spirit" of the Texas Hill Country

The Hill Country region of central Texas is known for many things: its German heritage, delicious food, live music, beautiful scenery, and–especially–its world-class wines and distilled spirits. During this seven-day Hangout, you’ll get to experience all of those and more, including a special and rare opportunity for hands-on participation in the process of making an award-winning bourbon.

The bourbon experience

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Garrison Brothers Distillery, located in the tiny town of Hye, was the first legal bourbon distillery outside of Kentucky. Since 2010, they have been making some of the best bourbon whiskey on the planet, garnering numerous industry awards for their dark, rich bourbons that are barrel-aged in the intense Texas climate.

Volunteers bottle every Garrison Brothers bourbon by hand: corking each bottle, attaching a leather tear ribbon, dipping the top of the bottle in hot wax, embossing the company logo on top, and packing it for shipment. There is a multi-year waiting list of more than 15,000 rabid fans who want to participate in one of their unique two-day volunteer bottling parties. But we have secured two of these events for our Hangout participants!

Half of our group will be bottling during each two-day event. The Garrison Brothers team will serve you a delicious breakfast and lunch, with “work” in the morning and afternoon and breaks for “quality control” shots every 45-60 minutes. Bottling for two days earns you a gift bag, including a T-shirt and 375 mL bottle of bourbon, as well as some other swag. And on your bottling days you’ll get 50% off most purchases in their gift shop–including their coveted small-batch and single-barrel bottles!

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Filling bottles with Garrison Brothers' premium bourbon
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Attaching leather tear ribbon
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Bottles corked and ready to be sealed
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Dipping bottle in hot wax to seal it
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Final quality control check before bottle is boxed
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Embossing the GB logo in the hot wax
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Frequent "quality control" shots keep things fun!

The wine tours

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While the other half of the group is bottling bourbon, you’ll be treated to not one, but two wine tours that will allow you to experience the best that the Hill Country has to offer.

One day, an original, open-air San Francisco cable car–now fully restored and motorized–will transport you and the rest of the group on a private Cable Car Wine Tour to three of the top Texas Hill Country wineries as well as a cafe lunch complete with a wine slushie. Tastings at all three wineries, the lunch and the historic cable car tour are included with your Hangout registration. (Not a wine drinker? You can still participate in the fun, just without the alcohol, and take $60 off your registration fee.)

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On your second day of “wineing”, you’ll explore Fredericksburg’s Urban Wine Trail, a walking tour that features 10 or more downtown wineries and wine tasting rooms. Choose the ones that most interest you; tastings on this tour are at your expense. And if you need a break from wineries, you can visit Fredericksburg’s charming shops and boutiques in the downtown historic district–you can even take a glass of wine with you as you stroll!

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Other activities

There’s more to life–and this Hangout–than just bourbon and wine, though!

On our first full day together, we’ll get to know each other over a potluck brunch, followed by a visit to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, where we’ll hike the Summit Trail to the top of this massive pink granite dome. Later that evening, we’ll gather for an German dinner in the biergarten of one of Fredericksburg’s downtown restaurants.

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Luckenbach Texas dance hall stage

Another evening, we’ll enjoy dinner and a live country music performance at the legendary Luckenbach Texas dance hall, made famous by Waylon Jennings’ song of the same name. 

On the last full day of the Hangout, we’ll explore the markets, shops and parks along the Pedernales River as we bike the 12-mile Stonewall Loop along Texas Ranch Road One (both traditional and e-bikes are available for rent if you don’t have your own). And then that night, we will close out the Hangout with a “spook-tacular” Halloween party, featuring the hilarious “NewlyDead Game”, a mummy-wrapping race, a photo station to show off your costumes, and much more fun and games!

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Hangout location

Our home base for the Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout will be the Oakwood RV Resort. The park’s location just outside town will give you quick access to downtown Fredericksburg, Hye, and the surrounding area. Because weather can be unpredictable in Central Texas, our Halloween party and all other activities at the campground will take place in an enclosed, heated, and air-conditioned rally hall–but there is a fire ring and socializing space outside as well if the weather is nice.

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All of our sites are adjacent to the rally hall and are pull-thrus with 30 and 50 amp electric, water, sewer, and cable, as well as free wifi. The park has a bathhouse and laundry facilities. There is also a hot tub, dog walking area, and fenced dog play area.

You may arrive one night before the Hangout starts and/or stay one night after it ends, subject to campground availability, at a discounted rate of $47/night, including tax. To make a reservation for early arrival or late departure, call the Oakwood office at (830) 997-9817 and mention you’re with the Escapees group.

Is this event right for me?

Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout (SOLD OUT/waiting list) 16Everyone is welcome at all Escapees RV Club events. With that said, the Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout is best suited for members who:

  • are able to stand on a concrete floor for at least an hour at a time (during bottling at Garrison Brothers)
  • can participate in activities during weekdays (traditional working/business hours)
  • enjoy bourbon, wine, and good company!

For events designed specifically for working-age RVers, with most activities in the evenings and on weekends, try an Xscapers Convergence. Or for more of an all-inclusive, guided-tour experience, you may prefer one of our Head-Out Programs (HOPs).

Texas state alcoholic beverage laws require visitors to distilleries and wineries to be at least 21 years of age. For that reason, we do not recommend this Hangout for children. 

COVID-19 precautions (updated August 18, 2021)

Because the safety of our members and staff is our number one priority, proof of either full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required to attend this event.

Escapees recommends that members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before attending any club event. (“Fully vaccinated” means that at least two weeks have passed since receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson or Astra-Zeneca vaccines). Participants who are not fully vaccinated must obtain a COVID-19 test not more than 72 hours (three days) before entering this event.

    • At event check-in, you will be asked to present either a valid CDC vaccination card showing that you are fully vaccinated OR the written results of a negative COVID-19 test performed within the past 72 hours.
    • If you don’t have a test, have lost your vaccination card, or are outside of the 72-hour window, locations of the nearest testing facilities will be provided to you. You will be required to self-isolate until a negative test can be provided.
    • Participants who test positive are not allowed to remain on site, and will receive a full refund of their registration fee.
Situations in which you may not attend this event

You may not attend this event if any of the following are true for you or anyone in your party, unless you have met CDC criteria for discontinuing self-isolation:

    • Within 14 days before attending the event you have tested positive, or been exposed to someone who has tested positive, for COVID-19, or
    • Within 48 hours before attending the event, you have experienced symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., a fever of 100 or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking muscle pain/achiness, headache, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, nasal congestion, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, or any other symptoms associated with COVID-19 identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), whether or not you are vaccinated, unless you have obtained a negative COVID-19 test since the onset of your symptoms and within 72 hours before entering this event.
FAQs about the vaccine/testing requirement

While PCR tests are preferred because they are the most accurate, antigen tests (also referred to as rapid tests) will be accepted.

Yes, children who are not fully vaccinated will need a negative COVID-19 test result to attend.

If you are not fully vaccinated, you can get tested at any facility that offers COVID-19 testing. The websites of most state or county public health departments can help you find testing locations. Many retail pharmacies also offer testing. Your event hosts will have a list of testing locations in the area of the event.

If you test positive for COVID-19 before the event, you are unfortunately no longer eligible to attend. To receive a full refund of your registration fee, email a copy of your positive test result to us at hangouts@escapees.com.

If you test positive for COVID-19 during the event, you may not remain on-site at the event. 

If you’ve had COVID-19 within 14 days before attending the event (meaning you are still within the 14-day isolation window), you are unfortunately not eligible to attend. To receive a full refund of your registration fee, email a dated copy of your positive test result to us at hangouts@escapees.com.

If you’ve lost your CDC vaccine card, you will need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before arriving at the event.

Masks recommended indoors

In accordance with current guidance from the CDC, Escapees strongly recommends that all attendees, vaccinated or not, wear a mask when participating in activities or socializing with other participants indoors. Attendees are also expected to comply with all masking requirements issued by any governmental entity or private business.

Other precautions

The COVID-19 health and safety precautions that will be in effect during the Hangout will depend on the state of the pandemic, local and state health regulations, and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and other medical professionals at the time. These precautions may include measures such as requiring wearing of masks in certain situations, requiring social distancing, avoiding indoor group activities, limiting carpooling, and/or limiting activities that include sharing of food. In addition to the above, you may be required to agree in writing that you will help provide a safe environment for everyone by complying with our health and safety rules, and to release Escapees from liability should you become ill during or after the event. 

Please also be aware that the availability and content of some planned activities may change depending on local and state health regulations and the business’ own COVID-19 mitigation policies.

Schedule

Activities and schedule are subject to change. Activities marked with an *asterisk are not included in your Hangout fee.

Monday 10/25

Arrive at Oakwood RV Resort

Evening welcome campfire, introductions & schedule review

Tuesday 10/26

Potluck brunch

Hike at Enchanted Rock State Park*

German dinner at Der Auslander*



Wednesday 10/27

Group A: Bottling at Garrison Brothers Distillery (includes breakfast & lunch)

Group B: Fredericksburg Cable Car Wine Tour (includes lunch)

Potluck dinner for everyone, prepared by Group B

Interactive game night

Thursday 10/28

Group A: Bottling at Garrison Brothers Distillery (includes breakfast & lunch)

Group B: Fredericksburg Urban Wine Tour*

Texas barbecue dinner at Backwoods BBQ*

Friday 10/29

Group A: Fredericksburg Cable Car Wine Tour (includes lunch)

Group B: Bottling at Garrison Brothers Distillery (includes breakfast & lunch)

Dinner* & country music at Luckenbach Texas

Saturday 10/30

Group A: Fredericksburg Urban Wine Tour*

Group B: Bottling at Garrison Brothers Distillery (includes breakfast & lunch)

Potluck dinner for everyone, prepared by Group A

Campfire and karaoke/sing-along

Sunday 10/31

Stonewall Loop bike tour on Texas Ranch Road One (bike rentals available*)

Halloween party!

Monday 11/1

GTHO breakfast

Departure

Registration fee includes:

  • 7 nights RV camping 
  • 2 days bottling at Garrison Brothers Distillery (breakfast & lunch included both days)
  • Fredericksburg Cable Car Wine Tour (includes tastings with food pairings, lunch and transportation)
  • Halloween party
  • Other social activities
  • GTHO departure day breakfast
  • Hangout hosts

Additional costs to consider: Enchanted Rock State Park admission, wine tastings on Urban Wine Tour, meals out, bicycle rental if needed

All activities listed for this event are subject to change.

By attending this event, you are agreeing to the following: 

  • As an attendee, you assume all risk and danger relating to your personal property, RV and attendance at the Hangout, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event. In the event of loss or theft, no claim will be made upon Escapees, its volunteers, employees or agents.
  • Volunteers may be directing and assisting you in your parking areas. However, it is the driver of the vehicle who is ultimately responsible for avoiding obstacles or dangerous situations and is solely responsible for any damage to one’s property or the property of others.
  • As an attendee at this event, you are granting your permission to be filmed, videotaped, audiotaped, or photographed, and granting to Escapees RV Club the full use of any such recordings or images without compensation. 
  • By registering, you will also receive occasional email notifications of future Hangouts; however, you can opt-out of these notifications at any time. 
  • If COVID-19 protocols are still required at the time of the Hangout, you will help provide a safe environment for everyone by complying with our health and safety rules. If requested, you will sign a written agreement releasing Escapees from liability should you become ill during or after the event.

How to register

There are two ways to register and pay: by phone or online.

  • To register online (recommended), click the button below and follow the instructions on your screen.
  • To register by phone, call Escapees Event Registration at ‭(936) 755-1060‬‬.

Registration opens Wednesday, June 30, 2021
at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.

We’re sorry, but this Hangout is currently sold out. If you’d still like to attend, please join the waiting list. We’ll notify you if a spot opens up.

After you register

Watch for an email from registration@escapees.com for a confirmation of your registration. If you don’t receive it, call Escapees Event Registration at ‭(936) 755-1060‬ to be sure that your registration was processed correctly.

After you register, please join the Escapees Texas Bourbon & Wine Hangout group on Facebook (a link to this group will be in your confirmation email). We will use this group to communicate with Hangout attendees before and during the event. You will also receive one or more emails before the Hangout with more information as needed.

Cancellations

If you cancel on or before Friday, September 24, 2021, you will receive a refund of your Hangout registration fee minus a $50 cancellation fee. 

There will be no refunds for cancellations received after September 24, 2021.

Waiting list

If this Hangout is sold out when you try to register, please join the waiting list by completing the form below. There are usually several cancellations before a Hangout…so if a spot opens up and you’re the next one on the waiting list, you’ll get another shot at registration! (Note: please don’t join the waiting list unless and until the Hangout sells out. Entries received before that time will be ignored.)

This waiting list is no longer available because the event has already occurred.

Details

Start:
October 25, 2021
End:
November 1, 2021
Event Category:
Event Tags:
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Website:
escapees.com/hangouts

Organizer

Escapees Hangouts (Hosts: Cheryl & David Goldstein)
Email
hangouts@escapees.com

Venue

Oakwood RV Resort
78 FM 2093
Fredericksburg, TX 78624 United States
+ Google Map
Phone
830-997-9817
View Venue Website