A Unique Bed & Breakfast In the Heart of San Antonio's Historic District

The House and Gardens

The House  

Ruckman Haus, looking northwest from French Street

 
We have discovered that the original structure which is now Ruckman Haus was built right around the turn of the century. It was done in the style then prevalent in this area of Texas, an area which came to be known as the Texas Hill Country.

While Ruckman Haus is reminiscent of the homes built by the early settlers of the Hill Country, both Anglo and Hispanic, and retains the structural and design elements from its original construction, it is now a thoroughly modern home. But while styles, such as the Hill Country Style of Ruckman Haus, have become so very important as ties to our past, the way we appreciate those styles has to keep up with the times. Today, we and our guests expect different standards of comfort and convenience than did our forebears, and for that reason when we renovated Ruckman Haus we added those features that 21st-century travelers have come to expect.

Many of these features will be immediately evident to you in your individual rooms. All of our rooms have private baths, of course, and each of these has been updated to include luxurious showers. Some of these have body jets, and the bath in one suite features a slipper claw-foot tub. All rooms have flat-screen televisions, cable TV, DVD players, small refrigerators and wireless Internet access. And, very important in light of San Antonio's climate, each room has an individual, remote-controlled A/C and heating system.

Ruckman Haus: The New Second-Story Deck

 
Another addition to the house was made in 2007. It is a long deck running the width of the entire rear of the house at the second floor, and access to this deck was provided via the French Room and the Luxembourg Room. The deck was divided with a trellis and, over time, plants will grow to provide privacy to the occupants of both rooms. For now, guests in both rooms have direct access to the deck, and this outside living space has dramatically increased the popularity of both rooms.

Even though Ruckman Haus retains all the charm of the beginning of the twentieth century, it is definitely a house for the beginning of the twenty-first. Ruckman Haus and your hosts offer you their hospitality. Prudence and Ron know what it is that makes guests feel welcome, and they take great pride in ensuring that your stay is as pleasant and relaxing as possible. They, along with the rest of the staff, are committed to making sure that you enjoy your stay in San Antonio. Ruckman Haus is a place where y'all can feel completely at home- without being "at" home.

So, from ourselves and our house, we bid you "Welcome!"

The Gardens  

The Gate to the East Garden

Even at the time of the major renovation of Ruckman Haus to prepare it for its new life as a bed & breakfast, when the property was a mess of construction materials, people and equipment, Prudence Ruckman envisioned the day when the entire eastern side of the property would become a beautiful garden, a place where guests could relax, eat and drink, and where Prudence herself could indulge her hobby- garden creation and maintenance.

The East Garden from the East Patio

Guests will most often enter the garden from the French doors off the living room. Just outside the house they will be on the east patio, and in front of them and to the left is the new garden. On the East Patio guests begin to enjoy the quiet and serenity of the garden. There are potted plants, artwork and statuary and, of course, an excellent view of the garden itself.

Looking down the garden walk

The East Garden at Ruckman Haus certainly completes the experience of the guests who come to stay here. It is a wonderful place to relax and recharge. We invite you, too, to come and share its serenity with us.