Today we’d like to introduce you to Elissa Barker.
Hi Elissa, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really starts when I made the hard decision to drop out of UT Austin after my sister and brother were in a bad car accident. My heart was back home in Blanco, not in a classroom, so I came home to help my family. I tried finding a “real job,” but I was in that weird spot of being overqualified and under-degreed, so I jumped behind the bar and started bartending.
When that bar sold, I moved on to manage another one, and somewhere in the chaos I put myself through massage school. I was just about to graduate in 2009 and had given my notice when the owner surprised me with an offer I couldn’t refuse—suddenly, I was the owner. It was wild, but it worked. The bar did great, and by 2010 we needed more parking, which led me to buy the property next door. It came with four little cottages and a few RV sites, so alongside running a bar, I found myself learning the ropes of short-term rentals.
Then Blanco did what Blanco always does—it brought people together. After the big 2015 flood, I met the neighbors during cleanup, and that turned into me managing their four beautiful riverfront villas. I later bought that property, too. In 2016, when the bar burned down, it felt like the end of an era, but it actually gave me the space to fully focus on what had quietly become my passion: building the Blanco Riverside Getaway. Today it’s grown to eight rooms and five RV sites.
It’s been an unpredictable journey, but every twist brought me closer to building the life and business I love today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I often joke that a business degree would’ve been a whole lot cheaper than learning how to run a business on the fly. The 2015 flood was the first major reality check. Seeing the river come up and damage the property was overwhelming—trees everywhere, debris, cabins torn up. But Blanco is strong, and the community rallied. We cleaned up, rebuilt, and kept going.
Then in 2016, my bar burned down. That one hit hard. It was sudden, and it felt like losing a piece of myself. At the same time, it pushed me to focus on the Blanco Riverside Getaway, which ended up being a blessing in disguise, but it didn’t feel like it at the time.
And of course, keeping any small business alive during COVID was its own roller coaster. Cancellations, uncertainty, navigating new rules every week, it was exhausting. There were moments I wasn’t sure we’d make it. But our guests were loyal, our community was supportive, and I learned how to pivot fast.
Every challenge came with a lesson, and somehow each one made me stronger and more grateful to be doing what I do here in Blanco.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At the heart of everything I do is the desire to help people slow down, feel cared for, and fall in love with Blanco the way I have. Blanco Riverside Getaway offers riverside Villas, Cottages, and RV sites right on the banks of the Blanco River. We’re known for being peaceful, spotless, and incredibly convenient—you can walk to the square, grab great food, shop local, or just sit on the porch and let the river do its magic.
What truly sets us apart is the personal touch. This isn’t a big company; it’s a business that grew right alongside me. Every detail matters, from how clean the rooms are to how welcome guests feel the moment they arrive. I want people to feel relaxed, safe, comfortable, and treated with genuine hospitality.
Alongside the Getaway, I also co-created Relax in Blanco, our full-service wellness studio right up the road. We offer massage therapy, facials, seasonal spa treatments, hair services, and nail services—everything from a great blowout to a relaxing massage. It’s a place where locals and visitors can melt into some much-needed self-care.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of our consistency. Whether someone is staying in a villa, renting a cabin, getting a facial, or having their hair done, they know exactly what to expect: kindness, professionalism, and spaces that are truly cared for.
What I want readers to know is this: my businesses are built on heart, hospitality, and a deep love for Blanco. If you’re looking for a getaway or a wellness experience, where you can relax, recharge, and feel genuinely taken care of, that’s what we do here.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I definitely haven’t done any of this alone. My parents and my family have been my biggest supporters from day one, always encouraging me, helping when things got tough, and believing in me even when I doubted myself.
Megan, my business partner at Relax in Blanco, has also been an incredible part of this journey. She’s steady, talented, and someone I trust completely. Having a partner who shares the same heart, standards, and vision makes all the difference.
My husband Michael deserves a whole chapter of his own. He can fix literally anything, and he has saved me more times than I can count, whether it’s a busted pipe, a broken AC, or me needing a pep talk on a hard day. He is truly my rock.
And then there is Mr. Burris, who originally sold me the bar. He believed in my ability to run a business long before I believed it myself. His confidence in me changed the entire direction of my life and set this whole journey in motion.
I am surrounded by people who lift me up, cheer me on, and step in whenever I need help. None of this would exist without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blancoriversidegetaway.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blancoriversidecottages
