In 1946, the property that is now The Bell House Wimberley was platted, and a modest two-bedroom home was built. A few years later, the owners added a drive-through snow cone shop. What was once the drive-through window still exists—you can see it and walk through it today—because it ultimately became the attachment between the two larger buildings. It’s now the spot where we welcome guests with champagne.

Later, a much larger addition was built on the empty lot next door. Over the years, it served as a TV repair shop, a front-porch swing shop, and a floral shop. This newer space was connected to the original home by what had once been the snow cone drive-through lane. Eventually, the property became the longtime home of the Wimberley Village Thrift Store, which outgrew the space and moved a few doors down on River Road.

In April 2018, we began dreaming of a design project in the Texas Hill Country. Wimberley has long been our favorite Texas town, and when we drove past the old Thrift Store, we could feel the potential beneath what time had worn down. Sharing an immediate vision for restoration, we purchased the property on the spot with one goal: to honor its history while thoughtfully reimagining what it could become.

Working with our brilliant draftsman, Nathan Estrada (estradadesignco.com), was a serendipitous partnership. In February 2019, 300 River Road was taken down to the studs, beginning a two-year transformation. Today, it’s our delightful home and gathering place.

Designer Tracy Levinson and her husband, Bruce, have transformed the former thrift store into a haven for wedding celebrations, corporate events, private cooking experiences, and two lovely short-term rental suites. Just steps from historic downtown Wimberley, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, two passionate foodies are now bringing people together through the art of design, cooking, and memorable experiences—creating a place where stories begin, and milestones are celebrated.

Tracy’s Design Services

Tracy

Welcome to The Bell House. We created this space to share our love for design, cuisine, and the joy of gathering. I was born and raised in Texas, and Wimberley has always been my favorite small town. Bringing The Bell House to life gave us the opportunity to imagine the many people who might experience and enjoy this space as much as we do.

As a designer by trade, my work began in theatrical design and evolved into residential and workspace interiors, shaping how I think about atmosphere, storytelling, and the way people move through a space.

Bruce and I are passionate food lovers who appreciate a true farm-to-table experience and a great bottle of wine. Bruce previously represented fine wines, and I hold a Level 1 WSET certification. We have two adult children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and two precious grandchildren.

A dear friend said it best the first time they walked through The Bell House: “This place is just happy.” We hope you feel the same when you visit. We can’t wait to share this historic home and gathering place with you.

Bruce

Welcome to The Bell House Wimberley. I like to say I’m the reason there’s a bumper sticker that reads, “I’m not from Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” I grew up in snowy Rochester, New York, and earned a business degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Michigan State University.

My career began in hospitality, working at The Plaza Hotel in New York City and The Ritz-Carlton in Houston, before transitioning into fine wine, champagne, and spirits sales with Kobrand Corporation. I then spent more than 30 years in the television industry, building a career in media and distribution.

Today, in addition to co-operating The Bell House, I serve as a Lecturer at Texas State University, where I earned my master’s degree in Mass Communication. Teaching allows me to share decades of experience in media, business, and revenue strategy with the next generation of communicators.

As for how I ended up in Texas—while living in Los Angeles, I met a beautiful girl from Beaumont named Tracy. Before long, we moved to Texas, got married, and raised two incredible children. Over the years, career opportunities took us out of state more than once, but we always found our way back. I’ve since learned that Texas—and especially Wimberley—is home.

We would be honored to welcome you to our little slice of the Hill Country.

Bella

Our spirited teddy bear puppy.