If there's one thing that we've learned after years of success in the real estate photography industry, it's that first impressions are super important. Sure, looking your best on a first date might score you some brownie points. But in the real estate business, making a stellar first impression can mean the difference between selling a property and losing a client.
If you're reading this page, chances are you're involved in real estate in some form or fashion, whether you're an agent, builder, interior designer, or architect. You're probably in need of a professional real estate photographer in Kingsland, TX but aren't sure which company to trust. We get it - you're making an investment into your business and need to know that you're working with talented professionals. Fortunately, you can scratch those other names off your list, because you're just a few clicks away from working with THE best real estate photography firm in Texas!
Welcome to Twist Tours Real Estate and Portfolio Marketing Services: your go-to group for modern real estate photography and interactive virtual tours. We're proud to be a local company, serving Central Texas Drone photography, video with awesome real estate photography, 3D Matterport models, 2D + 3D floor plans, and premium single property websites.!
Unlike some of our competitors, we care just as much about how our products look as you do. That's why we make it a point to provide our customers with the finest photography and friendliest customer service in the game. Our professional photographers utilize the latest technology and equipment, so you can rest easy knowing your photos will look incredible. With a team of creative superstars by our side, we're always on top of new marketing trends and photography techniques. That way, sellers get what they deserve, and buyers get what they want: the very best real estate photography available in Texas.
Our photographers and Matterport scanners are ridiculously great at what they do. Plus, our support team is made up of bona fide superstars. So, if you have questions or concerns, we're more than happy to chat with you.
Our photography and videography expertise includes:
Real Estate Photography
Online Tours
3D Models
Aerial Photography
Floor Plans
Virtual Staging
Unmatched Real Estate Photography in Kingsland, TX
We've all heard the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words," and in today's digitally-dominant world, that saying is more poignant than ever. In real estate, pictures have a huge impact on whether a home is sold or passed by. That's especially true in a time when prospective homebuyers are less likely to travel in-person to tour a home in their price range.
With more time on their hands to peruse real estate listings, buyers are inundated with all sorts of images, which is why your real estate photos must stand out from the crowd. Once buyers filter through property locations, pricing, nearby school districts, and square footage, they want to flip through photos. If your pictures aren't up to snuff, you can be sure the homebuyer will move to the next listing.
Fortunately, Twist Tours is here to provide you with high-resolution, creative photography for your real estate needs - whether you're listing a brand-new home or selling a property that has been on the market too long.
We believe Twist Tours stands apart because we do more than capturing a visual record of a home. Instead, your Twist Tours real estate photographer develops an emotional bridge between potential buyers and real estate listings by enhancing the home's true character. Every aspect of our real estate photos, drone shots, videos, and tours are carefully engineered to bring your property to life
With a staff of highly-trained, innovative real estate photographers, there's no project too large or "out of the box" for us to handle. And we're not just talking real estate photography in the classic sense - we have successful clients in many different industries, who use our photographers for:
Interior Design
Lighting Design
Office Building
Medical Office
Landscape Design
Event Venue
Apartment Rental
Commercial Property
Restaurant
Vacation Rental
Spa & Retreat
Out of the Box Projects
Cutting-Edge Virtual Tour Photography
At Twist Tours, we believe that virtual tours and walkthroughs have a secure place in the real estate industry. Every agent needs access to great property walkthroughs, which is why we offer several imaginative tour options for every budget. We provide three types of full-service virtual tours: photo tours, floor plan tours, and our most popular option, 360-degree walkthrough tours. We also provide custom 3D Matterport services complete with photography, floor plans, and aerial video for clients in our service area. Not located in Austin or San Antonio? Our self-service options are a great choice, even if you're located in another country.
What is 3D Matterport?
Before we give you a breakdown covering our real estate tours, you might wonder: what is Matterport 3D?
These immersive walkthroughs bring properties to life, almost like a life-sized dollhouse that buyers can tour. Matterport's incredible tours help the top real estate brokerages and even FSBO pros sell homes quickly and win listings by giving homebuyers the chance to experience your property as if they were really there.
Our 3D Matterport experts scan your home, and when it's all said and done, you'll have an incredible 3D showcase highlighting all the bells and whistles of your listing. If you're looking to get a leg up on your competition, here's your chance!
3D Degree Walkthrough Tours
If you're really looking to take your real estate game to the next level, a 360-degree tour is the way to go. By far our most popular tour, our 360-degree tours feature premium single-property websites that combine the 3D Matterport space, floor plan, and professional photo packages into an amazing interactive online presentation experience. Additionally, clients can choose to include an interactive 2D floor plan or a 3D floorplan feature that looks like HGTV's like Room Planner. We can even include a virtual walkthrough video, walkthrough tours that are optimized for mobile devices, brand logos, and detailed buyers' tools.
1.
Floor Plan Tours
These custom walkthroughs feature floor and photo tours that display on a premium single property website. Our floor plan tours include a stunning virtual walkthrough tour, a gallery of professional photos, an interactive 3D and 2D floorplan with an HGTV-style Room Planner, and more.
2.
Photo Tours
These tours contain professional photos from our team of photographers, displayed in a single-property premium landing page that comes with a beautiful gallery display, the virtual walkthrough video tour, along with your digital branding materials.
Along with our virtual tour packages, clients may choose additional features, including:
Real Estate Videos: Excellent real estate videography in Kingsland, TX is hard to find, especially if you're working on a budget. Luckily, Twist is here to save the day. We take your YouTube videos to another level of awesome with video clips, agent bookends, entry slides, and exit slides. Choose the exact copy you would like displayed, and our team will automatically upload it to your YouTube channel.
FREE 3D Floor Plans: Yep, you read that right. Our 3D floor plans with Room Planner are 100% free and let buyers edit, visualize, and plan their spaces in 3D.
Tour Reports: What good would a virtual tour be without actionable insights for you to monitor? We offer detailed stats on tour visits, sites referring your virtual tour, and more. Our tour reports are emailed directly to your email account so that you have easy access on a regular basis.
Custom Brochures: Twist Tours offers more than 15 personalized templates, which have our floor plans built-in for online and offline marketing needs.
Syndicate Your Tour: We can place your virtual tour on the MLS listing, on realtor.com, and YouTube platforms.
Interactive Floor Plan Tours: Let tour viewers interact directly with your floor plan with the addition of interactive features, like point & click hotspots. This feature is especially useful for mobile users.
Lead Capture: Our unique Lead Capture technology will drive more photo clicks and turn your real estate virtual tour into a lead-making machine.
Aerial Video and Photography Services for Real Estate
Nothing showcases your property quite like professional aerial video and photography. With our drone photography services, you can turn lookers into buyers by giving them a unique vantage point of your commercial or residential property. If you're looking to set your real estate business apart from your competition, drone photography and video is the way to go.
Aerial photography adds an extra layer of "special" to your real estate photos, taking your listing from dull to downright beautiful. Sellers want to work with agents willing to entertain creative ways to sell homes. Buyers want to see every nook and cranny of the home they're interested in buying. With aerial real estate photography, you get the best of both worlds.
Benefits of aerial real estate photography and video include:
Property Location
If you're a real estate expert, we bet you're used to hearing the saying "location, location, location." One of the greatest benefits of aerial real estate photography is the chance to see where a home is located with respect to parks, restaurants, and other attractions. If you need to capture the entirety of a property's layout, take to the skies.
Property Accuracy
Taking pictures is one of the most important steps in selling a home. Generally, exterior real estate photos are taken from common locations like driveways, back yards, and on decks. Aerial real estate photography and videography can show a more accurate, robust depiction of a home for sale, giving buyers a more complete picture of the home they're looking to buy.
Tell a Better Story
Excellent storytelling is one of the most reliable keys to real estate sales. On the one hand, buyers want to know exactly where their money will be going when buying a home. On the other hand, sellers want to work with an agent who has more than the typical tools of the trade on hand. When coupled with interactive virtual tours, hiring a Twist real estate videographer in Kingsland, TX can help realtors tell a more captivating story.
Commercial Real Estate Photography Services
Ever considered professional real estate photography for your commercial business needs? Making a first strong impression is an incredible asset to your business. Doing so is equally as important for commercial purposes as it is for residential real estate reasons. With Twist Tours, your prospective clients can access online 3D virtual tours filled with stunning HDR real estate photography to give them a full picture of what you're selling. With our floor plan and room planner tours, you can even implement our real estate photos in your print marketing materials.
But that's just the start. A few additional benefits of commercial real estate photography include:
1.
Give Buyers What They Want:
The Wall Street Journal recently published a piece about the best ways to sell a commercial property. Their research found that buyers spent 60% of their time looking at photos on a property page. Knowing this, you must find creative ways to make your listings and marketing materials stand out. A lack of dazzling, positive imagery could mean you lose out on a sale or a tenant.
2.
More Clicks and Shares:
When prospective buyers or tenants are captivated by a real estate photo, they are very likely to click through to your website. Pictures with the right mix of professionalism and pizzaz are also share-worthy, meaning your commercial property for sale will reach a wider audience.
3.
Get That Great First Impression:
For buyers or tenants to take your commercial property seriously, your real estate images must make a positive impression by being HDR, modern, and beautiful.
Do the Twist
Guess what? At Twist Tours, we love our clients. Not just because of the fantastic relationships we've formed with builders, brokers, owners, designers, agents, and their staff - but because they get it. They know how important a strong first impression can be in the real estate industry. The only thing we love more than meeting new clients is helping them grow their business. If you're ready to get started on more success, we're here to help.
Need detailed pricing? Click over to our website to use our cost calculator and check out our photography packages. We look forward to hearing from you today!
866-648-0022Free Consultation
Latest News in Kingsland, TX
Kingsland residents clean up damage flooding left behind
kvue.comhttps://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/kingsland-residents-cleans-up-damage-flooding-left-behind/269-605418983
Kingsland is in an area where the Llano River and Colorado River meet, creating some dangerous flood zones.More VideosKINGSLAND, Texas — Two days after flooding waters took on the Hill Country, people in Kingsland continued in their recovery efforts.Kingsland is in an area where the Llano River and Colorado River meet, creating some dangerous flood zones.What was once a boat dock, turned into a pile of debris and mud at the back yard of the home of Shayler Wells."We had stairs, but they were al...
Kingsland is in an area where the Llano River and Colorado River meet, creating some dangerous flood zones.
More Videos
KINGSLAND, Texas — Two days after flooding waters took on the Hill Country, people in Kingsland continued in their recovery efforts.
Kingsland is in an area where the Llano River and Colorado River meet, creating some dangerous flood zones.
What was once a boat dock, turned into a pile of debris and mud at the back yard of the home of Shayler Wells.
"We had stairs, but they were aluminum so they're also gone," Wells explained.
The back yard of his vacation home is ruined.
"Luckily we didn't get any damage in the house," he explained. "We had a nice patio and dock, now getting to it is pretty much impossible."
For neighbors like Steve Counts, this historic flooding left a mess that was not expected.
"It's frustrating because most of the stuff we lost isn't covered by insurance," Counts said. "This stuff is expensive to replace with this type of water structure."
This natural disaster is a lesson learned for both families.
"It's nature, and it's a risk you take in living next to any body of water," Counts explained.
"It could have been worse," Wells said. "The good thing is no one got hurt."
RELATED:
Woman's body found in Llano after major flooding
Where you can get help after the Central Texas floods
The flooding waters made thousands of dollars worth of damage to homeowners that live along the Llano river. One of the biggest concerns to homeowners in the area was the ground erosion.
"It came in so fast it was hard to believe," said homeowner Paul Warren.
He is cleaning up what he can after flood waters from the Llano River and a nearby creek rushed into his home Tuesday.
"You can see it got up to almost 2 feet," said Warren.
The water destroyed docks, damaged boats and filled several homes.
"When it started getting out there in the drive way I knew we were in trouble and just in a few minutes it was at the door," said Warren.
They grabbed what they could.
"A couple bags of clothes, that’s all we had time for," said Warren.
They moved to higher ground to watch the river.
"Just rolling and you'd see couches and chairs and tables, all kinds of stuff coming down the river," said Warren.
Warren came back to house a full of mud, leaves and sticks.
Now he'll have to replace everything.
"We’ll cut sheet rock up probably 4 feet high and replace all that, insulation, wiring, cabinets, like I was saying, all the cabinets will go," said Warren.
It’s unclear how many people the water has affected in the area.
"It's going to take a long time to get this all back to where it was,” said Ronnie Madrid.
Madrid goes to the Llano River for every Fourth of July.
"It's a total disaster, sadness,” said Madrid. “I can’t even begin to say how different it looks.”
She lives just up the river near Buchanan Dam.
With more flood gates open, they now worry for their own home.
"The water is raging, it's just raging,” said Madrid.
As for Warren, he's thankful to have flood insurance.
"I'm fortunate, I'm very fortunate,” said Warren.
As for the washed out bridge, several people in town tell me this is a big logistics headache.
"Now we have to go the long way around through Burnet to get to marble falls or to get anywhere,” said Madrid.
"Now we'll have to go all the way back around to get there,” said Warren.
Llano County nixes variance request from Kingsland development
Dakota Morrissieyhttps://www.dailytrib.com/2023/09/05/llano-county-nixes-variance-request-from-kingsland-development/
The Llano County Commissioners Court denied a requested building variance for a high-dollar subdivision in Kingsland. The developer of The Drace requested wiggle room on the distance between structures, but commissioners stuck to regulations, not wanting to set a precedent for small, compact lots across the county. The decision was made during the Commissioner Court’s regular meeting on Aug. 28.The Drace, a 48-lot subdivision, has been in the works for years. Lots line man-made canals on Lake LBJ and range in price from a...
The Llano County Commissioners Court denied a requested building variance for a high-dollar subdivision in Kingsland. The developer of The Drace requested wiggle room on the distance between structures, but commissioners stuck to regulations, not wanting to set a precedent for small, compact lots across the county.
The decision was made during the Commissioner Court’s regular meeting on Aug. 28.
The Drace, a 48-lot subdivision, has been in the works for years. Lots line man-made canals on Lake LBJ and range in price from around $300,000 to $1.2 million, depending on the location.
Llano County’s subdivision regulations require the entirety of a structure be at least 5 feet from the property line on lots less than a half-acre in an effort to reduce fire risk, prevent excessive stormwater runoff, and allow for adequate drainage.
With the subdivision in its final stages, developer Jeff Minarcik asked the county for a variance that would allow homes to extend 20 inches into the 5-foot building setback.
Four of the five members of the Commissioners Court voted against the variance. Commissioner Mike Sandoval abstained. Sandoval represents Kingsland in Precinct 3 and was the sole supporter of the variance. He chose to remove himself from the equation when he saw the rest of the court was in staunch opposition.
“These lots on the river are $1.5 million — that’s per lot,” Sandoval said when he introduced the agenda item. “The other lots go all the way back up to (Ranch Road) 1431, and those lots are probably close to $800,000. And that doesn’t even count the houses that will go on them. For Llano County, this 48-lot complex is going to boost our tax base considerably.”
(A developer for The Drace later contacted DailyTrib.com to clarify that lots cost from $300,000 to $1.2 million.)
County Judge Ron Cunningham agreed with Sandoval’s assessment of the potential benefits but did not want to set a precedent.
“I know for a fact that it’s going to be a great improvement for Kingsland and Llano County, but I’m concerned about setting a standard now that any future subdivision to come in will want to claim the same exception,” he said.
Minarcik addressed the Commissioners Court prior to deliberation, stating that he had never encountered a regulation that interpreted the setbacks as including the roof rather than only applying to the walls of the building.
“As far as (my experience) building in the last 20 years, the interpretation of the building setbacks (in Llano County), I just want to question,” he said. “If there is something on y’all’s end in that interpretation that is different from everywhere else I have ever worked, what is that concern?”
Minarcik noted that the International Building Code only applies to the walls of a structure and usually not to the roof or its fascia.
Precinct 2 Commissioner Linda Raschke defended the county’s subdivision rules, which she helped develop.
“In my seven years working on the subdivision regulations, it was the full structure, for many reasons, not just fire,” she said. “I worry about stormwater runoff because The Drace is at the lowest point of the county, and it flooded more than anywhere else (during the 2018 flood).”
Raschke explained that many of the lots were only 40 or 50 feet wide and would already be quite close. She also said the abundance of concrete and construction in one area would cause a great deal of runoff during storms, which would contribute to flooding and erosion.
Sandoval lamented the possible negative effect the no vote could have on future development.
“What I hear is that we don’t grant any variances,” he said. “Everybody is going to have something that looks like a Section 8 project.”
The other four members of the court voiced their disagreement before taking the vote to deny the requested variance.
The Granite Shoals City Council voted to hire a consultant for the 2023-24 fiscal year to help balance the city’s budget and meet a looming state deadline of Sept. 29. The council is questioning fund balances that went unreconciled during a tumultuous year. The hiring decision was made during a Sept. 1 special meeting.
The council held three special meetings between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1 to take emergency action on the proposed budget, which they believe is based on inaccurate fund balances. Granite Shoals has until Sept. 29 to pass its budget, which is the absolute deadline by state law if it intends to collect taxes in the coming fiscal year.
“The reality is that we don’t know how much money there is to be spent,” Mayor Kiel Arnone said.
Councilors unanimously chose to enter into a contract with Marty Coursey, a Texas-certified financial officer, to act as the city’s interim budget consultant.
Only five members of the council were present at the special meeting. Place 2 Councilor Kevin Flack and Place 3 Councilor Judy Salvaggio were absent.
“The point of hiring Marty was to bring financial stability and reassurance to our citizens that we are doing everything correctly,” Arnone told DailyTrib.com in an interview after Coursey was hired. “I don’t think any of us on the dais can vote for something that is not correct in good faith.”
Both Arnone and Flack told DailyTrib.com that City Manager Peggy Smith had not reconciled the city’s funds since former Finance Director Russel Martin resigned in June 2022. Reconciled as an accounting term refers to comparing the transactions and activity within a fund to supporting documentation to ensure total accuracy.
In its search for a budget consultant, Granite Shoals reached out to Texas First Group, which provides interim management services to Texas cities. Coursey will make $58 an hour and stay on until the 2023-24 budget is adequately balanced.
NEW BIZ: Hooper’s fully open in Kingsland ‘Chain Saw’ house
Dakota Morrissieyhttps://www.dailytrib.com/2023/01/06/new-biz-hoopers-fully-open-in-kingsland-chain-saw-house-more-to-come/
Hooper’s restaurant in Kingsland officially opened Wednesday, Jan. 4, after an extensive cosmetic and culinary makeover. The business replaces Grand Central Cafe in the latest phase of a series of planned changes for the property at 1010 King Court, which is under new ownership. The restaurant gets its name from the late, great horror director ...
Hooper’s restaurant in Kingsland officially opened Wednesday, Jan. 4, after an extensive cosmetic and culinary makeover. The business replaces Grand Central Cafe in the latest phase of a series of planned changes for the property at 1010 King Court, which is under new ownership.
The restaurant gets its name from the late, great horror director Tobe Hooper, who is most well known for the “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” movie. Hooper’s is housed in an old Victorian home that was used as the main set for the 1974 cult classic.
New owners Courtney and Mike Rhodes and Simon Madera and wife Hobie Sasser acquired The Antlers Inn, Grand Central Cafe, and surrounding property in November. With the completion of Hooper’s, they have plans to remodel the bar and coffee shop, update rooms at the inn, establish a central lawn to tie together the entire property, and build a steak and seafood restaurant nearby.
“We’re believers in simplicity,” Madera told DailyTrib.com. “Let’s offer what people are looking for, but in a pragmatic way.”
The menu at Hooper’s is straightforward and Southern-inspired with a few twists, according to Madera. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served, and a weekend brunch is in the works.
Madera described the restaurant as “fast-casual.” Diners can order a quick bite from the counter or dine in.
When it comes to decor, Madera and his partners kept things simple, while still paying homage to the home’s horror past.
“We leaned into the whole ‘Hooper’s’ concept,” he explained. “We’re not massive horror movie fans, but we embraced it after getting in touch with the fanbase and locals.”
Hooper’s is the first phase in a larger-scale plan to revamp the entire property.
“We want to be that center park for people to come and hang out,” he said. “Even if you don’t shop here, it can be a city square.”
The planned central lawn will act as a community space as well as a staging area for future events on the property. Madera mentioned live music, holiday festivals, and more as part of the master plan.
Hooper’s is expected to employ between 15 and 20 workers in the slow season, but Madera predicts the collective businesses on the property could employ up to 100 people in the future.
Kingland Slab: Locals’ Best Kept Secret
JoAnna Kopphttps://101highlandlakes.com/kingsland-slab/
With an abundance of water and granite, swimming holes in the Texas Hill Country are bound to be as plentiful as spring bluebonnets. Out of the numerous hot spots for cooling off, the Kingsland Slab is the one favored by locals. What makes the Slab even better for visitors is that this paradise is completely free. This section of the Llano River, on FM 3404 about 2 miles west of RR 1431, can be crowded on the weekends and holidays. Don't let that deter you: There is a wealth of space to find some privacy. On a weekday, the Slab can be quite ...
With an abundance of water and granite, swimming holes in the Texas Hill Country are bound to be as plentiful as spring bluebonnets. Out of the numerous hot spots for cooling off, the Kingsland Slab is the one favored by locals. What makes the Slab even better for visitors is that this paradise is completely free. This section of the Llano River, on FM 3404 about 2 miles west of RR 1431, can be crowded on the weekends and holidays. Don't let that deter you: There is a wealth of space to find some privacy. On a weekday, the Slab can be quite relaxing while listening to the trickling water and soaking up the sun. [image id="23822" title="Kingsland Slab road" width="100%"] People enjoy lounging on the granite rocks just off FM 3404 at the Kingsland Slab. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell The Kingsland Slab was created by a huge outcropping of pink granite beneath the Llano River. Visitors will find plenty of natural swimming and wading holes, sandy beaches, and smooth rocks for laying out. The range of depths at the Slab is incredible. Shallow, sandy-bottomed areas are perfect for the kids, while deep areas are big enough for a full-body dip. Miniature waterfalls and rushing rapids span the granite outcrops. The Slab is most popular near the FM 3404 crossing, but you can hike and explore for miles in either direction. However, it is important to stay on the waterbed: Step too far off and you could be found trespassing. We also recommend water shoes for traction on the slippery rocks. Because of its wealth of open spaces, the Slab has plenty of places to spread out and relax. Bring plenty of sunscreen, water, snacks, a towel, a cooler, folding chairs, and whatever else you want to carry to make a day of it. Whatever you do take, please be sure to pack out what you pack in. Trash bins are there to be used instead of the sand and river way. There are no facilities at the Slab; keep it beautiful for everyone so it remains a favorite. The Kingsland Slab is not just for swimming, either. Fishing enthusiasts delight at this spot of the Llano River because of great opportunities for rod, spear, bow, and net fishing. Year-round, sport anglers can catch a variety of freshwater fish: largemouth bass, Guadalupe bass, bluegill, perch, catfish, carp, and the occasional crappie. The Kingsland Slab is also known for its massive migration of white bass each fall. In fact, the Slab is one of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s top three places for white bass anglers. Here you will find huge concentrations of this schooling fish to catch and release — or take home for a tasty dinner. [image id="23823" title="Kingsland Slab rapids" width="100%"] Parts of the Kingsland Slab can be deep with fast-moving water after heavy rains. Be cautious where you see whitecaps. Staff photo by Jennifer Greenwell The current river flow is important to fishermen and kayakers. Know what to expect by viewing the Lower Colorado River Authority’s river report before trekking to the Slab. To reach the Kingsland Slab, drive RR 1431 west and north through Kingsland then turn west on FM 3404. Drive a couple miles until you reach the Llano River.
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NEW BIZ: Hooper’s restaurant owners pay homage to horror heritage
Dakota Morrissieyhttps://www.dailytrib.com/2022/11/23/new-biz-hoopers-restaurant-owners-pay-homage-to-horror-heritage/
Grand Central Cafe in Kingsland is now Hooper’s. The restaurant’s new owners are embracing its horror film credits with the name change.Fans of the 1974 cult classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” will recognize it as the main setting and home of Leatherface, the movie’s terrifying antagonist. Years later, the house was moved to Kingsland from Round Rock and, in 2012, became Grand Central Cafe.It’s namesak...
Grand Central Cafe in Kingsland is now Hooper’s. The restaurant’s new owners are embracing its horror film credits with the name change.
Fans of the 1974 cult classic “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” will recognize it as the main setting and home of Leatherface, the movie’s terrifying antagonist. Years later, the house was moved to Kingsland from Round Rock and, in 2012, became Grand Central Cafe.
It’s namesake, the late, acclaimed horror director Tobe Hooper, a Texas native, kicked off the “Chain Saw Massacre” franchise and also directed the 1982 hit “Poltergeist.”
“We think it’s a brilliant name for what the house is,” said Simon Madera, one of the new owners. “Tobe Hooper made that house famous, and it would be ridiculous for us to not pay homage to him as a director.”
Madera purchased the restaurant and nearby Antlers Inn with wife Hobie Sasser and good friends Courtney and Mike Rhodes.
Renovations and utility upgrades are underway, but the business at 1010 King Court is open. The owners merged the restaurant with the once-separate Club Car Bar into one business. A temporary pop-up menu is available and drinks are still being served from the bar during construction. Indoor seating is available.
Madera will be the hands-on operator of Hooper’s and The Antlers Inn. He is an avid restauranteur responsible for the Taco Flats restaurant chain. Business partner Mike Rhodes has a background in high-end architecture and construction.
“We feel great about it,” Madera said. “We feel really good about the direction we’ve taken, the name we’ve chosen, and the layers of food we’re adding.”
Currently, the restaurant is serving food from the Taco Flats menu out of a trailer on site, but a Hooper’s-specific lineup is in the works and will be implemented once the interior kitchens are finished.
No specifics on the nature of the new menu have been released, but Madera alluded to approachable Southern cuisine in an interview with DailyTrib.com.
Former Club Car Bar owners Sandy and Brad Jones are still managing the bar portion of Hooper’s while renovations take place. Much of the staff from Grand Central Cafe and the bar are still on board.
“We’re looking to build a strong local team that can handle the workload and execute the quality that we are accustomed to,” Madera said.
Another aspect of Hooper’s is the coffee shop and bakery, formerly Kingsland Coffee, which is attached to The Antlers Inn, just a short walk from the main restaurant. The coffee shop is in operation, serving fresh-baked pastries daily.
The new owners project a full opening by March with various stages unveiled as work is completed and plans come to fruition.
Hooper’s is open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and Sunday and 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday.