Your best thinking doesn't happen between back-to-back meetings. It happens on a long walk, on a quiet porch, or at 6 a.m. before anyone else is up.
That's what this place is for: a founder's think week, a leadership team's strategy session, or a creative team that needs to hear itself think. The whole tiny home is yours while you're here.
At a glance
- From Dallas
- About 35 minutes from downtown; Love Field about 45, DFW about an hour
- Best for
- A solo think week or a working team of 2 to 4 (sleeps up to 7)
- Meeting room nearby
- Growth Alliance Center: $30 day pass and a conference room for 8, about 9 minutes away
- Team dinners
- Prime 115, John's Place, Cajun Bros, and Presto
- Team activities
- Axe throwing, 24-hour simulator golf, and glow-in-the-dark clay shooting
- Per diem (FY2027)
- GSA standard rate: $113 lodging, $68 meals and incidentals
From Google listings, LiquidSpace, the City of Waxahachie, and GSA, checked October 2, 2026. Hours and prices change, so confirm before you book.
Why leaders come here
A hotel conference room feels like the office with worse coffee. This feels like getting away.
Close, but far enough
About 35 minutes from downtown Dallas, so nobody loses half a day in the car. Far enough out that the office feels a long way off.
Quiet that helps you think
No lobby, no hallway, no neighbors through the wall. It's extremely quiet out here: open farmland, big sky, and room for a hard problem to come into focus.
The porch is the boardroom
A covered porch with rocking chairs facing 1,800 acres of farmland. Bring a notebook. The best conversation of the trip usually happens out here at sunset.
Work when you need to
Fast WiFi for calls and uploads, and a coworking center with a conference room close by when the team needs a whiteboard.
Cook together
A full kitchen with stainless appliances and a farmhouse sink. A dinner you cook as a team beats another catered sandwich tray.
Arrive on your schedule
Self check-in with a lockbox and free parking at your door. No front desk, no checking in between calls.
Who it's for
- Founders and solo executives taking a think week: strategy, writing, or planning the next quarter.
- Leadership teams of 2 to 4 working through a plan, a reorg, or a fundraise.
- Creative agencies and studios that need a few days away to make something.
- Remote workers and writers who need a week without distractions.
Sizing it right: a queen bed on the main floor, two queen air mattresses in the loft (up a wooden staircase), and a sofa that sleeps one. Up to 7 can stay overnight, but for a working retreat, 1 to 4 people is the sweet spot.
A 2-day offsite plan
Steal this agenda. Details on every stop are in the sections below.
Day 1: get out and get clear
- MorningDrive downGrab coffee on the square on the way in, then check in.
- Late morningSet one questionOn the porch: what's the one decision this trip has to make?
- NoonLunch downtownThe Dove's Nest.
- AfternoonDeep workHeads down at the house, or book the conference room at Growth Alliance Center if you need a whiteboard.
- SunsetWalk and talkThe creek trail, or just the porch.
- EveningThe big dinnerSteaks at Prime 115, or cook together at the house.
Day 2: decide and blow off steam
- 6 a.m.Quiet hourCoffee on the porch, phones off, everyone thinking alone.
- MorningDecideWrite down the decision, the owners, and the dates before anyone checks email.
- AfternoonTeam activityAxe throwing or a few holes of simulator golf.
- EveningCelebrateA seafood boil at Cajun Bros, then glow-in-the-dark clay shooting.
Where to work
Meeting rooms and coworking
Growth Alliance Center
201 Amanda Ln., Suite 300
A small coworking center with a $30 day pass, a conference room that seats 8, a training room for up to 15, whiteboards, fast internet, coffee and tea, and free parking. Weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; book on LiquidSpace. Rated 5 stars, though on only a few reviews.
Waxahachie Civic Center
2000 Civic Center Ln.
City-run meeting space. The board room and each meeting room rent for $125 for 8 hours, with extra hours at $200 each. The office is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; call 469-309-4040 to book.
Laptop-friendly spots downtown
About 8 minutes from the house.
Bloom & Pour
100 S. Rogers St., on the square
A bright coffee bar with lots of seating, WiFi, and a private event room. Rated 4.9 stars. Weekdays 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 8; closed Sunday.
White Rhino Coffee
414 W. Main St.
An old house turned coffee shop, with plenty of rooms and seats to spread out and work.
Nicholas P. Sims Library
515 W. Main St.
The quietest seat downtown. Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday.
At the house: bring a laptop stand or a portable monitor if you live on one.
Team dinners
Downtown is about 8 minutes away. Book ahead for a group, and plan around the calendar: plenty of places take Monday off.
Prime 115
114 S. Rogers St.
The big-night dinner: steaks, a full bar, and an elegant dining room. Open daily, with Sunday brunch; dinner until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
John's Place
100 N. College St., in the Rogers Hotel
A scratch Italian kitchen with great cocktails and a warm, hometown dining room. Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; reservations recommended.
Panza's Tapping Italy
107 N. Rogers St.
A small Italian spot just off the square. Dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 4 p.m.
Cajun Bros
507 N. Hwy 77
Seafood boils for the whole table, rated 4.9 stars by more than 2,300 reviewers. Open daily, until 9 p.m. (10 on Friday and Saturday).
Presto Continuous Italian
205 Main St., Red Oak
Italian served like a Brazilian steakhouse: sit back while the courses keep coming. Great for groups. Open daily.
The Porch Pour
319 E. Avenue G, Midlothian
Farm-to-table dinners and a wine and cocktail bar in a renovated 1894 Victorian. Wednesday to Sunday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For lunch: The Dove's Nest downtown, our family's favorite, serves sandwiches, soups, and homemade pie Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. More in our where to eat guide.
Team activities
Axe throwing
Battle Axes Waxahachie · 507 N. Hwy 77
Coaching, games, and a bar. Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday noon to midnight, Sunday 2 to 8 p.m.
Simulator golf
The Golf Lounge · 3650 N. Hwy 77
TrackMan bays open around the clock by reservation; your door code arrives by email. Bring your own drinks.
Cosmic clay shooting
The Porch Venue · 1100 Tumbleweed Dr.
Glow-in-the-dark skeet under the stars, Thursday to Saturday nights. $150 a person for 3 hours (8:30 to 11:30 p.m.) with 50 clays, a shotgun, and ammo. ID required, no alcohol on site, and reservations required: 469-716-3315.
Tandem skydive
iSkydive Dallas Fort Worth · Ennis Municipal Airport
Jump from 10,000 feet over Bardwell Lake. $299 a person, 240-pound weight limit; plan on 2 to 4 hours.
Glider ride
Texas Soaring Association · Midlothian
Twenty to 30 minutes of silent flight with an FAA-licensed pilot. $100, cash or check only; usually Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Email rides@texassoaring.org about a week ahead.
Escape room
Back In Time Escape Rooms · Arlington
Rated 5 stars by nearly 3,000 reviewers. A good test of how your team really works under a clock. Open daily.
Want more? See our nightlife guide and the once-in-a-lifetime list.
Reset between sessions
Hard conversations go easier side by side on a trail than across a table.
Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail
Lions, Getzendaner, and Brown-Singleton parks
About 4 paved, shady miles along the creek. Made for a walking meeting.
Getzendaner Memorial Park
400 S. Grand Ave.
Big shade trees, a walking path, and the historic open-air Chautauqua Auditorium. Open sunrise to 10 p.m.
Lake Waxahachie
Boat Dock Park, 91 Lakeshore Dr.
A quiet spot by the water for a sunset debrief. Open until 10 p.m.
Half Moon Yoga
111 Youngblood Rd.
A small, calm studio rated 4.9 stars. Check the class schedule before you go.
Hourglass Pilates
791 N. Hwy 77
Reformer classes for early risers, with the studio open from 5 a.m. on weekdays. Rated 4.9 stars.
Healing Touch Massage Studio
1001 Legacy Ranch Rd., Suite 104
Rated 4.9 stars and open every day, until 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday.
Getting here and getting set up
- Driving: take I-35E south from Dallas. Carpool if you can; you'll drive everywhere out here.
- Flying in: Dallas Love Field is about 45 minutes away and DFW about an hour. Rent a car. Rideshare works in town, but cars can be scarce out in the country at night.
- Coffee before 7: Dutch Bros, 1995 N. Hwy 77 (about 10 minutes), opens at 5 a.m. every day.
- Groceries: H-E-B, 800 US-77 (about 8 minutes), open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Delivery: UberEats and DoorDash deliver to the house.
- Expenses: VRBO and Airbnb both send an itemized receipt. Waxahachie is a GSA standard-rate area for fiscal year 2027 (October 2026 to September 2027), if your travel policy follows federal per diem.
Booking your retreat
- Send your dates. Use our Book direct page and choose "Executive retreat or team offsite," or message us on VRBO or Airbnb.
- Tell us about the trip: how many people are staying overnight, whether clients will stop by during the day, and what kind of work you're doing. We'll tell you how the space works for it.
- Book the outside pieces early: the meeting room, the big dinner, and any activity.
Clients and house rules
- Bring your clients. On a business stay, clients and colleagues can come by for meetings during the day, then head home before quiet hours start at 10 p.m.
- Staying the night? Get them on the booking. Everyone sleeping over has to be registered on the reservation through VRBO, Airbnb, or our direct booking, up to 7 people total. A team of 5 plus a big client staying over works fine, once the client is added.
- The usual rules: no parties, and quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Tips for a retreat that works
- Pick one question. A retreat with ten agenda items is just a long meeting somewhere else.
- Make a phone rule. Notifications off on the porch, phones in a basket after dinner.
- Walk while you talk. Save the hardest conversation for the trail.
- Leave with it in writing: the decision, who owns it, and the date it's due.
- Check the calendar. Spring Saturdays during the Scarborough Renaissance Festival and big Texas Motorplex race weekends bring crowds to town.
The honest take
- It's a tiny home, about 400 square feet. Perfect for thinking; tight for a big team working inside all day.
- It's out in the country. Town is about 8 minutes away.
- Quiet, not silent. A freight train runs on the far line now and then.
- We live on the property. You get the whole tiny home and your privacy, plus hosts close by if something breaks.
Worth it? If your team needs clear heads more than a projector and a breakout room, yes.
How far is everything?
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Waxahachie (coffee, library, Prime 115, John's Place, Panza's) | 3.7 mi | About 8 min |
| H-E-B Waxahachie | 3.8 mi | About 8 min |
| Half Moon Yoga | 4 mi | About 8 min |
| Hourglass Pilates | 4.8 mi | About 8 min |
| Growth Alliance Center | 5.2 mi | About 9 min |
| Battle Axes and Cajun Bros (N. Hwy 77) | About 5 mi | About 10 min |
| Getzendaner Park and the creek trail | 5.2 mi | About 10 min |
| Dutch Bros (N. Hwy 77) | About 5.3 mi | About 10 min |
| Healing Touch Massage Studio | 5.8 mi | About 10 min |
| Waxahachie Civic Center | 6.4 mi | About 12 min |
| The Golf Lounge | 8 mi | About 15 min |
| Lake Waxahachie (Boat Dock Park) | 7.9 mi | About 15 min |
| The Porch Venue (clay shooting) | 8.6 mi | About 20 min |
| Presto Continuous Italian, Red Oak | 11 mi | About 20 min |
| iSkydive Dallas Fort Worth, Ennis | 14.4 mi | About 20 min |
| Downtown Midlothian (The Porch Pour) | 14.5 mi | About 20 min |
| Texas Soaring Association, Midlothian | 20.6 mi | About 30 min |
| Downtown Dallas | 31 mi | About 35 min |
| Back In Time Escape Rooms, Arlington | 34 mi | About 45 min |
| Dallas Love Field | 37 mi | About 45 min |
| DFW International Airport | 50 mi | About 1 hour |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
Is The Waxahachie Tiny Home good for an executive retreat or team offsite?
Yes, for a founder's think week or a small leadership team. It's an extremely quiet tiny home on open farmland about 35 minutes from Dallas, with fast WiFi, a full kitchen, a covered porch, and self check-in, plus a coworking center with a conference room about 9 minutes away.
How many people can stay for a retreat?
Up to 7 overnight: a queen bed on the main floor, two queen air mattresses in the loft, and a sofa that sleeps one. For a working retreat, 1 to 4 people is the sweet spot.
How far is it from Dallas and the airports?
About 35 minutes from downtown Dallas, 45 minutes from Dallas Love Field, and about an hour from DFW International Airport, without traffic.
Is the WiFi good enough for video calls?
We have fast WiFi for calls and uploads. If your team needs a full day of calls at once, the Growth Alliance Center about 9 minutes away has fast internet, private rooms, and a conference room.
Where can we rent a meeting room near Waxahachie?
Growth Alliance Center, about 9 minutes away, has a $30 coworking day pass, a conference room that seats 8, and a training room for up to 15, weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Waxahachie Civic Center rents its board room and meeting rooms for $125 for 8 hours.
Can clients join our retreat?
Yes. On a business stay, clients and colleagues are welcome to come by for meetings during the day. Anyone staying the night has to be registered on your booking through VRBO, Airbnb, or our direct booking, and the total overnight can't go over 7. So if your team is 5, a client can stay over too, as long as they're added to the reservation.
Where should we take the team to dinner in Waxahachie?
Prime 115 downtown for steaks and a full bar, John's Place in the historic Rogers Hotel for scratch Italian, Cajun Bros for a seafood boil, or Presto Continuous Italian in Red Oak, where the courses keep coming. Book ahead for a group.
What team-building activities are near Waxahachie?
Axe throwing at Battle Axes, 24-hour simulator golf at The Golf Lounge, glow-in-the-dark clay shooting at The Porch Venue, glider rides in Midlothian, tandem skydiving over Bardwell Lake, and an escape room in Arlington.
Can we cook our own meals?
Yes. The tiny home has a full kitchen, H-E-B is about 8 minutes away, and UberEats and DoorDash deliver to the house.
Do you provide receipts for expense reports?
Yes. VRBO and Airbnb both send an itemized receipt for your stay. Direct booking with us is coming soon.
What is the GSA per diem rate for Waxahachie?
For federal fiscal year 2027 (October 2026 to September 2027), Waxahachie uses the standard rate: $113 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals.
Where can we take a walking meeting near Waxahachie?
The Waxahachie Creek Hike & Bike Trail, about 10 minutes away, has about 4 paved, shady miles along the creek. Getzendaner Park and Lake Waxahachie are close by too.
Where can we get coffee early?
Dutch Bros on N. Hwy 77 opens at 5 a.m. every day, about 10 minutes from the tiny home. Downtown's coffee shops open at 7 a.m.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 2, 2026
