Barongi Blog

Recently Longneck Manor Founder, Rick Barongi was a guest on the podcast, The Tomorrow Society! In this podcast, he shares stories from his decades long career in wildlife conservation, his work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and of course, Longneck Manor! Give it a lisen by clicking the link below!

???????? We have BIG NEWS! Coming this summer, a new Welcome Center and four cottages – each with a stunning view of our giraffes and rhinos. Stay tuned for more details and booking information! ????????

Design and Construction by: Lea Rogers Architecture and Bear Creek Construction.

New at Longneck Manor! We are adding a naturalistic African waterhole with large boulders to the four-acre giraffe and rhino pasture. It will look like the real thing but have a gently sloping, nonslip, concrete bottom.

Designed by artist, Mark Van Wickler, only a few people in the country can create such natural-looking rocks and trees. The large boulders are colored to look exactly like the reddish stones found in the Hill Country.

Lights will be installed to illuminate the waterhole which will allow an exceptional view for guests staying at the Villas at Longneck Manor to observe the giraffes and rhinos day and night.

We will also have concrete trees that replicate the acacia trees of the African savanna, to hang natural vegetation (browse) for the giraffes.

This week, we were pleased to host our friends at Fox 7 Austin for a visit to our new Villas and to meet our resident animal ambassadors! You can catch a recap of the visit below!

    Longneck Manor’s Great Traveler Reviews Earn it a Place Among Travelers’ Favorites

    Fredericksburg, Texas> – August 11, 2023 – Longneck Manor today announced it has been recognized by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award winner for being in the top 10% of attractions worldwide. The coveted award celebrates businesses that have consistently received great traveler reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.

    “Congratulations to the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice winners,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “The travel resurgence we’ve seen throughout the past year has even further heightened the competition. Earning a Travelers’ Choice Award demonstrates that you have provided great experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt. Cheers to another successful year!”

    We’ve got some exciting news to share with you all – our brand new accommodations, the Villas at Longneck Manor, are officially open for reservations!

    Picture this: you wake up in one of our luxurious villas, and as you draw back the curtains, you’re greeted by breathtaking panoramic views of rolling hills, pastures, a majestic rock kopje, and some absolutely gorgeous water features. And guess what? You won’t just be taking in the scenery; you’ll have some wild neighbors! Our giant floor-to-ceiling windows provide the perfect vantage point to watch giraffes and rhinos roaming in their pastures. It’s like having your very own window into the wild.

    But that’s not all! We’re all about hands-on experiences here at Longneck Manor. From 9:00-11:00am, our Villa Guests can enjoy group-style encounters where you get to ask questions, learn, and most importantly, interact with our amazing animals. Whether you’re painting with our graceful giraffes or making skin prints with the rhinos, these encounters are bound to be unforgettable. And guess what? You can take home a piece of the action – skin prints and giraffe paintings will be available for purchase in our Karibu Welcome Center after the tours.

    The Twiga and Okapi Villas each offer one bedroom, one bath, a King bed, and a Queen pull-out sofa, making them perfect for up to 4 guests. On the wilder side, the Simba and Kifaru Villas come with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, a King bed, and two Queens, accommodating up to 6 guests.

    Here at Longneck Manor, we’re not just about luxury and fun – we’re about making a difference. We’re on a mission to help save animals in the wild, and you can be part of it too. By staying with us, you’re supporting a non-profit conservation fund that works directly with incredible conservation heroes. These are folks who’ve dedicated their lives to saving animals and people, and we’re proud to partner with them.

    So, why wait? Come make memories while securing a brighter future for these incredible creatures. Book your stay at the Villas at Longneck Manor today and become a part of our wild family.

    Remember, YOUR MEMORIES, THEIR FUTURE! ????????????

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