Ruckman Haus Bed & Breakfast

Ruckman Haus Bed and Breakfast is a lovely B&B located in San Antonio's historic Alta Vista District. Your hosts, Prudence and Ron Ruckman, would love to welcome you to San Antonio, Texas, a city rich with the history of Texas and Old Mexico, and to their charming, centrally-located inn. Ruckman Haus Bed and Breakfast is a San Antonio Texas bed and breakfast in a home dating from the turn of the century that retains all of the arts and crafts architecture and design of that era.

You'll find it an excellent example of the comfort that city dwellers brought to what was then the frontier, and from a time when prominent citizens built houses that were both homes and showplaces. But don't think you'll be roughing it. This San Antonio Texas Bed and Breakfast was always well kept, but even so, underwent an extensive renovation from 2000-2001. During that renovation, which converted it from the home of a prominent doctor into the B&B it is today, all of the modern conveniences were updated or improved or added - and this includes high-speed Internet access throughout the house.

Come and stay with us! We can guarantee you a wonderful stay and, based on the fact that
most of our guests have stayed with us multiple times, we can also guarantee that you'll be back.

Both Prudence and Ron have paid a great deal of attention to the installation of modern room conveniences, including flat-screen televisions, DVD Players, private phones and the remote controlled individual A/C and heating systems. They have also made sure that guests will find a comfortable environment outside their rooms. Some rooms have private balconies or decks; there is a deck on the west side of the house for all guests.

Whether you're visiting San Antonio on business or you are here to tour the city and experience the many attractions that the city has to offer, you will find Ruckman Haus an ideal central location to call home. For much, much less than a typical downtown hotel, you will find that Ruckman Haus offers you much, much more.

Where else can you find a designer room with all the modern conveniences, an included gourmet breakfast, complimentary afternoon beverages, and two long-time San Antonio residents who are always available to help ensure that your stay is as good as it can be? The simple answer is: nowhere, but at Ruckman Haus Bed and Breakfast.

Guests at Ruckman Haus may of course avail themselves of the full use of the public areas of the house (although the ambience and comfort of their individual rooms and suites may make leaving them difficult). The main living room at Ruckman Haus has been decorated and furnished to provide a quiet, comfortable environment for guests to read, watch television, sit by the fire or converse. At one end of the living room is the library; it has an extensive collection of books of every description for our guests to borrow.

The Living Room is light and airy, with a large bay window that looks out to the front of the house. The sofa there is an excellent place for our guests to curl up with a good book, have coffee or tea before breakfast or read the morning paper afterwards. The television is at the east end of the room as are the antique French doors that lead out to the East Patio and Garden.

The East Patio is just outside the French doors off the living room. It is a covered patio, but it looks out across the formal garden, and so it is a great place to sit outside should the weather preclude sitting down by the waterfall in the garden itself. The East Patio is a great place to have coffee or tea in mornings, and in the afternoon and early evening guests can usually be found here having a glass of wine or a snack. It's also an excellent place for groups of guests to gather for conversation or perhaps a friendly game of backgammon.

The day begins with breakfast in the large dining room furnished in a Texas Hill Country style. Ron Ruckman, your host and chef, is pleased to offer a varied menu with his signature dishes. You can be assured that no matter which dish is being prepared that day, all will be delicious, more than ample and served with style.

Your host will be happy to modify any of his specialties or create new dishes for our guests who may have particular dietary requests or restrictions. With just a little advance notice, Ron can provide you with a delicious breakfast that fits within your diet or suits your particular tastes. Breakfasts at Ruckman Haus are an event. With excellent cuisine - original dishes and delicious accompaniments - and the conversation of other guests, you can be sure that your breakfast will be a wonderful way to start the day. (Guests may also take breakfast on the covered patio or beside the magnificent waterfall in the corner of the East Garden.)

At the end of a day of business or sightseeing, you'll return to Ruckman Haus to relax and recharge before embarking on whatever evening activities you may have planned. To help you do so, we are pleased to offer a wide selection of cold drinks and a glass of whatever wine happens to be open (there's usually at least one). You can find many refreshing drinks in your in-room refrigerator, but there are additional varieties in the kitchen, and you are invited to help yourself.

Take your selection into the garden, and sit by the waterfall and let its sound soothe you. Or, if you wish, go to the other side of the house and relax on the West Deck. Wherever you go, just relax and unwind, and remember that it is for experiences like this, which you simply cannot get at a hotel, that you chose Ruckman Haus in the first place.

One of the major additions to the house that was a part of the original renovation was the West Deck. The deck can be accessed either from the front porch or from the back door/parking apron. It runs the depth of the house, and it is fully covered and equipped with ceiling fans for your comfort.

It has a rustic design, and there is ample seating for you on the West Deck. Here you'll find many of Prudence's collection of plants and flowers in pots and planters all around you; they help provide a lovely environment for a relaxing morning or afternoon. From this deck, you can survey the neighborhood around Ruckman Haus, and watch the occasional pet walker or someone walking over to San Pedro Park. Enjoy a beverage and relax on the West Deck.

Ruckman Haus is located about 2 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas - home of the historic San Antonio Riverwalk. There is easy access to Ruckman Haus from all the major San Antonio expressways and from just about anywhere in the San Antonio area. Getting downtown is a short drive or cab ride; you can be at The Riverwalk in about 5 minutes. The Hemisfair Park, the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center and the Alamodome are about 10 minutes away. As far as the local area is concerned, we are one block north of San Pedro Springs Park and one block west of San Pedro Avenue, one of the main north-south streets through San Antonio. So finding us or giving others directions to find us is very easy.

We are in the historic Alta Vista area of San Antonio, a section of the city that features many classic homes, some of the city's best B&Bs, many local restaurants (some within walking distance) and, less than a mile either way on San Pedro, a variety of shops and stores. You won't know any of the commercial sites are nearby, though, when you are staying in our home; all you will see are the surrounding homes and San Pedro Park just a block away. San Pedro Park is the second oldest park in the United States. Here you will find San Pedro Springs and pool, an extremely popular place spring through fall, the San Pedro Playhouse, which is as beautiful an environment as one can have for enjoying the theater, the San Pedro Tennis Center, picnic areas, ball fields and miles of walks. So, you'll find that Ruckman Haus is an ideal, centrally-located base for you when you are here on business or when you are traveling for pleasure. You will be just minutes from all the best that San Antonio has to offer.

Around San Antonio...

• The Alamo
• Buckthorn Saloon and Museum
• Imax Theatre
• Casa Navarro State Historical Park
• Japanese Tea Gardens
• King William Historic Area
• Majestic Theatre
• Mission Trails
• La Villita Market Square/El Mercado
• River Walk (Paseo del Rio)
• San Antonio Botanical Gardens/Lucile Halsell Conservatory
• Sunset Station
• San Antonio Zoological Gardens and Aquarium
• Texas Adventure
• Southwest School of Art and Craft
• Spanish Governor's Palace
• Tower of the Americas
• Vietnam War Memorial

Ruckman Haus is very easy to find. It is located on the NE corner of W. French and Breeden, one block north of San Pedro Park and Playhouse, and one block west of San Pedro Avenue. There are six common ways of arriving in the San Antonio area by car. Additionally, you may be flying into the area or you may already be in San Antonio, and require directions for yourself or a taxi driver.

Coming From the North on Interstate 35:

• In San Antonio, take exit 157A "SAN PEDRO/MAIN/LEXINGTON"
• Merge onto E ELMIRA. Proceed three lights.
• Turn RIGHT onto SAN PEDRO AVE and go about 1 mile
• (You will pass San Pedro Park and Playhouse)
• One block beyond the park, turn LEFT onto W FRENCH
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!

Coming From the East on Interstate 10:

• Proceed 10 West to State Highway 281 North.
• After you cross over all the exits for I-35 (which you will not take) you will take the exit that says: St. Mary's/Stadium Drive.
• At the light you will turn left onto St. Mary's St.
• Proceed about a half mile.
• Turn Right onto Ashby.
• Proceed about 3/4 of a mile to San Pedro.
• Now you're going to do a "dog leg" here.
• Turn right onto San Pedro; then make an immediate left onto French Street.
• Go down four houses, on the right. There we are at the first corner 629 W French in a large green stucco home.

Coming From the South on Interstate 37:

• Proceed 10 West to State Highway 281 North.
• Cross over (but do not take) all the exits for I-35.
• Take the "ST. MARY'S/STADIUM DRIVE exit
• At the light, turn LEFT onto ST. MARY'S ST.
• Go one-half mile and turn RIGHT onto ASHBY.
• Go 3/4 of a mile to SAN PEDRO.
• Turn RIGHT onto SAN PEDRO and make your
• NEXT LEFT onto FRENCH STREET.
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!

Coming From the South on Interstate 35:

• In San Antonio, take exit 157A "SAN PEDRO/MAIN/LEXINGTON"
• Merge onto W QUINCY ST
• Turn LEFT onto SAN PEDRO AVE and go about 1 mile
• Turn LEFT onto W FRENCH
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!

Coming From the West on US Highway 90:

• In San Antonio, take exit 572 "I-10 W/I-35 N/I-35 S/US-87" towards EL PASO/AUSTIN/LAREDO
• Turn RIGHT onto SAN PEDRO AVE and go about 1 mile
• Keep LEFT at the fork in the ramp
• Merge onto I-35 N
• Take exit 157A "SAN PEDRO/MAIN/LEXINGTON"
• Merge onto W QUINCY ST
• Turn LEFT onto SAN PEDRO AVE and go about 1 mile
• Turn LEFT onto W FRENCH
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!

Coming From the West on Interstate 10:

• In San Antonio, take EXIT 567 "FREDERICKSBURG/WOODLAWN"
• Turn LEFT at the light onto FREDERICKSBURG
• Almost immediately, turn MODERATE LEFT onto WOODLAWN
• Go 1.5 miles to SAN PEDRO (Major thoroughfare with light)
• Turn RIGHT onto SAN PEDRO
• Go three blocks and turn RIGHT onto W FRENCH
• If you miss W FRENCH and come to the light at ASHBY, see below
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!
• If you miss the turn to W FRENCH and arrive at the light at ASHBY:
• Turn RIGHT onto ASHBY
• Take your next RIGHT onto BREEDEN
• Go one block and cross W FRENCH
• We are the house on the corner to your right. Welcome!

Coming From the San Antonio International Airport:

• Ask your rental car firm for directions to US 281 SOUTH
• Follow those directions and get on US 281 SOUTH
• Take the exit marked "MULBERRY"
• Turn RIGHT onto MULBERRY
• Go about 2 miles to SAN PEDRO AVE. Turn LEFT onto SAN PEDRO AVE
• Go about 1 mile on SAN PEDRO AVE to W FRENCH
• Turn RIGHT onto W FRENCH
• We are the last house on the block to your right. Welcome!