About the Property

Reconnect to Your Roots in East Texas

Imagine somewhere you can escape it all… The grip of the grind. The stress of the hustle. 

Somewhere you can let your guard down and focus on finding yourself.

Located just outside of Palestine, TX, that somewhere is Elmwood Place. 

Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, planning a girls' trip, or simply passing through town, our doors are open. We've tailored every detail of our retreat to inspire tranquility and restoration, helping you return to your everyday life refreshed and centered.

We invite you to find your home away from home in the heart of East Texas.

At Elmwood Place, our roots run deep. 

Before we used our 150 acres of Texas countryside as a relaxing retreat space, they served as the grounds for Elmwood TX’s sole schoolhouse. 

In the 1900s, the schoolhouse was purchased and converted into “Aunt Ruth’s Place”, a cozy home filled with family and Aunt Ruth’s famous lemon poppyseed poundcake. 

In 2012, 10 years after opening The Good Space Pilates studio in Houston, Melody Morton-Buckleair decided to purchase Aunt Ruth’s Place to host Pilates Teacher training. But after a labor of love–10+ years refinishing the original old schoolhouse–Melody decided to open her space to anyone looking to be refreshed by the East Texas Hills. 

Elmwood Place allowed Melody to return to her roots. For 3 decades, her grandfather served as the sheriff of Anderson County. The same place where she spent her summers riding horses and creating memories with her family. 

Now, she’s crafted a space that encourages guests to rediscover their own roots and reconnect with their true selves.