From a sketch drawn on a napkin, married couple Lisa and Rick Carswell built the vision for their business with a namesake that pays homage to one of the final vacations Rick was able to take with his father. “My husband had taken his mom and dad to Balmorhea State Park,” Carswell said, referring to the West Texas destination. “That was really the last trip [Rick] got to make with his dad before he passed away. We had talked about the name, and my husband just loved it. It’s a unique name.” In May 2014, the Carswells opened Balmorhea Weddings & Events in Magnolia, the community where they grew up and raised their children. About eight years ago, the Carswells purchased the property and built a house on it for their son and his wife. Lisa and Rick soon decided the 32-acre property with two existing lakes could make a perfect location for a scenic venue with proximity to The Woodlands and Tomball. The property, which now has four lakes, hosts a variety of corporate events, holiday parties, weddings and community fundraisers. “I just saw the need for a really nice place,” Carswell said. “We had the property that we purchased, and I had a vision that the property would be a beautiful place to enjoy a wedding.” Lisa operates the facility with her daughter-in-law Melissa Carswell and Manager Alison McIntyre. In addition to her time at Balmorhea, Carswell owns and operates two real estate offices of Carswell Real Estate Co. Inc. in Magnolia and has worked as a Realtor for 20 years. “We’re friendly and easy to work with,” she said. “It’s just like in real estate—I like to keep people happy, accommodate their needs and make a good experience.” The venue has seen a number of new referrals from clients who have held events at the facility, she said. With a capacity of 325 guests, the venue offers 9,000 total square feet of space with a closed-in area of 5,000 square feet. The venue, which hosts an average of four to five events each month, sees an uptick in business in October as well as March and April, Lisa said. Clients are encouraged to reserve the facility for events a year in advance, but the venue does offer select openings throughout the year. “We have a rustic elegant look, and people can change it to more rustic or more elegant—they have a choice,” Carswell said. “We made it a little different. We wanted it to have an option to not only do a wedding outside but have a wedding inside as well.” Some of the most enjoyable aspects of the venue are the wildlife and tranquility of the property, Carswell said. “I really enjoy the beauty of the property,” she said. “Every day is a memory to me there. It’s beautiful to sit there and watch the water. It’s really quiet and peaceful.”