Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen & Sam Hopkins
Hi Stephen & Sam, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We didn’t have all the answers when we started, but we knew what we wanted Missing Hotel to represent… That sense of purpose was our guide.
Sam is the luckiest woman in the world to have a partner who was willing to listen to her when she said, “Babe, don’t freak out, WHAT-IF…
WHAT IF we build our own hotel?
When Sam started out with her signature phrase,, “Babe, don’t freak out…”, Of course, the first thing Stephen does is freak out… He never knows what she’s going to throw at him when she poses these impossible questions. This happens quite often because she is the dreamer… She never gets tired of the little groan he lets out when she comes at him with “What-if”. It never fails… And every time, it cracks her up because it means he’s gearing up for the madness. He’ll usually indulge her, but he’s always running through the logistics before playing the “what-if” game with her.
Stephen and Sam have completely opposite personalities—Stephen is calm, analytical, and numbers-oriented, while Sam is an avid daydreamer who is always asking “what if.” You’d think this might be a recipe for disaster, but for them, it is the perfect combination. This is how their adventure started…
We know so many people can relate to a common feeling… something seems to be “missing” in your life, but you can’t quite put your finger on it? We were able to realize that we were missing a deeper purpose than the daily grind for newer better things… That is what initiated our year-long sabbatical in April of 2019.
Once we recognized this feeling, we decided to do something about it.
For nearly a decade, the idea of Missing Hotel floated in our conversations, especially during our travels. We’d talk about it in abstract terms, imagining what it could be, but never really taking any concrete steps toward making it a reality. Over time, though, we started feeling like something essential was missing in our own lives—a sense of purpose, perhaps, or a deeper connection to what truly mattered. So, we made a bold decision: we took a year off to “find ourselves.”
In hindsight, we’d spent the previous 10 years preparing for this leap. Inspired by Tim Ferriss, we had worked toward creating location independence in our lives, a foundation that allowed us to chase our vision for Missing Hotel fully. It was this groundwork, combined with our commitment to pursuing purpose over routine, that finally brought Missing to life!
Not surprisingly, we were inspired by our hotel hoping and noticing the subtle details that would take our stay from what seemed like it could be a mediocre 4 out of 10 to a 10 out of 10 instantly! Knowing that we needed to have a game plan for when the sabbatical was over, we decided we couldn’t go home without a plan in place for our very own hotel.
At the end of the Sabbatical, we quarantined ourselves in a beautiful house for 10 days. We wanted to settle down and get rid of all of our distractions!
(You won’t believe the timing, it was in February of 2020! I guess you could say we were trend setters).
We weren’t allowed to leave our sanctuary until we had our business plan in place. AMAZINGLY IT WORKED!! We emerged at the end of our quarantine with a 60-page collaborative plan to tackle our crazy notion!
Also a funny fact, we went on a sailing trip for 14 days to celebrate the completion of our project and when we got back to shore the entire world was shut down and everyone was quarantining! We didn’t know if we were going to be able to fly home!
Missing wasn’t just a business idea; it was the result of a DEEP BELIEF that there’s more to hospitality than just providing a bed. As we were seeking the same answers and reprieve we wanted to provide to others, it was our dream to create a place to help people rediscover themselves— for them to realize what might be “missing” in their lives and do something about it.
We’ve explored many iterations of what “Going Missing” means, but it all started with something we felt was “missing” within ourselves. Our purpose is to help our guests identify that and take action to shift their perspective.
WHY did we want to bring this project to life?
How can we tackle such a seemingly impossible task of creating the necessary perspective shift in our guests?
From the very beginning, Missing was our pursuit of sharing the feelings we experienced every time we encountered a fun, unexpected surprise or a serendipitous travel event. These moments became a life goal: to help others experience the same feelings. To shift perspective and to create an environment where you start asking all the right questions. As well as creating the time and space to explore those questions.
Missing is our quest to share this amazing unexpected feeling with our guests. Unexpected, meaningful touches—a hand-written note or special room preparations. After extensive travel and staying at hundreds of properties, we’ve learned a few things about what makes a place truly memorable. Imagine a place that makes you feel like your experience is the only thing that matters. A place that thinks of everything, giving you the space to explore what matters most to you. A place that inspires you and helps you turn ideas into something tangible. A place where everything is done with purpose—including you.
Throughout our travels, this is the kind of place we became addicted to finding. So, we wanted to create it ourselves and share it with the world.
Our goal was to create a place to feel, and create a deep sense of connection—not only to nature but to yourself. We’ve infused mystery and meaning into everything we do. We believe that everyone who stays with us can experience that same sense of rediscovery. Our guests don’t just leave—they return home with a newfound sense of purpose, creativity, and inspiration. In fact, many guests come back again and again. We’ve had people tell us that they’ve never felt more alive or connected after a stay at Missing Hotel. That’s the change we’re creating—spaces that allow guests to strip away the clutter of modern life and truly reconnect with your most authentic self.
This journey taught us that when you create something from the heart, it resonates with others in ways you might never imagine. By creating a change in how we approached hospitality, it also changed us dramatically.
One of the greatest surprises in our journey wasn’t just what we gave our guests, but what they gave us in return. We expected to inspire people, but they inspired us too—by sharing their stories, passions, and dreams. We created a space for self-discovery, and in doing so, we rediscovered parts of ourselves. Every interaction reinforced our mission: to make Missing Hotel not just a destination, but a place that fuels growth.
Our FAVORITE thing to do onsite is to flip through the guest notes and read about each experience that is shared and memorialized for others to feel the excitement and surprises from the previous guests.
The journey to starting Missing Hotel wasn’t easy, but by Dreamlining and Fear-Setting, we found the courage to take action. And now, we get to live our dream every day—and help others live theirs.
So, our call to action for you today is simple: Stop waiting for the perfect moment. Start planning your dream now, and don’t be afraid to challenge your fears. You never know where that journey might lead you—or how much of an impact you might have on others!
We also have a laundry list of challenges while building the hotel because we were the General Contractors hiring all the subs! The highlights of those challenges were preventing another GC from absconding with $100K after ditching the project, walking in on the subs doing meth in the shower and getting a gun pulled on us over $3,000 that we held back based on paying on percentage of completion of the project! We also had many days where subs didn’t show up, so we taught ourselves how to drive the heavy equipment and didn’t let anything stop us on the pursuit of creating this magical place!
Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. Challenge your fears and take that first step—you never know how impactful your journey might be!
Missing is more than a beautiful space. We had designed it to spark curiosity, playfulness, and inspiration—everything from hidden notes, surprise scavenger hunts, and interactive elements that are subtly woven into the stay. Our guests don’t just come out to stay in nature; they rediscover joy, creativity, and the feeling of being alive.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We’ve faced plenty of adversity along the way. But there are good things that come out of situations that seem bad… One of my most memorable moments over the last 3.5 years was after a MAJOR hailstorm (with baseball size hail, and swiss cheese for domes), we found that people still valued the experience of their stay. We received FIVE STAR reviews from the guests who stayed with us during our transitional time of repairing the domes, they still left with glowing hearts even though we had created a serious grid of flex seal tape to try to waterproof them while waiting for the new covers.
It was proof that what we built resonated beyond the surface level of luxury—it touched something deeper.
Some other fun memories: Especially since we took on the role of General Contractors, personally hiring and managing all the subcontractors. Among the most notable hurdles were preventing another contractor from absconding with $100K after abandoning the project, discovering subs using meth in the shower, and even facing a gun pulled on us over a $3,000 payment that we withheld based on the percentage of completion. Everything turned out fine, but that was a nail biter! Another fun fact is we both know how to drive a backhoe, telehandler and bulldozer! There were numerous days when subcontractors didn’t show up, which prompted us to teach ourselves (through Youtube) how to operate heavy equipment. Despite these obstacles, our unwavering commitment to creating this magical place drove us forward, ensuring that nothing would deter our vision!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Some of this is answered above, but to add to it:
At Missing Hotel, we create experiences that transcend traditional hospitality. What distinguishes us is the harmonious blend of our entrepreneurial backgrounds and personal passions, all underpinned by a profound commitment to fostering a purpose-driven space for self-discovery.
Brief Overview of our backgrounds:
Stephen Hopkins is a serial entrepreneur with a diverse track record spanning energy, product development, and real estate. Over his 14 years in the energy sector, he played a pivotal role in over $10 billion in acquisitions and divestitures and founded three successful companies that continue to thrive. A seasoned traveler, Stephen has circumnavigated the globe four times, visiting over fifty countries. He is also a pilot, sailor, and diver, residing in Austin, where he passionately follows college football, old motorcycles, and all things adventurous.
Sam Hopkins brings a wealth of entrepreneurial expertise across design, land, and real estate ventures. Starting her career in the energy sector, she leveraged her land knowledge to negotiate impactful deals before transitioning into an engineering role where she added $800 million in value through innovative strategies. Known for her contagious passion and creative flair, Sam leads the guest experience at Missing Hotel, infusing it with mystique and creativity. Her global perspective, cultivated through living in Germany and Spain, fuels her insatiable wanderlust for exploration and discovery. She and Stephen have made travel a center point of their lives and she often sends Stephen plane tickets in his email to announce their next adventure 🙂
We’re most proud of this project and the transformative impact we’ve had on our guests. They leave with a renewed sense of purpose and creativity—exactly what we envisioned. Missing Hotel is designed to be more than just a glamping site; it’s a sanctuary encouraging people to reconnect with themselves, their passions, and nature. That’s what truly sets us apart.
Any big plans?
Over the past four years, we’ve transformed Missing Hotel into a much more refined and replicable operation. Through our journey, we’ve made every mistake possible, which has paved an easier path forward for us. We’ve cultivated the right people, established solid partnerships, and developed effective processes and systems to ensure our success.
Scale: With our foundation solidified, we are poised for expansion in the coming year. Our aim is to enhance our onsite offerings while also exploring new locations to reach a broader audience. We envision creating a network of Missing Hotels that provide the same transformative experiences in diverse settings, making our unique concept accessible to more people. In fact, a private island may even be on the horizon!
Experiences: At the heart of Missing Hotel lies our unwavering commitment to crafting exceptional experiences for our guests. We continuously innovate and curate activities that inspire creativity, evoke curiosity, and foster connections. From hidden treasures waiting to be discovered within our spaces to thoughtfully designed adventures that encourage exploration, every detail is crafted with intention. Our mission is to create an environment where guests feel liberated to rediscover joy and inspiration, turning their stay into something truly unforgettable.
As we look to the future, we are thrilled about the potential to reach more people in more locations, offering transformative experiences that resonate long after our guests depart. Our journey has only just begun, and we remain dedicated to evolving and expanding in ways that align with our core values.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.missinghotel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missinghoteltx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missinghoteltx
- Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g56229-d25929958-Reviews-Missing_Hotel-Marble_Falls_Texas.html?m=19905
