Spider Mountain and Thunderbird Lodge General Manager

Lead the future of Spider Mountain and Thunderbird Lodge as a premier Hill Country destination.

Spider Mountain and Thunderbird Lodge is a one-of-a-kind Texas experience: a year-round retreat offering the nation’s first lift-served bike park, lakeside lodging and event center, and a marina with lakeside activities. We’re looking for an entrepreneurial General Manager who will treat the business like their own, and set the vision for a “must-stay” lakeside lodging destination that drives growth in all aspects of lodging and hospitality.

This role is built for a hospitality-minded operator with a builder’s mentality.  Someone who can create a destination guest experience, lead a team with high standards, and partner with ownership to prioritize capital investments tied to specific revenue goals—from cabin remodels/upgrades to expanded F&B and event infrastructure.

Why This Role?

• Build something real: Take a great foundation and elevate it into a standout lakeside lodging destination in the Texas Hill Country.
• Own the growth: Drive revenue across lodging, F&B, mountain biking, and weddings/events—while strengthening the overall destination experience.
• Invest with purpose: Help shape the capital roadmap and tie improvements to clear ROI and revenue milestones.
• Lead with energy: Create a culture of hospitality—warm, efficient, accountable, and guest-obsessed.

About the Role

As General Manager, you’ll oversee the full business—strategy, financial performance, team leadership, guest experience, and brand growth. While the bike park remains a core anchor, the priority is clear: unlock the lodging and destination experience and turn it into a consistent driver of year-round revenue.

In the first six to twelve months, success looks like a meaningful upward shift in overall revenue, visits, and—especially—events, with clear momentum in bookings, group demand, and guest satisfaction. You’ve defined and started executing a compelling destination vision for the lakeside lodging experience, including how it’s positioned, who it’s for, and what makes it a “must-stay” in the Texas Hill Country. Alongside that, you’ve built a practical, phased capital plan—covering cabin remodels and upgrades, expanded F&B, and targeted guest amenities—with each investment tied to specific revenue goals and a clear path to return. Operationally, the business runs with a stronger rhythm: a weekly KPI cadence, tighter forecasting, higher standards across service and property presentation, and better day-to-day execution that guests can feel.

Essential Duties / Responsibilities

• Set and execute the vision for Thunderbird Lodge as a lakeside lodging destination—experience, amenities & activities, service standards, property presentation, and brand positioning.
• Establish hospitality operating standards (service, cleanliness, maintenance response, guest communication) that consistently deliver a high-quality stay.
• Own the guest journey end-to-end: booking → arrival → stay → activities → departure → repeat visit.
• Drive lodging performance through revenue management
• Improve conversion and booking performance through better web presence, merchandising, photography/storytelling, and guest communications.
• Build partnership strategies that move room nights (corporate groups, weddings, regional tourism partners, outdoor brands, Austin-area networks).
• Build a robust events engine (festivals, races, retreats, corporate offsites, weddings, lake weekends)—with a calendar that grows year over year.
• Own relationships with promoters, organizers, and key community partners.
• Lead growth of F&B as a key destination driver—expanded offerings, improved flow, guest satisfaction, and profitability.
• Expand the on-site guest experience (lakeside activities, marina/waterfront experiences where applicable, retail/merch, programming) with a clear focus on revenue guest delight.
• Partner with ownership to create a phased capital roadmap: cabin remodels/upgrades, expanded F&B, guest amenities, and infrastructure improvements.
• Own P&L performance: budgeting, forecasting, expense discipline, and revenue growth plans.
• Hire, develop, and lead department heads; build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability and hospitality.
• Maintain strong relationships with local stakeholders, tourism/community partners, and corporate partners.

Education / Experience

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business, management, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
• Required: 7 years of leadership experience in hospitality, lodging, resort, or destination operations with clear ownership of results.
• Required: Proven track record of revenue growth (lodging and/or F&B and/or events), not just operations maintenance.
• Required: Experience developing and executing a business plan that includes capital investment tied to revenue goals/ROI.
• Preferred: MBA or advanced hospitality/business training.
• Preferred: Experience with outdoor recreation destinations (bike parks, zip lines, waterfront/lake activities, adventure parks).
• Preferred: Experience building group/event business (weddings, retreats, corporate offsites, festivals).

Skills / Attributes

• Entrepreneurial, hands-on, and relentlessly guest-focused—treats the business like it’s theirs.
• Strong commercial instincts (pricing, packaging, conversion, promotions, partnerships).
• Strong operator: sets standards, builds teams, drives execution, and improves the details that guests notice.
• Comfortable leading change, prioritizing capital projects, and creating alignment with ownership.

Salary : $100,000 - $200,000