One of the most popular off-campus housing options in town, The Lodge at Weatherford, is under new leadership in 2026. The new team is redefining the property’s culture to create an even more welcoming environment for students and residents alike. The Southwestern had the opportunity to tour The Lodge, view all its amenities, and speak with Property Manager Carli Baxter and Leasing Manager Katie Davis.
During the tour, The Southwestern staff had the opportunity to view a 4-bedroom apartment, the pool, the sand volleyball court, the workout area, the clubhouse, and much more. View photos from the tour below.
Since taking over as the Property Manager in January, Baxter and her staff have worked hard to rebuild trust among tenants and build good impressions from the start.
“I know some students didn’t have the best experience last year, so I really feel like we thrive on this. This is our opportunity to really make those good impressions and take the opportunity just to rebuild some trust, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” Baxter said.
To build this trust and make good connections, the staff has prioritized open communication and preparation.
“We have had a lot of open communication. I think that’s the biggest part of being a good leader. Is asking, ‘Okay, what do you guys think? What do you guys see that needs done as well?’ And listening, not only to my employees, but listening to the tenants as well. And taking that criticism and doing something with it, and really trying to improve the overall experience for my employees, and just like the work culture, as well as the tenants and the environment that people live in… Our motto is Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.”
Validating Baxter’s positive impact, Davis highlighted an increase in initiative in addressing concerns. This is an approach, she says was previously missing from the staff.
“She’s [Baxter] very involved, if anybody has an issue, she’s not just the type to push it off, you know, she’ll address it, take care of it, and make things right,” Davis said. “That’s a huge thing, because we haven’t had that in the past. It’s just kind of been pushed off.”
Baxter feels like the staff has really reinvented the culture since starting. Expanding on the improvements in culture around The Lodge, she also mentioned that the staff is hosting a multitude of events coming up. They are also hosting free tours.
“I feel like since coming in here, we really have reinvented the atmosphere, the culture, how we prepare for tenants, and we just always want to make this place welcoming for SWOSU students and our tenants and just everyone that wants to come and hang out,” Baxter said. “We have a bunch of events every month. Some of them are open to SWOSU, some of them are just open to residents. We do walk-in tours, so anyone can come by anytime for a tour, if they just want to check it out, see what we have to offer.”
The Southwestern and The Lodge have partnered to share upcoming events. Stay tuned to The Southwestern and The Lodge’s Instagram and Facebook pages to see upcoming events, including a pool party coming in May!
