The Lone Star State’s Historic Five Stars

Zach Werblo
Aug 7, 2018

Some hotels are designed for travelers to come and go with as little inconvenience as possible. Locations near airports and business centers lend themselves to unmemorable experiences. Hotels that stand the test of time, however, make their guests dread checking out. Texas has several historic hotels that have been standard bearers in hospitality for generations. They share a common bond in their roots but have also changed to adapt to current trends seamlessly.

The Adolphus Hotel – Dallas

For more than 100 years, the Adolphus Hotel has been a preeminent hotel for those passing through Dallas, Texas. Built by Anheuser-Busch Brewing co-founder Adolphus Busch, the hotel has hosted famous guests including multiple United States Presidents and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The building has undergone several major renovations, keeping it compatible with modern technology while not losing its historic aura.

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The Driskill – Austin

Built for an estimated $400,000 in 1886, the Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas has provided quite the return on investment. Although the original owner had to sell the building a year after opening because of a drought that decimated his cattle business, the Driskill has remained a prosperous hotel for more than a century.

 

It too has presidential ties, as it claims to be the location where Lyndon B. Johnson met his wife for the first time. Now a Hyatt Hotel chain property, the Driskill is rumored to be haunted, adding to its mystique.

 

 

The Ashton Hotel – Fort Worth

Fort Worth, Texas’ Ashton Hotel has been a member of the Historic Hotels of America since 2008. Although it sat vacant from 1989 to 2001, It still became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001, a testament to its meaning to the region. Claiming to be Fort Worth’s only small luxury hotel, The Ashton was built just six stories high.

 

 

 

 

The Hotel Havana – San Antonio

Another Texas hotel on the National Registry of Historic Places is the Hotel Havana in San Antonio. Reopening after a significant renovation in 2010, the Havana blends modern amenities with historic charm.

 

 

 

However, its past does evoke some darker memories as well. Namely in 2002 when the FBI conducted a sting operation on the property to bust a city-councilman accused of accepting bribes.

 

 

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