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.

https://twitter.com/TheAdolphus/status/863002540790697984

 

https://twitter.com/TheAdolphus/status/854751692901974016

 

https://twitter.com/TheAdolphus/status/861931464857878529

 

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.

 

 

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Hospitality Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @HospitalityMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

safer HVAC chemicals
Stronger Training Pipelines and Smarter Social Media Can Help Solve HVAC’s Talent Shortage
June 9, 2026

The skilled trades are at a crossroads. By some industry estimates, for every five experienced technicians retiring, only two new ones are entering the field—highlighting a growing HVAC talent gap. At the same time, buildings are becoming more complex, more connected, and more dependent on high-performance mechanical systems. The stakes are real: without a…

Read More
design
Where Design Meets Durability: Why Commercial Surfaces Must Support Safety, Cleanability, and Long-Term Value
June 8, 2026

When a commercial space fails, it often fails quietly: a lobby floor that becomes slippery when wet, a hotel bathroom that is difficult to clean, a healthcare surface that cannot withstand constant disinfection, or an office finish that looks great until afternoon glare makes the room uncomfortable. These are not purely aesthetic problems; they are…

Read More
creative career
Crafted Journey How To: Building a Creative Career Across Scripts, Stages, and Sound
June 8, 2026

Creative careers rarely move in a straight line, especially for writers working across stage, screen, audio, books, and independent film. Sustaining that kind of life often means finding opportunities wherever they appear, building a strong network, staying open to different formats, and saying yes to collaborations that can lead somewhere unexpected. The stakes are…

Read More
EMR
EMR Strategy, Consulting, and Career Pivots with MedSys Co-Founder Mark Embry
June 8, 2026

Electronic medical records (EMRs) have moved from a back-office upgrade to a frontline determinant of care quality, clinician burnout, and hospital economics. With U.S. hospitals often spending tens to hundreds of millions—sometimes exceeding $100 million—on EMR implementations, the stakes have never been higher for getting both the technology and the human adoption right. As…

Read More
Related
Revpar Media
Software & Technology
The Origin of Revpar Media: Host Calvin Tilokee’s Journey from Revenue Management to Performance Storytelling
February 11, 2026
commercial leadership
Healthcare
Why Hotel Performance Depends on Commercial Leadership Across Sales, Marketing, and Revenue
January 28, 2026

The hospitality industry is in the middle of a structural shift toward commercial leadership. Titles like “commercial leader” and “commercial strategy” have gone from buzzwords to necessities as hotels face tighter margins, rising distribution costs, and increasingly fragmented demand. Post-pandemic recovery, accelerated digital marketing spend, and a surge in new supply have forced owners…

Read More
How Hotels Bounce Back From the Unexpected
Healthcare
How Hotels Bounce Back From the Unexpected
September 4, 2025

In this episode of Inside Restoration & Recovery, host Martha Lewis sits down with Josh Creznic, Director of Hospitality Services at BMS CAT, to unpack the unique challenges and critical priorities in hotel restoration. With over two decades of experience in hospitality—spanning major brands like Marriott and Wyndham—Josh brings deep insight into how restoration…

Read More