#249- The Kendall, in Boerne

Texas Hill Country Inn

This is how "Ye Kendall Inn" looked nearly 2 decades ago. Don and I ate lunch with our kids in the hotel's restaurant.

That was long before we were searching for "Notable Night Hotels". But we were intrigued by the inn and the small town... pronounced like Bernie.

 

The Kendall Hill Country Inn

In January, Don and I returned to Boerne and spent a night at the hotel. The canopy was no longer green and a sheep had been added to the logo. The "Ye" was gone.

There was also a new set of critters. A sweet mama and baby buffalo, greeted us out front!

Then and Now

The town has nearly tripled in size, since we first stopped through, in 2003. I knew the town had grown, but I was eager see what had changed at the inn.

We arrived on a sunny January afternoon. The town of over 17,000 was buzzing with activity. The exterior of the 160+ year old hotel, had changed little... except for the entrance.

Home & Hotel

The hotel history goes further back than this aged image. The old photo was taken after Mr. & Mrs. Reed's Southern Colonial style home (from 1859) became the Boerne Hotel. The original Reed House is in the center. 

Early on, the Reeds ended up renting out rooms in their home, to travelers. The Reed Hotel became the Boerne Hotel in 1878. Wings were added to both sides of the old house.

The Land

The black and white photo shows lots of land. It's nice that some of that open land has been preserved in a city park.

If we'd had an upstairs room, we could have looked out over the park.

But near the main doors, we found lots of open rockers... and a pair of dogs. We could have rocked away and pondered history for hours! We could have thought about all the activity that occurred on that open property. Instead we wandered and pondered.

Cowboys, Cattle, Horses... Camels!

​The grounds around the hotel were used as a key stopping point for cattle drivers and military men. Cowboys and horses camped out on the land.

Before the Civil War, camels also spent some time on this land. Jefferson Davis stayed as a guest in the hotel, while 33 camels from Tunisia were tied up outside. It was part of Jefferson's  experimental "Texas Camel Drive"!  

Into the Inn

It was about 3:00, when Don and I headed inside to check in. 

Clearly, the hotel had spiffed up since our last visit. There was a great blend of old and new.

Then and Now

It felt brighter! When I pulled up some of my old photos, I could see changes. Lots of light paint and fewer rugs.

Don headed for the desk and I checked out both sides of the lobby.

Nicole checked us in. She was wonderful, showing us around and sharing a little history. All the staff seemed enthused about our interest in the hotel's past.

I wanted so badly to stay in one of the original Reed House rooms, at the top of the stairs. But out of 34 guest rooms, only a few are available in the old section.

​Out We Go

We weren't sure what we had booked... except that we usually go for the lower priced rooms. We followed Nicole out back.

The hotel doors opened to the back porch. There was no view of the park, but there were nice sitting areas, overlooking the courtyard.

Courtyard

There were tables and trees and strings of lights, to make things festive at night.

And there was a long, one-story addition that made me think... motel?

I was a little bummed when I realized our room was in this new addition. I had hoped for a 160 year old room. But once I learned the addition was from the early 1900's, I was fine. 

Jasmine Suite

Our sweet-suite at the end of the porch, was a pretty nice deal!

It was January, but nice enough that I sat on the cushioned chair with a little ivy for privacy.

Sitting Room

The suite was small, but we could sort of spread out in two rooms for a bit.

I used the little sofa for some reading. The horse kept me company.

Comical Heating System

The room with queen bed, was cozy and quiet... except when the heat went on. 

The sound came on with a distant clanking. The sound made me think of kids, racing up a metal fire escape. Then a rumbling roar, like a jet liner taking off... followed by a simmering, humming vibration in the wall. The sound was more amusing than annoying. Don and I had a hard time falling asleep, because we were giddy with anticipation. Honestly, I've never fallen asleep on the verge of laughter. But somehow we both slept!

More...

​The  bed was comfy and the bathroom had nice marble and tile. The robes were just the right weight for Texas weather. I can't handle heavy robes.

The cozy, clean space gave no hints of the past. Most guests probably appreciate that, but I kind of missed having creaky doors and floors.

Exploring

Luckily there was lots more to experience around the hotel.

Right outside our door, we spotted a fireplace. We wondered if some of the fireplace could have been part of the original kitchen.

​Guest Houses

We found some additional guest house buildings, past the courtyard.  

The carriage house was original, but the church and school had been moved to the property, in recent years. All can be rented. We didn't get a chance to use the little soaking pool.

Food and Drink

The hotel's restaurant changed hands and had a new name, since our lunch years ago.

It was Friday, so we peeked in early to see about dining.

This photo shows just one end of the dining room. On a warmer day, there would have been extra dining options on the wraparound porch.

The Bar

I remembered the cozy bar from our last visit. The colors and decor had brightened, just like the hotel. 

There were a few people getting the weekend started before 4.

Past the bar, there was a classy little lounge space, with a scary critter. Without guests, I could get a good look at the puzzle of limestone, covering the walls.

Restaurant or Bar?

We returned at 6 and the restaurant was filling up. We were able to get a table in the bar, where we watched lots of regulars, greeting and gathering together.  

We were able to get a menu and do a little people watching with our food.

We shared a dish of Mac-n-Cheese and devoured Chef Bohanan's, Chicken Fried Quail. An amazing dish, with cornmeal Johnny-cakes and Maple Cayenne syrup!

Night at the Inn

After eating, we stepped out in front to see the building lit at night.

Then we grabbed some coffee from the lobby and headed for the courtyard.

The winter chill, meant we got to enjoy the fireplace! The winter season also meant, we didn't have to share the courtyard with family reunions or wedding parties. I'm sure it's not always so quiet.

We scooted the chairs closer and enjoyed a real wood fire. My camera flash made things way too bright!

Nice Stay and Town

In the morning, we walked a block to town and had breakfast. We strolled through shops and studied old buildings. What a curious history with the town and hotel.

I'm not sure if any glamorous celebs have ever been guests. But the hotel played host to historic figures like Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis... and later Prez Eisenhower. 

I wish we'd had more time to learn about the community's past. It was first inhabited by German "Free Thinkers". That's an interesting tangent right there! Around the turn of the century, Bourne was attracting visitors with health concerns. The hotel became sort of a health resort for guests suffering lung ailments. So much to think about!

What's Notable?

So what will I remember most? Our one night stay was a good combination. Our welcoming inn, plus a quaint town, along with some intriguing history. Having our hotel a block from town, meant we got sort of a package deal. Hotel, Town & History! Perfect!