#324 - Dixie Motel in Brenham, TX

Dixie?

I do love a vintage motel! I adore a cool vintage sign! I'm less excited about things named Dixie. But I made an exception here.

I'm not just being woke. There are a few reasons I don't embrace the word, but mostly it's because I was teased for being a Yankee, when I moved south at age 10.  Teased by kids who liked to belt out "Dixie"! 

Dixie Motel from 1951

I booked a night at Dixie Motel, after learning about its history. The old motor court motel opened 73 years ago. I was excited when I laid eyes on the faded sign, last March.

The history of the Dixie name, goes even further back than the fifties. Before the motel, Dixie Chicken Farms & Hatchery was located here.

Near (or in) Brenham, Texas

This 1950's postcard, tells us the motel is located "one mile west of Brenham".

On the back of the card, printed words describe the motel as a "Home of the Traveling Public". Funny how the roadside "home" appears to sit all alone, right next to Highway 290.
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In Town

On a drizzly day last March, Don and I followed Google Maps down Main Street, (US 290) through Brenham. Just 60 miles from our home.

The motel is now IN town. Barely. We spotted the old sign just on the outskirts of town. We turned left on Drumm Road, into a neighborhood of small houses.

The Property

It was amusing to realize all the houses grew up around the motel.

The recently renovated buildings now sit on a tidy gravel drive. The porches look towards the modest neighborhood homes. Behind the motel, there's a 2-acre field of trees. 

Mr. Drumm and Chickens

When we turned onto Drumm Street near the sign, I didn't realize Drumm was the name of the man who built the motel in 1951

Long before the motel, Jack Drumm started up a poultry and hatchery business, on this property. The photo above is from 1930, when he filled a plane with 8,000 baby chicks headed for Mexico City.

​Motel Adventure with Friends!

I've written up a lot of MOTEL adventures, in the 90-Nights blog. Don and I have experienced some curious and some creepy motels. Ordinarily we wouldn't have felt comfortable inviting anyone to join us, for an overnight at a poultry farm/motel, tucked into a small-town, Texas neighborhood. 

However, our friends Lorrie and John were game, for a couple reasons. First of all, we 4 had a wedding to attend nearby. More importantly, we'd all read excellent reviews. We met for lunch in Brenham and headed out a mile to the motel!

No Vacancy 
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As we headed towards the office, I spotted the NO Vacancy sign. I was glad we'd booked 2 of the 8 rooms, months earlier! I was especially excited to meet the owners Karl and Sarah. I'd read up and knew they purchased the worn out property in 2014. 

Since then, they've thrown themselves into redesigning the Dixie Motel. 

​In Progress

The other thing that I was incredibly enthused about, was seeing the old building in back. It's still in the process of being renovated.

Actually reinvented is the word the owners use. They have kept the original floor plans, but gutted and improved in numerous ways. 

How often do you get to stand back and enjoy the before/after images? I usually do that with photos. I was so afraid when I booked months earlier that they would move too quickly and I'd miss seeing the oldie. No worries!

Sarah and Karl

I'm so pleased we were able to meet both Sarah and Karl and hear some of the stories about about their 10-year project. 

Both have a great affection for motels. They were married in a motel near Big Bend National Park.

Music and Antiques

Sarah is the one responsible for the large album collection, found in the lobby and guest rooms. 

Sarah also knows her antiques and vintage furniture. She is connected to the nearby Round Top Antiques Fair. Since opening the motel 3 years ago, the rooms have booked quickly around the fall and spring antique fairs.

​Questions for Karl

Karl was wonderful, answering my endless questions. I wanted to know what that funny little covered space was, near the office door. 

I peeked in earlier and noticed the window, opening to the office.

Previous Owners

Karl explained in the kindest way, how the motel was in disrepair when they purchased from Mrs. Patel, a decade ago. She and her husband raised their daughters, while living (in) and running the motel. 

Mrs.Patel was widowed and running the motel by herself when they purchased in 2014. Karl suggested the window could have been a safer way to receive payment from guests. He spoke sympathetically of how Mrs. Patel had struggled to deal with long term guests who didn't pay rent. There was good reason she had no time to keep up with repairs.

Hints of the Past

I loved that the old room keys were still sitting there, in the key boxes.

I think Karl said the buzzer system was installed to alert guests about phone messages. Maybe I got that wrong.

I wonder if there were actually 20 rooms back in the day? 

Around Back

Karl took us through a breezeway to the back of the property, where we could see picnic tables and a fire pit. We also could see the sweet old building, awaiting renovation.

The sight of an empty building might be too eerie for some. I find it just fascinating and it was one of the reasons I wanted to book a night.

There's good reason it's taking so many years to get all the structures rebuilt. Karl (who happens to be an engineer) has taken on much of the rebuilding tasks himself, from electrical work to furniture building... with repurposed wood!

Outside Area

The weather was not ideal and we had limited time, or we could have enjoyed some of the outside seating.  

I should have asked about all the green space, past the buildings. I assume this open land was part the original poultry business property.

Mini Billboards

Karl pointed out the yellow metal sign, on the fence.

He said a few signs have surfaced over the years. They used to be attached to fences along the roads. I wonder if they used to have a number painted in the space, before the word Miles?

Breakfast Room

Karl showed us the recently enlarged Breakfast Room, where we would come the next morning for a continental breakfast.

He pointed out the Starbucks Iced Coffee and the Topo Chico Ranch Water. There were 2 beer options.  Mama Tried and Killin Time. Too bad we had so little time! 

​Dixie Water

Before heading to our room, we passed a filtered water dispenser in the breezeway.

We were each gifted a metal water bottle, with a picture of the iconic motel sign. How fun is that?

Room 2

We had about an hour to get ready for the wedding. 

No time to sit on our little porch with a couple of Ranch Waters,

Old "Porch"

​As you can see, the old "porches" were different. Karl and Sarah have made some positive changes. 

They kept the floor plan, but changed the "porch" and roof covering.

Comfy Queen Room

Roadside motels in the fifties were usually on the small side. The width didn't allow for much more than our queen bed and soft chair. There was enough wall space for 3  framed nice photographs, showing images of the Texas Big Bend area. 

The cozy and spotless room really had all we needed. I got the lamp and Don got the chair and ottoman. The chair actually had its own little swag lamp! Nice vintage touch!

Stuff!

We had a lot of goodies that guests didn't have in 1951. We had a 50-inch  flatscreen and a garment steamer in the closet. 

There was a retro mini fridge with organic whole milk.

We had a tea kettle and a set-up for pour over coffee.

Bathroom

The bathroom was as small as the original, but the new version made the absolute best use of space!

The shower was tiny, but lovely.

We didn't have any colorful shower tiles... but I found this classic look inside the old building!

Music in the Room

I provided a little background music to entertain us, while we got dressed for the wedding.

Each room had a portable record player and a case of LPs! I grabbed a couple of my old favorites, Loggins & Messina and Harry Chapin!

Coffee and Reading

I didn't have time until the next morning to use the bed tray for reading.

There was an article in the Texas Highways magazine, that featured Dixie Motel! 

Posing Time

We posed for photos before heading off. 

The photo of Don and me, shows off the raked gravel, as well as the much improved roof! It wasn't raining at that moment, but we would have stayed dry if it had been!

Late

The little motel looked so inviting when we returned late that night.

Wind was blowing and skies were eerie, but the rain held off until I had a good visit to the back of the property!

Appreciation of Old

I look back now and wish the 4 of us had stayed up a little later and sat under the strings of lights.

We could have enjoyed a beverage from the Breakfast Room fridge and admired the 73-year-old building, in its weathered state.

I can't begin to say how much I appreciated the spotlights on (and in) this curious old structure.

It was hard to imagine these rooms with shag carpet! I wonder what was easier to remove, the carpet or layers of wallpaper and paint.

How fun to discover the yellow letters on the wood!

I stepped inside just long enough to snap two photos. It was surprising how clean the space was. I'm sure it would have been less pleasant standing in one of the rooms before they were gutted.

Morning

It stormed all night and we had a fresh morning with sun!

We made a little coffee in the room before heading to breakfast. 

Blue Skies

​It was fun to see the motel on a sunny morning!

It was almost warm enough to eat outside. 

​Country Breakfast

As we stepped inside, my thoughts went back to the chicken farm days. A homey rustic table, was set up with breads and fruit and a bowl of eggs.

I believe this is one of the tables made by Karl.

Fresh O.J.

It was fun making our own o.j. for breakfast. 

I forget how many oranges it takes to make a cup!

Old Fridge

I wonder how far back this Deluxe fridge goes? Don grabbed a yogurt.

I could definitely picture Mr Drumm having one of these on his chicken farm in the '40s or '50s.

Time to Eat

We had the breakfast room, with its wagon wheel fixture, all to ourselves. 

John humored me by following my suggestion to tuck his napkin into his shirt. Farmer style? I can't remember what that was about.

I enjoyed my little meal of English muffin, egg and granola with fruit. ​Just the right amount, before we had to hit the road.

​What's Notable?

Our stay at the renovated Dixie Motel was unique. It wasn't a muliti-million-dollar mega hotel renovation. It wasn't a Mom & Pop slap on some new paint B&B project.

​We stayed at a vintage motel with a fun history, remodeled by a smart, creative and hardworking couple. And I so appreciate meeting our hosts, in this day of contactless hotels and rentals!

I will remember enjoying our comfortable stay, but I've made it clear how much I loved the old building in back! I can't thank Karl and Sarah enough for taking on this little corner of history in Texas!  And allowing guests to peek at the progress, made me truly appreciate the work that goes into  preservation.

I hope Mrs. Patel can come back and enjoy being a guest sometime! I'm sure she'd have some stories to tell!
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