Last Stop Salado, TX Last June, it was 99 degrees at 4:00 on Father's Day. Don and I pulled up to the Shady Villa Hotel office feeling hot, tired and curious. It was the final stop of our 18-day road trip. A minute before, we'd pulled into Salado, knowing little about the town. It looked surprisingly lively, on a hot afternoon. Tourists roamed the shops and picnicked in the nearby park. We pulled into the lot and I headed inside the Registration Office, where the a.c. worked well! I was given a key and a very chilly metal pail, filled with ice. Ahhh! But where was the hotel? The Original Inn Just steps from the office, (but fairly hidden behind trees) was the hotel's restaurant. The wood framed building, was the original, Shady Villa Inn. It opened in 1861 as a stagecoach stop, serving travelers on the Chisholm Trail. (This was not our hotel for the night!) In 1943, Dion and Ruth Van Bibbers bought the property and opened a sophisticated southern style tea room. It was renamed the Stagecoach Inn. They stopped accepting lodgers at some point and focussed on adding dining rooms. We made reservations for the evening! Modern Motel In the late 1950's, the Van Bibber's nephew took over the business and added motel-style quarters on the west side of the 6-acre property. We drove our car from the office, to a shady building in the back of the grounds. Our accommodations were in a post WWII motel, not a Civil War era inn. No problem. Pink Coach! As soon as we hopped out of the car, we could hear the cars whizzing by on I-35. I wandered towards the sound and found the original motel lobby and coffee shop. Now closed. I also found a stagecoach, sitting on some dry grass. Even with bright yellow and pink paint, it looked sort of lonely and forgotten. I'll bet it must have delighted kids back in the day, when they spotted it from the highway. The front of the hotel once faced I-35. That was back when the highway was brand new and much quieter. Love the Neon From our parking area, the trees nearly blocked the iconic neon sign. But the cars flying by, had a good view. It was only a couple years ago, that the Stagecoach Inn was taken over by Austin based "Bunkhouse Group". They reverted to the original Shady Villa name. I'm glad the old neon sign still glows! Building #1 Scattered on the property, there were several buildings holding 48 rooms. All were connected by pretty walkways. As we headed towards our building, I wondered how this structure looked when it was built in the '50's. The Bunkhouse Group has done a great job rescuing numerous historic hotels. We've stayed at a few in Texas. I felt like I was spotting their style as we climbed the steps. The white brick, chickenwire with vines and interesting light fixture... All seemed to have a little Austin Hipness. Both Sides The outdoor hallway revealed painted doors, but no windows. Each upper unit had an entrance on the north, with glass doors and balcony on the south side. The lush landscaping offered lots of privacy, to the patios on the lower level. I was glad to be higher, with a view. Cool! Our spacious room with Saltillo tile floors felt cool on a hot day. The shiny floors made me feel like we were staying at a hotel in Mexico. The whole room had a cool, mid-century vibe. We had our naugahyde daybed/couch with lounge pillows and a hip swag lamp and a wall of glass, inviting us to the balcony. Comfy Bed The daybed actually was not a bit comfortable, but the king bed and linens felt heavenly. And we had a very relaxing photo image above the bed. (Big Bend National Park?) All rooms featured photographic scenes of Texas. I so appreciate having side tables and shelves and lamps, when we travel. I never expect to have a sound machine, but we had one. Fresh Bathroom! The tile work in the bathroom was extra bright and fun. Reminded me of minty, Chiclets gum! The modern sink was sleek and the towels were thick and soft. What did the bathrooms look like 2 decades ago, when the hotel was run down and truckers were the usual guests? Those tired drivers would have loved making use of the giant showers, with great water pressure! Extras Back in the '50's and '60's, travelers never expected a fridge in a motel. Microwaves weren't even in homes then. Our mid-century motel room had neither of those. I was fine with that. We did have an interesting coffeemaker, though. I fussed with it a while, but couldn't get my water heated. The cans of still water, were much cuter than plastic bottles. Color television? Luckily we didn't have a retro model with rabbit ears. We had a nice wall-mounted TV, with good picture and decent stations. Yay for TCM movies! Perfect? The balcony was almost perfect. Especially with canvas butterfly chairs and an exotic lamp! There was just a little bit of stain on the fabric, from roosting birds. Balconies and birds...we've had this problem before. But we had a perfect view of the pool and grounds. Not too close! And we had the perfect amount of trees for shade. But, it was still 99 degrees! Wandering We had a couple hours until dinner. Don cooled off in the room, gabbing with the kids who called to wish him a Happy Dad Day! I braved the heat and wandered the grounds, enjoying the shade of live oaks and the sounds of splashing in the pool. I headed down Main Street, towards Salado Creek, then returned to make sure we had time to hit the pool before dinner. Pool Time Something about the trees and jungly growth and the retro motel building, took me back to my childhood years living in Florida. I was reminded of neighborhood pools, near my family's home in Tallahassee. Something about those retro chaise lounge chairs, resting under mod sunshades. But most of all it was the grass. It felt like 1967 and we were gathering with other families for a Father's Day BBQ!. There was a homey, or even camp-like atmosphere. Happy Hour on the Balcony After a little pool time, we headed back to our room in wet suits. We made use of the light, "serape robes" (that we've seen in other Bunkhouse Hotels) and covered our chairs. Our wet suits kept our bodies cool, while we sipped iced drinks and toasted to Don's 36th Father's Day. I promised we'd celebrate back home, the next day. The Pavilion On our way to dinner, we took our time checking out the brand new, spacious pavilion. There were lots of games that made me wish our kids were with us. Ping Pong, darts and giant Connect Four. Best of all there was lots of seating. Chairs and tables and couches, all in little gathering areas. For cool months, there was a fireplace built into the stone wall. For steamy summer days, there were big fans hanging down from the rafters! Western Club On the opposite side of the covered shelter, we found the Western Club. The inviting bar, was just steps from the pool. I was surprised that it wasn't open on a busy "holiday", but maybe the new space hasn't fully opened yet. I can see how this whole resort-camp vibe might be catching on very soon. Restaurant Time As we approached the restaurant, I had fun imagining this place back in the '50's when the Van Bibbers kept customers coming back for more deviled eggs and hushpuppies and Mrs. Van's Strawberry Kiss dessert! We could spot some obvious additions. Many were added by the Van Bibbers. The ramp with more chickenwire, looked new. In the 1800's It was fun to imagine what the inn was like, even further back in time. The south side of the building offered a good view of the chimney and veranda. We heard that Jesse James once stayed here. No proof of that, I'm afraid. Natural Vegetation The growth surrounding the inn, was lovely. The property claims to feature over 60 plant varieties. I'm guessing this live oak (that seems to be growing in 2 directions) was probably around before the inn. Inside Don and I headed inside and took a quick trip upstairs to peek at one of the original rooms. 180 years ago, travelers made good use of that stone fireplace in the winter. Local folklore says that General Sam Houston once stepped out onto the veranda to give a speech against secession from the Union.. We peeked in another upstairs room with the same appealing wood and stone. Dining on Sunday Evening The first floor of the inn is usually available for diners, but there were a.c. issues. I would have loved to have eaten in this room. I have no clue about the man in the portrait or the cash register. There seemed to be many images of Mr Van Bibber in other rooms. Lunch with the Ladies The Van Bibbers added dining spaces gradually in the 40's and '50's. I love the way they built around the oak tree! I wish I could go back in time and have lunch with some lady friends. We'd remove our white gloves and have a little iced tea with our sandwiches. Sunroom I wish Don and I could have enjoyed our dinner in this room, overlooking the grounds. It was full of diners when we first arrived, but it would have been a fun choice. Main Room The main dining room didn't have the historic charm of the old inn, but it had a nice open feel, with books and fireplace, a couch and a bar. But we were happy to have a table at all, on a busy Father's Day, in a touristy little town. Don celebrated well with pan-seared salmon, served with squash and zucchini. He was perfectly pleased. My traditional chicken fried steak barely fit on my plate. It had an incredibly crispy, flavorful crust and sweet onion gravy! Back We Go We didn't linger long. It had been a busy holiday at the hotel/restaurant and the staff had clearly put in a long day. We left happy and meandered back. The pavilion looked inviting even though the bar was closed. All to Ourselves And maybe it was lucky for us that the Western Club wasn't open. We had the pavilion to ourselves. Don got some wine from our room and we shared a glass, under a whirling fan. We were no longer bothered by the heat or the roar of I-35. What a fun and comfy space. Morning In the morning, Don and I rose early and headed off in search of coffee. The air had cooled and Main Street was quiet! We found a coffee shop and wandered with our cups, in both directions. There were lots of little photo ops and I clicked away. Salado Pics Here are a few from the evening before. Click to enlarge. And way too many photos from our morning walk! What a fun and artsy little town! What's Notable? We booked a room for about $150, and got plenty. We enjoyed our retro-hip-fifites motel room. We had dinner in a 181-year-old inn, with a totally different vibe. It was an interesting combination of 2 eras!, The jungly setting kind of tied it all together, with a casual resort feel! Cheers for a little pool time and quiet pavilion time and walking in town time.
We will definitely hit this place again! Hopefully before room rates rise high!
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Hotel Garza in Post, Texas This sturdy little no nonsense hotel, was our home for one night in June. The old railroad hotel has been sitting in this tiny Texas town for over 100 years. It's been on our Hotels to Try List, for just a few. Post, Texas Post is a curious place, but not exactly a vacation destination. But, since the town was right on our route home from Colorado, we booked a night. Drive-by in 2019 Most of the hotels on this blog were introduced to us by word of mouth or the internet. But The Garza showed itself to us, when we drove through Post 3 years ago. I snapped a photo from the car. This year when we pulled into town the hotel looked pretty much the same, except for a missing tree and a room addition. Easy Arrival We parked right in front and headed for the obvious entrance, with the awning. Small town hotel parking is such a treat! I noticed the door to the right, and guessed it belonged to our hosts. Owners who live onsite sometimes have good stories! Glass Block in 1916? As we headed to the door I realized I knew close to nothing about this old hotel, except that it opened in 1916. Before we headed in, I took a photo of the simple entry, wth lots of glass block. It prompted simple questions. Did they even have glass block in 1916? Did they add that in the '30's? I read later that Gustave Falconnier patented the first hollowed glass block in 1886. I love collecting little historic tidbits! Inside The Garza Don and I stepped inside at about 4 pm. We were greeted by some soft classical music and a strand of glowing lights. But no people. In the corner behind the desk, I spotted a camera, which most likely announced our arrival. A small sign told us to text, or press the buzzer for help. We buzzed. Waiting While we waited for the host, my eyes followed the shiny wood floors past the sofas and dining tables. I could see stairs heading up to what looked like a cozy, loft-like space. I later learned that the hotel's lower level, originally held a general store and dining room. The hotel rooms were above. Looking at this image with 14-foot pressed tin ceilings, I can imagine shelves holding dry goods... coffee, cornmeal and flour. I picture bolts of fabric and tools. I picture glass jars full of penny candy. I don't picture those two enormous chandeliers hanging down, though! They were very, very odd. I'd love to know their story. Host Arrives I was studying the old organ when Ms. T appeared wearing gym shorts and tee shirt. Our host's laid back look, made me hopeful that we might chat a while and I could get some hotel/town history. But Ms. T was reserved and efficient as she checked us in. She was quick to hand us our key and give us the scoop on wifi and breakfast. She walked us to the hall, pointed us towards our room, then disappeared into her private residence. Room 10 Our first floor room was one of 11 guest rooms. It was clean and neat, with its own pressed tin ceiling. Decent for $118. I appreciated having a ceiling fan and 2 bedside tables with lamps. There was a nice little craftsmen style desk and mirror. Room with a View The king size bed took up most of the room. There was another chair, but no real place to sit comfortably. Don sat on the bed and noticed right away that there was an odd tilt to the mattress. But we managed. We've camped on hills and slept in rocky boats... Our window had a view of the side garden. It was 98 degrees that afternoon, but I was still glad to know we had use of the patio. What was that black tubing in the gravel? Exploring Don and I had nothing but time. In fact we weren't sure how we could use up all the time. It was a little too warm for exploring town, so we set off to explore inside first. We left our room and headed for the stairs and loft. The stairs took us to the second story, with a stop along the way. Loft Library? I'm guessing that years ago, this little area was added, between the first and second floor. It gave us a good view of the ceiling. I wonder why we didn't curl up and read a book or play checkers? The space looks inviting in my photo, but the quiet room had an odd feel. Was it the low ceiling? Ceilings and Hall Surely we could have have eased into that space, if we'd given it some time. Now when I study the photo of Don, I fantasize about the creative fun we could have had, with those ornate ceilings... if we had misbehaved like the vandals did some years ago, when the hotel sat vacant. Don was tall enough, he wouldn't have needed spray paint. He could have played Michelangelo with a brush and a pallet of bright paint. He wouldn't have needed scaffolding or ladder! Just kidding. Don and I are courteous guests. We just wandered down the second story hallway and studied the antiques. I regretted not taking an upstairs guest room. This is the floor where guests slept 100 years ago, after arriving to Post by train. It was fun to imagine. We peeked in a few open rooms. I spotted a claw footed tub under a chandelier. That must be what the website meant, when they used the word elegant. The little kitchen area wasn't elegant, but it had fun, retro features and a handy microwave and fridge. I sort of kicked myself that we'd chosen a first floor room. It would have been less awkward being the only guests, if we'd been on the second floor. The Garden We gave up waiting for the weather to cool. I stepped out to check on the garden and Don gathered some ice and beverages. The brochure said, "Time outside is pleasant in the lighted waterfall garden." That sounded nice. But I could see the host family's addition had invaded on some of the guest space. I wasn't totally clear if the patio was for the owners, or the guests. I noticed festive lights, wrapping the trees' trunks and branches. I hoped the garden would be pleasant when the sun went down. Sadly, the waterfall was dry and the patio chairs were covered in bird droppings. I headed down towards the less shaded deck. I almost tripped over a black hose that snaked over the walk... and that's when I noticed dog dishes the messy gravel. It was clearly a dog poop zone. I felt like I'd walked into someone's private backyard. Nice! I headed down towards the newish deck near the rear of the yard. I spotted more hanging lights. That made the idea of sitting out after sunset, more inviting. I noticed an open gate on the back fence. I peeked in and saw an above ground pool, which is a little odd for a B&B. But I was wilting at that moment and the water looked welcoming. Then I pondered over the confusing words on the small sign. I determined that the pool was off limits to guests. Oh well. Don would be arriving with cold drinks soon. Cheers to Post! Don and I rarely turn down a hotel patio or porch, even in rain, or scorching heat. We were determined to make a toast to our hotel's history, which we knew nothing about. We snapped a photo with the camera timer. If we'd waited a moment longer, we could have asked Ms. T to take the photo, when she appeared from a backdoor. She seemed a little startled to see us on the deck. Or maybe she was perplexed, that we'd moved the chairs into the shade. As our host headed into the pool area, I quickly asked an important question. "Will the front door be locked if we come back late from dinner?" She answered without pausing. "It will be unlocked till 10." As she closed the gate behind her she added, "If you're later, just knock." Hmm? Luckily we had no big plans in Post that night. Fly Friends Don and I enjoyed our cold beverages while we listened to splashing sounds behind the fence. (swimming or pool cleaning?) We were amused by the flies that enjoyed Happy Hour with us. They reminded us that we were out in Texas cow/ranch country. 10 minutes later, Ms. T exited the pool area. I slowed her down with another question about the waterfall. As I feared the water feature was out of commission. Oh well. Post in the Evening Don and I actually had a great time on the deck. We did some history research on our phones and I got more curious the town. As the sun lowered, we headed off down Main Street. We had the Post to ourselves. Post actually has a somewhat bizarre connection to C.W. Post, of cereal fame. In the early 1900's Mr. Post bought land in the area, with some of his fortune. He attempted to create a Utopian community, with tidy homes and trees. The town would have no liquor or brothels. He worked at his dream for less than a decade, but ended up taking his own life in 1914. Sometimes history is sobering. Buildings and Bricks We had a fun time wandering the quiet town. We didn't see any perfect little houses anywhere, but we found interesting buildings. The old Post Dispatch looked like it had the same rounded glass block, as our hotel. The Tower Theatre looked like it had the similar brick work as The Garza. The town had a lot of tan brick, because Mr. Post's Scottish stone masons evidently liked working with them. Too Quiet We wandered to dinner and admired the impressively wide brick streets. A job done by WPA during the depression, I believe. It was 7:30 on a Saturday night. Stores were closed and we saw no one. I wanted to see a tumbleweed roll over those bricks! To & From Dinner We paused a couple times, so I could pose with the colorful sign and an oil pump. The working pump reminded me why the town had a pungent oil odor. We ate at George's, which was the only open restaurant. Greek-Mexican-BBQ! We meandered back down the empty, lonely street. The hotel was just as quiet. I peeked out to the garden and saw only one glowing strand of patio lights. We opted to enjoy our a.c. and a little TV. Morning By morning the temps had lowered and our moods had lifted. We were up and showered by 7, but the breakfast window was 8:30 to 9:15. We arrived 10 minutes early to grab coffee. I hoped the morning vibe would feel more relaxed and we could end up chatting with our hosts. But Ms. T was busy setting up the buffet. She looked up and I assured her we were just grabbing coffee. We left the buffet table alone and happily took our mugs to the couches. Pre-Breakfast Encounter! We were not the only guests as it turns out. We met Bill who was getting early coffee just like us. He looked like someone we just needed to have a chat with. We introduced ourselves and he gave Don a firm handshake and solid eye contact. (Don noted) I reached out and Bill took my hand and tipped his hat. I was honored. Turns out that Bill was "born and raised" in Post and was back visiting with his wife. He was the perfect person to fill us in on history. Not only did Bill have years of memories (he was about a decade older than me) but he was enthused and personable and definitely stylish, in his ostrich boots! The Hotel Bill chuckled about how wild Post was, back in the day. He teased that he knew that, since he had been one of the outlaws. He later got into law enforcement and knew quite a bit about our hotel in its darker years. I looked at the tidy hotel and tried to picture the space when it was vacant. (1970's?) Then I imagined the folks who made the empty hotel their home. Bill said that at one point, a "Lady of the Night" moved in. (He made sure I knew what that meant) Then the teenage boys in town started coming around and the law had to get involved. The hotel became vacant again. Eventually the hotel had a rebirth when the Plummers bought the property in 1991. Current owners have been here about a decade. Pondering Post After a good chat, Bill's wife joined him for breakfast. Don and I enjoyed ours, while we thought about all we'd learned. We pictured the town as Bill described it. He told us stories that his parents had told him. What a fun connection with a local! We wondered what would have happened to CW Post's town, if he'd been happier and healthier and lived longer. That's something we didn't discuss with Bill. Oh how I wish I could have had 3 hours with Bill. Good-bye Garza & Good-bye Post After breakfast we headed off. There was no formal check out, but I called to Ms. T behind the buffet table partition.. Told her we had a nice time and were on our way. I hope she heard me. It was a pretty morning and we drove all over town. Post has about 5,000 residents, but I actually don't remember seeing one. We drove all over the little town and I felt myself oddly connected to the curious place. (click pics to enlarge) We saw the old train station and the Sanitarium, which is now a museum. We stopped to see the old site, where Postex Cotton Mill had been! We learned of a random family connection, when we read about Ely Walker Dry Goods buying the mill in the 1940s. "Ely & Walker" is part of my family history, as well as both Bush presidents. My Triple Great Uncle, Frank Ely was in business with G.W. Bush's Great Great Grandfather, David Davis Walker! There you have it. What's Notable? Initially I felt a little disappointed. The hotel was actually fine, but there was nothing that made it stand out. When that is the case, it's the people you meet that make the hotel stay memorable. I wanted some inside scoop to help me remember our stay. Or something funny or thought provoking! But I wasn't getting anywhere with our hosts. That's okay. This is the third pandemic summer. I'll give them a break. We never know what's going on in people's lives. I do know that I'll have fond memories now. Our visit with Bill did the trick. So, I'll remember The Garza as a simple and decent hotel, where we met a wonderful local and absorbed some entertaining history... that led to family history!
We Slept Here Don and I have spent a couple decades exploring Texas. I've always loved our oddball discoveries. In 2014 we spotted this crazy looking spaceship house, on Galveston Island. I snapped this photo and didn't wonder for a moment what it would be like to spend the night inside. But last month, we had our chance. Locals call this iconic structure, the Kettle House. It was built in the 1960's as a steel storage tank, for an oil and gas company. It was never used, so the welder who worked on it, bought it and moved it. He had hoped to turn it into a convenience store. But, that didn't happen. Kettle House Airbnb In recent years, the vacant property was purchased and renovated into a rental. In February 2022, Don and I spent a couple nights in the renovated structure. The quirky Kettle still looked out of place, sitting along San Luis Pass Road. But the bowl-shaped building had clearly been spiffed up. Arrived! We parked on the concrete slab and took a good look. Sadly there was no balmy-beach weather to greet us when we arrived. It was a blustery-cold, afternoon. The winds whipped, as we headed upstairs to the second level. I fumbled with the door code for a while, before calling Michael. Who's Michael? When I looked into booking, I thought Michael was just the owner of the Airbnb property. I learned more. Michael and his wife Ashely own the Kettle House, but they do much more than rent out properties. They also have an HGTV renovation show, called Big Texas Fix. During our stay, we made use of the flatscreen TV, mounted to the smooth cedar walls. We searched for the show and watched the episode featuring the Kettle House. It was pretty fun watching the complicated renovation, while sitting inside the finished product! I wish they'd added a handle and spout, though! Round Room So back to arrival. After Michael gave me the correct code, Don and I were able to step inside our little oasis. The open round space was divided into pie-shaped areas. In the center of the circle, was the spiral staircase that led to the lower level. Sleek Modern I couldn't stop grinning at the snazzy interior, filled with Mid-century Modern decor. It felt like something out of The Jetson's cartoon. It looked like we were in a giant barrel, made of knotty cypress boards. Luckily they added more windows, so it didn't feel dark or claustrophobic. Clean White Kitchen Ashley and Michael decided to incorporate 1960's era decor, since that was the decade when the Kettle House came to be. I loved all the sleek white, in the kitchen. The backsplash looked clean and happy, with those geometric flowers! The narrow fridge was just plain cute. There was even a collection of snacks for us and a whiteboard message, welcoming us. The upper level of the Kettle was made up of 5 room slices. We spent much of our lounging time on this mod couch. Or should I say divan or davenport? I grew up in the 1960's, but my family home never had such cool lighting or chairs. The orange chair cushion lifted up, to reveal a storage area! Cool! Entertainment There was a TV, but we hardly turned it on. We actually read books and magazines, found on the coffee table and the bi-level end table. We enjoyed cocktails and played ukuleles. No worries about annoying neighbors! Cheers to that! Time for Bed The triangular bedroom was pretty cute. There was just enough room for a queen bed and 2 nightstands. Instead of a headboard, there was a curious cushion, strapped to the wall. The clever little design sort of masked the curved wall issue. Deluxe Bathroom The bathroom had a clean, beach-y feel, with the bleached walls and white ceiling. The drawers beneath the sink were filled with supplies. A first aid kit and complimentary toothbrushes, razors and more. Nice! It's hard to tell, but the oddly shaped shower was humongous! I spotted more of that wonderful flower tile! And how about that roll of toilet paper! It took me a while to realize that was supposed to look like a button-down shirt. Round and Round To reach the lower half of the Kettle House, we headed for the middle of the room. The spiral staircase was partially enclosed, by more cedar boards. I've done some spiral staircases in my time, but this seemed more disorienting than ever. Caution, don't attempt in bare feet. Ouch! Below Deck The lower level space felt like the inside of a boat. If only we'd had a couple kids in tow. Kids would love having this fun lower level to themselves. They would love swaying in those chair swings. They'd be so excited to climb the stairs to those bunks, nestled into the wall! Or would they? Maybe they'd be excited about sleeping in the bottom of the big bowl, until it got dark and late and quiet. They might feel like me when I was excited about sleeping in a pup tent in the backyard as a kid. It was always fun at first... before it got scary. Escape And if the kids are old and brave enough to handle sleeping in a wooden salad bowl, they might be old enough to sneak out the exit. I'm curious about how many people have slept down here, below deck. I thought the blackout curtains were a nice touch. Outdoor Space Besides the upper and lower interior areas, there was tons more space for lounging, outside. If the skies had cleared we could have watched a sunset or sunrise from the upper deck. The view wasn't exactly ideal, looking out over the road and some houses on stilts. But we knew the beach was just beyond. Lots of Seating There was seating and a grill on the lower patio. But it was too chilly for that. On the deck above, the rockers and tables were scattered about. I lined them up nicely, but looked out later and found them scattered again. Poltergeist? No. Just powerful wind! On our first morning, I was determined to make use of those wonderful rockers. I put on my blanket-poncho and headed out with coffee and a book. I lasted about as long as it took to snap a photo. Too cold! Food and Games Luckily we brought games and books and lots of food for hunkering down. Game playing in the Kettle, was extra fun with a bag of Kettle Corn! It was especially cozy because the winds were howling outside. It felt like the Kettle was a sturdy boat and we were out at sea! It also felt like we were out at sea (or drunk) because the floors were a little slanted. We tested with a water bottle and it rolled from the center of the room, to the wall! Within Walking Distance It never warmed up, but we made use of our location anyway. One morning I crossed the road and took a jog on the beach. No one there but me and a few seagulls! In the early evening we walked the opposite direction towards the bay. We passed some impressive jungle trees! And we ended up at "Waterman's" just in time for Happy Hour. It was too windy for drinks and appetizers on the deck, but we had a great view of the water from our inside table. Evening at the Kettle The wind blew us back to the Kettle before dark. I couldn't help but wonder how this ole Kettle handled Hurricane Ike and other storms in recent years. Funny because the Kettle isn't on stilts like all the other houses. Ready to Go We had two nights at the Kettle and that was just about right. On the second morning we took our time packing up. Before we took off, I made sure to add a comment card to the wall display. Don pulled a photo sticker from his wallet so I could personalize our fine message! What's Notable? There are two ways I'll remember our stay in Galveston's iconic Kettle House. 1- I left feeling like I'd been on a trip out to sea. The wind and isolation, the surrounding deck and woozy-slanty floor and the bunkhouse, below deck! All those things helped create a fun boat adventure feel, to our stay. 2 - There was a salty-sweet feel to our stay. That's a good thing. I loved the balance between the sweet luxury, top notch renovation and the salty-wacky history of the original steel Kettle!
A perfect blend, just like Kettle Corn. What a fun stay! Castroville, Texas For years, Don and I have been intrigued with the Alsatian town of Castroville. The European-style village was established by 27 people in 1844. We finally got to spend a night in Castroville and we slept at the Landmark Inn State Historic Site. Sleeping in a Museum I love sleeping in a museum! The original building where we slept, goes back to 1849. That was when Cesar and Hannah Monod built a one-story L-shaped residence. The structure also housed a store, post office and stage stop. Stage stop? I need to learn more about that history. In 1853, John and Rowena Vance bought the property and built an expansion and second story. Today In 1925, the Lawler Family bought the property, along with its gristmill. The hotel was renamed "Landmark Inn" in 1942. Ruth Lawler donated the site to the State of Texas in 1974. Lucky for us, since it has been preserved well and we were able to stay at the inn/museum, in May 2021. #1 Room We checked in at the gift shop in the afternoon. David greeted us wearing a mask and going over their Covid safety measures. Even though much of Texas had been easing up, the museum and inn was extremely cautious. Our room had stayed vacant the night before, in prep for our stay. Signs of Old We were staying in the only downstairs room at the inn. It was simple and spacious and immaculately clean. Our room had no TV or coffee maker and we were fine with that. It did have a nice copper ice bucket though. And the thick walls gave us impressively deep, shelf-like windowsills. Back Window The no frills bathroom was also spotless, but we were happy to have it. The bathroom window looked out on the Monod's original detached kitchen and the stone wash house. We were glad we didn't have to walk out back get washed up. The Grounds The grounds were pretty on a May afternoon. The white building in the far back was the Vance House, built in 1859. I walked down the dirt path past some garden plots, to get a good look at our 2-story inn. Exploring After checking in, Don and I explored more of the grounds. We found the grist mill that processed wheat, cotton and lumber over the years. The Dam and Mill It was just a quick walk to see the Medina River, which was dammed back in 1854. The water powered mill once produced cornmeal for the U.S. Army stationed in nearby forts. The mill was the industrial center of Castroville until the 1920's. Quiet and picturesque, today. Vance House The home where the Vance family once lived, now holds a number of guest rooms. It was fun to peek inside the old Vance parlor, where inn guests were given breakfast in recent years. We could have lounged around the tables with books or games, but the weather was too nice. The Porch Don and I were determined to enjoy the weather and use the porch. David had tipped me off that no other guests were staying in our building, so we were excited to have the whole space to ourselves. The porch was just as fresh and clean as our room downstairs. We sat on the green rockers and looked out over the grounds while we chatted and enjoyed the breeze. For dinner, we walked to town and ate at a Mexican restaurant. Perfect! Wandering in Town Don and I got up early and walked around the sleepy little town. What a curious area, with many of the homes built in the style of Alsace, where many of the original residents were from. The community felt quiet and peaceful on a Saturday morning. Breakfast on the Way Out Our stay at the Landmark Inn, came with two breakfast coupons at another hotel. It wasn't within walking distance, so stopped in, on our way out of town. The rain held off and we had a huge feast on the deck! It was a pleasant way to end our visit to Castroville. What's Notable? Our quiet stay at the Landmark Inn, was pretty glorious. We had a nice visit to the inside museum, (through the green doors, near the poppies) and we did a little shopping at the gift shop. That was a bonus to our stay. But mostly, I'll remember enjoying the pretty grounds, on a spring evening. I loved wandering the grounds and I loved viewing them from above, in our rocking chairs. The combination of historic inn and historic town, was just lovely.
Gonzales, Texas We spent the third night of our "back to road trips" adventure, in Gonzales. We stayed at the Dilworth Inn Bed & Breakfast. The inn sits on one of the corners, of the old town square. It's not an historic hotel, but it's housed in an old bank building from 1912. A Bank in 1912 The historic Dilworth Building, once held a bank. At one time, it held Gilmer's Department store. At some point, it housed a church. The original interior looks impressive... and Texan. In this photo, you can spot longhorn and deer heads, mounted on the far walls. Entrance The small town of Gonzales has some interesting history, but it doesn't exactly draw crowds of tourists. That's why it was easy to park right in front, near the side entrance. It looked neat and tidy and I was curious to see what a small town, boutique hotel was like. Lobby By Day 3, Don and I had already tested the post-pandemic travel waters. Actually the pandemic did not end, when the 2 of us got vaccinated. So for this trip, we just put on our masks whenever we headed inside anywhere. It's easier to just wear them, than to waste time overthinking mask usage. The owner Tiffany, was working behind the desk when we arrived. Her name sort of fit the style of the decor. That doesn't make sense. There were no Tiffany lamps. But Tiffany did decorate with some festive colors and appealing mirrors and lamps. Ladies Hotel? The lobby had a Ladies Spa feel about it. No criticism there. It just felt like a Boutique Hotel that was catering to women. That's really sexist. But I think there probably are more women who find boutique hotels and B & Bs appealing. Luckily Don doesn't cringe at either, like some men. Like me, he's just happy when old buildings are preserved. And we appreciated it even more when we talked to Tiffany and heard her story of moving here 5+ years ago and being passionate about preserving some history. It was nice to hear her enthusiasm about the town and how its improvements. Men in the Hall Tiffany showed us to the small elevator. As we stepped inside, she cringed at some muddy footprints on the carpet. She made a comment about the oil men who were renting some rooms, then headed off to get a vacuum. We got off on the second floor. I didn't spot any Antiquing Ladies or Bunco Gals, but we did greet a couple of the very polite men, wearing boots with caked mud from the oil fields. They left a little behind on Tiffany's carpet, near the coffee station. Moments later, we could hear Tiffany's vacuum. Room 2 The inn has 14 rooms and we got the prize room. We aren't usually able to afford the best room in a hotel, but this was just over 100 bucks! I love a corner room, especially when there's a rounded window. From the Street Our corner room faced the southeast. We had a total of 5 tall windows. 3 facing the stoplights and the 2 arched windows to the left. Modern Decor This photo better shows the rounded wall. I'm guessing this was once office space on the second floor. Bank President? Sometimes I like authentic and sometimes I'm happy with modern updates. The new carpet (no mud) and modern king bed, bedside tables and TV, were all welcome. Window Views Our rounded window looked out towards the town square. The streetlights and wires, were the first thing we saw. I didn't get a photo of the "Come and Get It" bar across the street. Much further away, we could spot the courthouse, which is pretty impressive when you get a closer look. Another View There was a tall window in the bathroom. When the thick velvet drapes were pulled we had a different view. This Madonna and Child would have been a jolt, if I hadn't noticed it when we parked. It was actually a sweet thing to see. Long Bathroom The bathroom was curiously long and narrow. I really loved having the bench for my stuff. All was very clean and roomy. Lazy Dinner Our dinner was just an elevator ride away. La Bella Tavola was right below us. Don picked up our pasta sampler dinner and we ate in our room. I'm kind of sad we skipped eating in the dining room. That was the original bank space and I missed out on an opportunity for snooping. I love peeking around and comparing the then and now. Morning The town went to sleep early, so we slept well in our room on the square. We got up early and wandered in the cooler morning temps. The giant "Come and Take It" flag was waving as we passed. This was a reminder that Gonzales is the home to the first battle of the Texas Revolution. It was 1835, when the Mexican army demanded Gonzales return the cannon they'd given the community, few years before. The Texans refused and a flag like this, greeted 100 Mexican soldiers when they arrived in Gonzales. Sounds like a movie! Maybe there is one? Come and Crepe It Our B & B offered breakfast, but we had to Go and Take It at a breakfast cafe a few doors down. Tiffany and her husband Alex, recently opened this cute breakfast place just a few steps away from the hotel. The building is from the 1800's. Older than the Dilworth building. It was cozy and comfy, with its twinkly lights. Alex Alex made our crepes and it was fun watching. He was very chatty and personable, while he did some pouring and swirling and spinning and flipping. That means he really knew what he was doing. I can't talk and cook. We could have chosen omelets or other breakfast treats, but Don and I both wanted the crepe experience. Don had the Prestige, with smoked salmon. I of course had to try the Come and Take It, with chicken, bacon, mozzarella, creamy dill and BBQ sauce! Both were delicious! Around Town We walked off breakfast, by wandering around the main square and a little further. We window shopped and peeked in at the old jail. We spotted King's Service Station, that's been run by the same family since it opened in 1940. I found some old houses that I wouldn't mind living in and I eyed some antique stores that I'll visit next time. It was a nice way to end our visit. What's Notable? This town of around 7,000, doesn't have a whole lot going on. We didn't really need to stay more than a night. But I'm glad we stopped. It was nice to feel comfy and safe in our second floor room, looking down on the old town. I liked being able to park on the street and walk to breakfast. I liked that it wasn't noisy at night. (maybe weekends?) I liked that our hosts were enthused about their inn and restaurant and the town of Gonzales. It was a simple little getaway that was well worth 110 bucks!
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Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
December 2023
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