It was also a rainy day, when Don and I arrived at the same entrance. We were meeting good friends and going to a very special wedding that night. Spirits were also high. But I couldn't ignore the history and the gloomy weather didn't help.

​Open Since 1921

Once we stepped inside, it was easy to forget that our hotel was where President Kennedy spent his last night. The modern 2-story lobby, with escalator and horse statues didn't look at all like a hotel from 1963 or 1921 for that matter.

​Room on the 12th Floor

But when the elevator doors opened to the 12th floor, we were faced with another reminder of that day. Our room was right beside the framed photograph. But I was very much okay with that. I'm always interested in hotel history, even if the history is bittersweet. 

Windows and Art

​Our room was spacious and comfortable with large windows, which I always love. 

A framed print in the bathroom, showed "Hotel Texas" as it might have looked in 1963. The artwork in the guest room was just good old, Hilton Art. However, in '63, the Kennedy's suite was specially decorated for their visit, with 16 original masterpieces from Picasso to  Monet.

The View

Don and I don't usually get to enjoy the bonus perks at hotels, so we were happy to join our good friends in the Executive Lounge for a little relaxing. We sat near some western belt buckle decor and enjoyed some yummy afternoon nibbles.

Classy

We even dressed for the Executive Lounge occasion... well at least Don did. (Always pack a 2-dollar bowtie, just in case!)

In the evening, we 4 spiffed up a bit and headed off for our special evening. If only the weather hadn't been so lousy, we would have made use of one of the hotel's best perks...the location. Our hotel was in walking distance to the church and wedding venue, as well as numerous restaurants and hot spots.

Morning

After joining our friends for breakfast, we said our good-byes and packed up. But before Don and I headed off, we took some time to do a little more exploring.  

The Eighth Floor

We rode the elevator to the 8th floor, just to remember. The Kennedy's Suite in 850, not longer exists. Renovations broke up the original 3-room suite, long ago. We could have booked Room 808, which is now a standard room in that area. Or we could have gone all out and booked the 2,200 sq ft Presidential Suite, which looks nothing like the "Oriental Modern" decor in the Kennedy's suite.

​The Crystal Ballroom

Then Don and I peeked in the Crystal Ballroom, that had been a new addition in 1963. The President gave his last address at a breakfast in the ballroom, on that November morning. Over 2,000 attended. Today's ballroom has the same name, but looks nothing the same.

The Mezzanine

We exited the ballroom on the second floor and headed to the Promenade, along the front of the building. At both ends, we found a display of photos and articles about the Kennedy's brief stay at the hotel.

More Photos

As we studied the photos, I wondered how many hotel visitors have stopped to look. How many guests find it too painful to be reminded of the tragic event, that happened after these photos were taken?

Memorial Plaza

The mood was obviously different than that cold day in D.C., when I stood with my family at age 6, watching the flag draped casket pass.

​I was glad to remind myself that I was standing beside a hotel, where crowds once cheered and waved as the Kennedys climbed into their car. Nothing sad occurred here. 
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Even though Don and I live in Texas, we decided to have a Texas-style Notable Night. Staying at the Stockyards Hotel was a good way to soak up some of the cowboy history of Fort Worth... and a good excuse to wear our cowboy boots.

Built in 1907

I can only imagine the characters who ate, drank and slept in this hotel when it opened in 1907. By the time the hotel was completed, the Fort Worth Stockyards had already been bustling with cowboys and cattle for a couple of decades.  
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Cowboys Today

I was pretty delighted to step inside the lobby and see a few cowboy hats and boots. These were not employee costumes. There just happen to be a lot of boot & hat wearing people in Fort Worth.

Quiet in the Lobby

Since we were on the second floor, we took the stairs most of the time. I was amused by the longhorn images on the carpet. I made sure to say hello to the large portrait of Will Rogers, on the landing.

Rockers

We didn't get a chance to sit-a-spell on these rockers on the second floor. They were near a curious atrium, with a skylight. I know there was a "new" addition in 1913. I'm guessing we were looking at the exposed walls, where the original and newer buildings connected.

Our Western Room #203

We may not have had the Bonnie and Clyde Room, but we did ask for a Western Style Room, (there was a choice) facing Exchange Avenue. The light shining through the shutters looked a little like bullet holes...

Some Surprises

It's always fun to find something in your hotel room that you've never had in any other hotel. I am pretty sure I've never had a  boot removing tool in my hotel room! I'm also sure there's a better name for that tool.

I've seen a lot of western style lamps in my time, but I did appreciate the nice wall and table lamps in our room. A sturdy, horseshoe & spur combo, with rawhide shades! Also, the thick, diner style mugs were nice. We filled them at the coffee bar in the lobby.

Cowboy Bed

The luxury pillows kind of hid the cowhide headboard. A furry headboard might be a first for us.

Lots of Wood

The wooden tank with pull chain, was not original and that's probably a good thing. The large wardrobe that held the TV was a nice touch. (I appreciate being able to hide the TV)  The wooden rocker was kind of sweet... with a nice hanging lamp, or lace filtered window light, for reading.

The View

I didn't get a photo of our exact view, but our 2 windows looked down on the White Elephant Saloon, across the brick street. There was always a little activity to amuse me, especially the saloon guests on horseback.

Our Own Saloon

Just off the lobby was the hotel's saloon, Booger Red's. I'm not sure who he was, but he had a strange name. The Buffalo Butt Beer, advertised on the mirror, also had an odd name. I'm guessing that happens to be a buffalo's behind, sticking out from the mirror.

​From Floor to Ceiling

The Stockyards attract a lot of tourists, but locals come too. You can tell the locals because they don't snap pictures of the mounted longhorn or the saddle barstools. Don and I have eaten lunch in this bar before, but I still stared at everything like a first time tourist.

Afternoon Entertainment

If you're going to stay in the Stockyards, it's ridiculous not to take advantage of the perks. Don and I enjoyed the afternoon Cattle Drive, coming down Exchange street at 4:30. Fort Worth's stockyards are the last standing stockyards in the U.S., after all!

Evening Entertainment

Later in the evening, we made it over to Billy Bob's, which claims to be the "World's Largest Honky Tonk," at 100,00 square feet. We enjoyed some beer and joined a free line dance class. If it had been Saturday, we could have watched some live bull riding, in their indoor arena.

Back at the Hotel 

​We ended the evening with a late dinner at the hotel's H3 Ranch Restaurant. I was pretty thrilled when the hostess steered us towards the booth, below 3 buffalo heads. 

It's kind of sad that we didn't have bigger appetites, since the restaurant gets such good reviews for their steak. But the meal of tacos, salad and soup was perfect. We had to wait a while for a fresh loaf of bread, but it was piping hot and worth it.

Morning

Luckily we slept well in our cowboy room. If it had been a weekend, I'm sure the street below would have been louder.

I rose early and snuck out to walk on the brick streets before the area got lively. I didn't get out early enough to avoid the delivery trucks, though. It was Friday, of Labor Day Weekend and the shops and saloons were getting geared up.

What's Notable?

I'm so glad we finally had a night at the Stockyards Hotel. I've always been curious. But my memories will actually be more about the wandering, than the hotel itself. From the man who does boot shines on the corner... to the young guy who will let you sit on his longhorn for $5... to the man in the White Elephant Saloon, who claims to be Wild Bill Hickcock... we met some curious souls! Staying at the comfy, hotel gave us the time to explore. I'm good with that!

It was the Big Texan Steak Ranch (and it's very fine sign) that lured us. 

The "Steak Ranch"

We weren't fooled by the Disney-bright facade, or the website's words about old west charm. For less than $80. we geared ourselves up for a motel-kind-of-overnight.

Longhorn Limo
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If guests forget their room numbers like I often do, they can help spot their room by the surrounding door decor! I would have preferred the pink teardrop motif!

Plywood Walls and Saloon Doors!

​​Our room definitely had the musty smell, that most older motels have. But I was willing to ignore that, to enjoy the fine features of our room.

I had to chuckle at the walls. We've had motels with knotty pine, but this plywood-look was unique. The saloon doors were a hoot. They actually led to a good-sized dressing area and a nicely updated bathroom. The clunky swingers would have driven me crazy if we'd stayed longer. But they were pretty fun and inspired me to dress the part for dinner.

Texas Beds and Horse Lamp

The lone star headboards looked pretty Texan. The spreads and shams had a lot going on, with faux suede and pillow tassels.

Mural and TV

The flatscreen-tv-world never works with themed decor. This TV looked pretty silly, next to the windmill and cattle drive. If only we'd had a chance to search for an old western movie channel, we might have made the TV fit the scene!
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We did have a nice little western table set, beneath the window. And our view of the Big Moo Statue, was framed by our plywood shutters. We've never had a motel view like that.

Cooling Off

We knew there was a Texas shaped pool and we expected it to be full of families. Don made drinks and we were determined to enjoy our first TX-Pool, no matter the crowds. But we had it to ourselves.
 
Behind Don

Towards the rear of the complex was a whole different style of motel building. The bell and balcony and pink stucco, looked like an old building in Mexico. The murals were pretty festive, as well.

Taking in the Scene

As we lounged, we took in the oddity of it all. The parking lot began to fill and then I grew giddy, with the arrival of some important guests! I eyed the truck and trailer, parked in front of the office!

Before hitting the pool, I had already checked the stables, back behind the pink building. I was disappointed to find the stalls empty. However, I did see plenty of semitrailers and buses in the massive lot, nearby.    

Watching
​

As soon as I saw the truck and trailer pull away from the office, I grabbed my camera and waited near the horse hotel, for the show.

​Girls and Horses

A mom and 2 teens  had been traveling 24 hours from Big Sky, Montana. They were exhausted but worked efficiently, moving the horses out and into their stalls. The fact that the one of the horses had won third place in a 3-day horse show, kept their spirits up. They were a tired, but happy bunch.

 Over at the Steak Ranch

Our Big Texan dining experience in 2017 was just a quick lunch on the road. Don and I were determined to make use of our motel stay and take in all that was offered at the Ranch House, next door. We headed over, giving Big Moo a big wave. 

Beer and Tunes

​Don and I skipped the arcade and gift shop and headed for leather bar stools. We hardly fit the bar scene in our shorts, but the cowboy hat crowd accepted us, just fine. The strolling musicians were fun. We requested a Hank Williams song. We didn't sing along, but smiled, applauded and tipped.

At the bar we chatted with a couple who had been RV-ing for 2 years. Frank, who sported a foot long beard, shared stories of fighting fires at Mount St. Helen's... which was interesting to think about, when we visited the famous volcano a week later.

More New Friends

Before thinking about dinner, we gave ourselves a little time to explore the enclosed patio area. I did my proper posing in a giant rocker and Don checked out the red stage coach. Then we figured we'd put on our western clothes and head to dinner.  
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There was no western dress code requirement, but Don and I are firm believers that costumes and props raise all dining and hotel adventures. We dressed (a bit) for dinner.

Beer & Bolo

We did get to watch a dapper young guy in a cowboy hat complete the task in 36 minutes. He stood on the raised platform while a bell rang and the dining room applauded. Another guy in a ball cap remained at the table, while the glowing timer counted seconds, beside him. He gave up with 5 minutes to go.

​

It was a treat to stroll back to our funny little room. It was actually a pretty quiet night, despite being close to the freeway.

An Added Adventure
​

We totally took advantage of our motel location, to get up before sunrise and drive 10 minutes to enjoy a crazy "Cadillac Ranch" photo op! This crazy thing is worth Googling or visiting. And in July, a sunrise visit is your best bet if you don't want to inhale the fumes from spray paint artists.

This scene looks pretty lame when you think of African safari excursions... sleeping in lamp-lit tents, pitched in the expansive grasslands of Kenya or Zambia. (And yes, my sister has experienced that as well and I'm just  a little jealous) But this place was a hoot and Don and I made a spontaneous decision to just go for a night.

Our Cabin

This funny little 2-bedroom cabin with a tree growing out of the deck, was our home for the night. It totally cracked me up that our cabin was surrounded by 137 acres of critter inhabited land. Evidently 700 animals, (over 50 species) could mosey up to the fence and have a look at us, sitting on our porch!  

Our Friends

These are our buddies who followed our tram. The guided tram tour price was $16. per adult. Since our $130. cabin included the tour, we really paid less than 100 bucks for our cabin. The whole experience was totally worth it, at least for this happy birthday gal!

Living in Harmony

It was so fun seeing the zebras and deer and camels and ostriches, all hanging out. Nothing like a good feast (or thrown feed) to bring a gang together!

The Favorite

I can't claim that Gomar is just my favorite. Don and I had to share the love of this charmer, who delighted a couple other families who joined us on the tram.  He is known as the kissing camel and I'm afraid Don wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch my big kiss.

Don and His Buddy

We were glad we purchased a bucket of feed before boarding the tram.  We did make a few extra friends with our offerings. Don especially loved this sweet buffalo!

More Followers

It was a cloudy Monday morning when we made the quick decision to rent a cabin and take a tour.  I have no idea how busy the "zoo" is on weekends and summer, but our tram was the only vehicle traveling the land. It was nice to see animals with interest! They happily followed our small group, since we had no competition.

The sweet beasts didn't seem frantic to rush towards us for handouts. If they had, I'd have worried over them getting fed enough. They just seemed pleased to see us as they followed along.

The pleasant temps made  our 45 minute tram ride enjoyable. Our guide gave us lots of info, but mostly we all just enjoyed the numerous stops, when we got to lean over the railing and do some patting and feeding. What a treat, that the predicted rains held off until our tour was done! 

More Space Than Needed

Our little cabin had some dated furniture, but it was clean and the cedar and antler decor was fitting. (Gotta love an antler towel rack) There were 2 rooms to choose from and we picked the one with the a.c. unit, that hummed us to sleep. There was a fridge and coffee maker and windows looking out over the pool and porch.

The Pool

Had it been summer, we might not have enjoyed having a pool so close.  This is a "resort" that attracts families, of course. But the pool was quiet and Don and I found a couple of lounge chairs on the pool deck to relax with some wine, while we watched the sun peek out of the clouds... and set, just over the kangaroos.

Our View 

Don and I have had many memorable happy hours, at our unusual accommodations over the years. This one will go down as one of the oddest. I mean odd in a good way. We've never had a chance to sip wine on a porch or veranda, while being entertained by kangaroos!

Other Beasts at the Cabins

The cabin guests had their own petting zoo area and I fell in love with the donkey. Don was fond of the kangaroo that seemed to communicate through the fence.

While we were visiting the kangaroo, we were lucky enough to meet Marilyn who started this zoo with her husband nearly 30 years ago. She chatted with between a few chores and told us how the friendly little kangaroo had been raised in their home. She said she was very tempted to get some adult diapers and bring her back in the home.  We spent a lot of time hearing how the couple from Louisiana started this Texas Hill Country zoo, years ago.

Morning

Don and I slept well with rain pouring down on the metal roof. It stopped enough in the morning for me to have a quick visit with a few animals.  Then I sat on the porch, drinking coffee, while the rain gushed some more. In the distance, I could see some buffalo pushing through the sheets of rain.

What's Notable?

Mostly, I'm going to remember, I got kissed by a camel!

Once inside, it was hard to believe we were in an old building. The boutique hotel is only about 10 years old and has a totally modern feel.   

By late afternoon, The Lounge Restaurant & Bar was covered in purple, green and gold decor, for a private Mardi Gras/Birthday party. I guess we could have crashed.  ​

We headed for our room and I took this shot from the elevator, looking through the hall to the lobby. More curves and colors.

Our Room

Our suite was one of 314 rooms at Magnolia.

I failed to capture a good shot of the room. It was much more spacious and attractive than the photos show. I might add, the room was peaceful at night. No sounds from the big party below.

Extras

Coming in from the suburbs, we hardly needed the spacious 2-part bath and the fridge/cooking area. But no complaints.

2 Windows

The modern suite gave no hints of the building's past.  But the window-hook gave a tiny clue that this building was in use, back before air-conditioning. I could picture open windows and newsmen, pacing back and forth with ties loosened, while typewriters clicked nearby...
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​On Top

Even though it was February, Don and I packed swimwear and spent time on the roof reading around the pool. The pool was small, but the view was big. 

Better at Night

We returned to the roof in the evening to see the view and it was even better.  The lit up buildings and distant ferris wheel were festive on a balmy winter evening.

Since the hotel restaurant was being used for the private party, we walked down to another historic hotel for dinner. We were the only ones dining at Hotel Lancaster when our waiter snapped this photo. The packed cafe had emptied just before 8 pm, when the entire lot headed across the street to Alley Theatre. Later, we took our time heading back to Magnolia, stopping at the historic Rice Hotel for jazz and dancing. So much, within walking distance!

Cookies and Milk?

When we returned to  Magnolia,  the complimentary Cookie and Milk Bar had just been put away. But a lovely staff person, trotted back to the fetch us some chocolate chip cookies and we made coffee in the room.

Morning

In the morning we took a walk around downtown, studying other old buildings. When we returned, I looked up and noticed the ornate top of our hotel's structure. I had to zoom in with my camera to see that those were indeed lion head gargoyles, above the rows of pilasters.   Why did they put all the good stuff up so high? 

In January, I got to add a totally different kind of overnight to the list, when Don and I spent the night in a museum! But more incredible than that, our museum overnight was part of a Spanish Colonial Mission/Fortress, dating back to 1749.

After getting our key from a museum employee, we found the thick wooden door that lead to our "apartment" for the night. The door opened to a space that had once been officer's quarters.

The furniture looked a little old... as in Grandma's house. But the decor looked pretty new, considering what we would have found here 268 years ago. There were no creaky floors like some historic hotels. I loved the solid feel of the little apartment, with brick floors, thick stone walls and wood beamed ceiling.

Cooking & Dining  

There was a decent little kitchen and a table in the living room. Some might find it a bit unappetizing to dine under the framed flag image. But after a while I stopped noticing the Goliad flag, featuring the severed arm and bloody sword. There were so many images of that arm in the museum and courtyard, I stopped being jolted by it.

The stone walls were too thick to holler through, but we did have a couple of handy wall openings between rooms. I'm guessing the interior windows helped with ventilation back when the priests lived here. They also made the place feel a little less cave-like.

Master Bedroom

From the kitchen, we just walked through a set of saloon doors to reach the room with the double bed. The "kids room" with twin beds, was on the other side of the living room. We found a fan that we turned on for noise, before bed. We both agreed we'd rather hear the hum and not be awakened to debate over every ghostly sound in the night. 

Backdoor 

The door (near lamp) at the rear of The Quarters, opened into the church courtyard. Our door and walls weren't thick enough to keep out the sound of the church bells every 15 minutes. But, that's okay. The bells made a wonderful sound, then took a rest at 9 pm, after playing a lovely song. I wish I'd made a recording.

Our Lady of Loreto Chapel

This lovely church built in 1779, was what we saw when we opened our back door. Unlike the fort, the church suffered little damage during the Texas Revolution. It was hard to believe this peaceful church played such a sad role.

Goliad Massacre
The path from the church lead up to a raised corner turret, with a cannon aimed outward. It was a reminder of the fort's gory past.

The little church still opens for mass each Sunday. It wasn't a Sunday, but the church was open and I lit a candle for ALL those who suffered here, nearly 200 years ago. It's sad to imagine the Texian soldiers being held captive inside this very chapel.

Time to Enjoy

After the museum closed at 5, we had the fort grounds to ourselves. There was a lot of heavy stuff to ponder when all was quiet, but we chose to take our chairs out to the east wall and focus on the sunset.

Inside the Fort Walls

The large courtyard was peaceful. I chose to think about the time when la Presidio was a Spanish mission and the courtyard was actually filled with tents. It was too eerie thinking about Colonel Fannin, the last to be killed. It was in this very courtyard where he was shot.

Sunset

The fort is on the hilltop, so the sun disappeared quickly behind the wall. The wind began to blow and a nearly full moon began to rise behind us. 

A Cozier Courtyard

We moved our chairs to the smaller (and brighter) courtyard. A spotlight shined on the church, but it was still creepy. The wind rattled the dry palm fronds, while crickets chirped. It felt odd and isolated, inside the fort... and we loved it.

Then I started worrying over the fact that we had no fire screen and that the "escape window" near our bed, was covered with iron bars. So we fell asleep to the sound of the fan, trying to ignore worries of ghosts, mice and fires.

Morning

I woke early and felt a little disappointed that we'd had no excitement in the night. I put on my running shoes and headed out to the fort courtyard and did a few laps while we still had the fort to ourselves. The church bells started their chiming at 8 and the museum opened at 9. We lingered a while after breakfast, but checked out before the magical spell was broken by school buses or tourist jabber.

What's Notable?

Special thanks to friend, Lori for sharing a link with a write up about La Presidio. This little gem of an overnight was just 2 hours from my home and I never knew about it!

I love a hotel that has a past. This boutique hotel was built in 1961, around four historical buildings. The 2-story main building sits where the city jail once sat. In 1886 the original building was converted into the old Laredo High School.  

The New School

In 1916 the building was torn down and a new school was built.  Now, the "new school" houses the main entrance, the lobby, restaurant, bar, ballroom and offices.
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Finding the Hotel
We heard it would be tricky getting to the hotel... and it was.

Being a border town, we were warned to make the correct exit or we'd end up heading over the bridge to Mexico. It was indeed nerve-wracking. We worried and exited too soon, then eventually GPS lead us directly to the hotel's garage entrance. It looked a little sketchy down there. A garage guard checked our name on a list and moved the cones. After parking, I peered through the decorative wall and saw the bridge to Mexico, that we almost crossed.

Leaving... No Easier

Also right across the brick road from the plaza, was The Tack Room Steak House. This elegant home from the 1800's was one of the four historic buildings that made up the hotel. We were disappointed to learn the well known restaurant was closed that evening. 
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The Lobby

From the front doors of La Posada, the lobby was down a few steps.  Between the 2 sets of stairs I noticed an interesting image in the Italian marble floors.  The Spanish Doubloon coin is evidently the symbol used for the hotel. The black and white ballgown was just one of many costumes on display.

Washington's Birthday

It was January, but the hotel was already gearing up for the month long celebration of George Washington's birthday. Laredo has been celebrating the President's birthday with parades and balls and costumes, since the late 19th century. I especially loved the child's gown with the image of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

Ghosts in the Garden

Supposedly there are ghosts that roam the hotel.  One part of the hotel had once been a convent and supposedly there is at least one nun ghost on the grounds.  We didn't see ghosts in black and white habits, but we saw lots of white, ghostly figures in the gardens and near the pool. There had been a recent freeze and the bushes were still wrapped in sheets.
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This pool view shows the 2-story hotel that was built in 1961.  Architect, Tom Herring incorporated the old school and a few other buildings. Mr. Herring has used historic buildings in a number of hotel constructions in Texas. 

More Exploring

Don and I explored the "compound" trying to figure out what was historic and what was added in the '60's.  We passed the patio, outside the hotel's Zaragoza Grill restaurant.

Another Pool?

We found another area of the hotel, with a pool and overgrown trees and bushes.  The wind was blowing eerily and I could picture a nun scurrying by. It didn't look like this part of the hotel was in use.

Finding Our Room

The hotel had a maze-like feel, but we finally got it figured out. Our hall was fairly quiet, but maybe that's because the area we requested was not the top choice for other guests.

Our Room

This photo shows just part of the spacious entry with bar area.   

The sitting area had room to spread out. The brick wall kept things very quiet. Don was drawn right away to the balcony... with the view.

Bedroom and Baths

The bedroom also had a brick wall and beamed ceilings. The decor was a little worn, but all was clean and the price was so reasonable, I again thought I was in Mexico. Two bathrooms, bedroom, living room and bar area, for around $100. 

The View

It was pretty odd, I must admit.  We watched the pedestrian bridge at 5:00.  The line-up of people returning to the U.S at 5:00, nearly covered the length of the bridge. Many seemed to be sent down a caged-in walkway that lead to the building right beneath our room. Yep, we sat on our balcony and had drinks, watching the canine dogs and border patrol and the unhappy folks being detained below.

Mexico

This is a close up of the bridge in the morning, with lighter traffic.  It was odd to look at the river and see the U.S. side with no obvious wall.  Our stay was on January 8, 2017, before the inauguration.  There was a lot to ponder as we studied the pedestrian bridge, as well as the bridge that we almost drove over earlier.  There seemed to be a traffic jam coming into the U.S., that never eased up.

After watching the sunset over our odd view, we headed to the hotel's bar and restaurant within the "old school". The restaurant was quiet at first.

Cheers

Our bartender was a little frazzled with a large crowd at the bar, watching whatever big game was playing on January 8.  Don and I wore our western jewelry and toasted to the history. Sadly there was no one at the bar to share this interesting experience with. They were all focused on the TV.  We moved to the dining room and had a decent, but not memorable dinner.

I wish we'd had better communication with staff or locals or even travelers.  There were some locals in the bar and some business travelers who didn't seem to care about where they were.  Some good people encounters would have helped complete our overnight adventure!

This photo was taken 80+ years after William and Mary Menger opened their hotel in 1859.  They built the 2-story, 50 room hotel to accommodate guests who visited their popular brewery. Menger's brewery was built on the battlegrounds of the Alamo, just 19 years after the historic battle. That's sounds like an invitation to ghosts.

January 2017

The Menger today, looks pretty similar to how it looked nearly 80 years ago. The historic section on the right, with wrought-iron balconies, houses the original lobby and guest rooms from 158 years ago.  Although, there were only 2 floors initially.

Old Entrance

The entrance into the historic section shows the patterned tile floors that were added in 1909.

The New Lobby

The "new" lobby from 1909 looks drastically modern. I liked the large windows that looked out to the Spanish Garden, with rocking chairs. The weather was balmy on January 2, so I'm surprised I didn't catch anyone rocking.

Columns and Christmas

I was glad we had our stay before Christmas decorations were taken down. The view of the old, oval shaped lobby was even more grand than I remembered.

Comparing

I had fun digging up a few old photos from past stays for comparison. In 2003, we stayed with another family and took photos of our kids with the giant tree. On this visit, without kids to pose, I had time to study the corinthian columns and marble. I zoomed in on both photos and noticed the change in wallpaper on the upper floors. I believe the most recent renovation was 2016.

Garden Area 

The courtyard garden was as lovely as I remembered. The totally enclosed space was tranquil with the fountain, palms and pansies. In 2003, we had breakfast with the kids on the patio, just outside the formal dining room.

Exploring

Elevators were added over the years, but we chose the stairs most of the time. One flight up, gave an impressive view of the  ornate corinthian columns which were added in the 1909 renovation. We got an extra good view of the Christmas angel from this floor.

Going Up... Looking Down

From the third floor we could look down at the marble column bases and tile floor, as well as the top of the tree.

Looking Up

We made sure to book one of the historic rooms. Our small room on the second floor had a framed print of the Alamo battle, right outside our door.  The gruesome image was a reminder that there might be ghosts from the battle, wandering down our hall.

Cozy Room

Our small room felt larger when we opened the 15-foot shutters, that reached from floor to ceiling. The step up into the bathroom with vintage tile, was a reminder that originally there was no plumbing. The room was quite emaculate, except the pillows were oddly askew. (I fixed them before the photo) Now, I'm wondering if the ghost of Sallie White was messing with our room. She was a Menger chambermaid who was murdered near the hotel by her husband.  Her ghost is one of the most well-known.

View

The best rooms are on the front of the building, but I liked our view better.  Instead of touristy t-shirt shops or Ripley's, we got to view the courtyard.  It was especially lovely at night.

The Colonial Dining Room

Because San Antonio's Riverwalk was just steps away, we went wandering for dinner and missed out on a classic hotel dining experience. There's some great food history at the hotel.  Mary Menger used to do the shopping and cooking herself. At the turn of the century mango ice cream was one of the most famous desserts in Texas. It's a favorite at The Menger, today. I wish we would have at least stopped in for dessert and coffee!  

Different Eras

The old phone booths were a reminder of a different day. I tried to picture how the men and women were dressed, back when those booths were in constant use. Further back, during the Civil War, a whole different crowd filled the hotel. The Menger ended up closing to regular customers, but provided boarding, food and hospital space for soldiers.

Inside the pub, you can climb some stairs to a loft-like space, overlooking the bar. The paneled ceiling is so low it makes the area look like it was intended for kids.

Don and I have stayed at so many historic hotels, but The Menger ranks pretty high. It has the ability to take you back in time, with over 150 years of history.  I like how the history of the western frontier blends with the flavors of Mexico. And I don't even mind flocks of tourists at the nearby Riverwalk and Alamo... especially when lit with Christmas lights. Hard to beat!

Don and I drove 7 hours from Houston.  It seemed a little silly, since there's really not much at all to do in Big Spring.  But it was a treat to have a city style, glam hotel in a small town.  We parked right on the street walked up to the entrance, with the giant "S" above the door. There were a lot of S's in the hotel!

Lobby

There were S's on the railing, going up the stairs!  And lots and lots of gold!  It's hard to believe this hotel sat empty for over 30 years.  Well, not totally empty. Pigeons made the hotel their home during some of the years between 1982 and 2006.

G. Brint Ryan

Luckily the community cared about the old hotel and pushed to replace windows in the abandoned building.  And then Mr. Ryan, who grew up in Big Spring, purchased the hotel. He made sure it was impeccably restored and placed his mother's portrait above the stairs.

Ballroom

The rates are cheaper on weekends, so we were able to get a suite for a decent price. Since the hotel reopened in 2012, the rooms were pretty nicely remodeled. Our sitting room, with couch and TV was comfortable, but nothing outstanding.   

I kind of liked the desk nook with the wild west image of a cowgirl!  

Bedroom

I'm pretty sure our suite had once been two guest rooms. Our bedroom was nice, but not large. I would have rather had one large room, actually.  We aren't picky about having a King bed, but many are. So it was a surprise to have a queen bed in a suite.  

The View

The view was not terribly exciting, but it was intriguing.  In fact most of the area that surrounds the hotel looks a little like this, with ads for bail bonds etc.  But this strip of old buildings, sitting on the old Bankhead Highway, may become something pretty nice before long.  Mr. Ryan has bought many of the sad looking buildings around the hotel.  I'm sure there are plans.

Better View

From the 14th floor there was a much better view of the patio and pool area.  It was amazing how far we could see across the flat land... wind turbines on the horizon!

Relaxing at the Pool

We were determined to make use of all our hotel had to offer.  We packed up our own drinks in thermal mugs and headed to the pool for happy hour. 

Cabanas

We could have grabbed one of these, but the air was too pleasant and once the Girl Scout troop left, we had the pool to ourselves.

Summer Breeze

This was my favorite part of our stay.  We just sat there in the balmy breeze, feeling incredibly lucky that we were getting to enjoy this one night trip.  We had lots of unknowns ahead, but we were able to set them aside and live in the moment... watching the flowing wall of water across the pool... and the birds gathering on the roof behind the wall.  Nice.   

Lounging Inside

We cleaned up and headed for the Pharmacy Bar and Lounge. It was pretty quiet when we first arrived.  The lounge with pool table and fireplace was empty and only a couple seats were taken at the bar. Don and I sat down for a drink at the bar so we could learn more about this bar that had once been a pharmacy and the town of Big Spring itself.  But our young local bartender knew little. She had no idea if there really was a spring somewhere in Big Spring.

On to The Grille 

We moved onto The Grille dining room after a bit.  The bar had begun to fill up with a younger, local crowd (mostly on cell phones) and the music style and volume clearly hinted to all elders that it was, "Time to move along, now!"

The appealing reaturant at the other end was classic and casual.  The kitchen was in view at the back and there were lots of booths for cozy dining.

Yummy Feast

Our food was Big-City-Good and our service was Small-Town-Sweet.  Our young server made me smile when she announced our plates with non-silenced H and L   "Here is your "herbed", grilled chicken with cheese grits and kale... enjoy your salad with "salmon" Then she added that extra syllabal that is often added... "Here is your sald with vinegar-ette!"  She was beyond cute though. She didn't know if there was a spring in Big Spring either, but she told us lots about her kids!  Good meal!

Night

After dinner we strolled around the pool some more and it was fun to see the water wall changing colors. 

The Sign

This hotel was an oasis in the middle of nowhere. I so wish I could go back in time and see what the hotel was like when Big Spring was a hopping place!  Our stay was perfect.  We needed nothing else but the hotel to lure us.  But maybe someday, the town will recapture some of its charm and help attract guests, as well.

I walked across the brick street to get a shot of the whole building.  We stayed in the original wood framed structure on the right.  It had been a home and was converted to a hotel in the late 1850's.  The white brick structure on the left is the "new" part... added in 1864!

Brick and Wood

The entrance to the lobby is now through the new addition.  I'm guessing they have used that entrance since 1864, since the wooden threshold had a smooth dip in the center, after over 150 years of use.  I loved seeing where the old wood boards met the brick addition.

Iron Porch Chairs

Between the old door and the new door, there was a proper line up of black iron chairs... for watching the world go by. There wasn't much happening on the street, but over 100 years ago, Jefferson was a booming steamboat port.  It was then the second largest city in Texas. Today, there are only about 2,000 residents.

An Odd Encounter at Arrival

Just as we headed to the lobby door, a woman came towards us from down the street.  She wore plastic gloves and swung a baggy in one hand as she hollered, "Are you coming to see me?"  I assumed she worked at the hotel, but she was really just dashing down from the steakhouse to give her friend (working the desk) a sample of some kind of chicken/jalepeno treat, wrapped in cheese.  I turned down her sample offer about 4 times, but finally gave in.  Strange way to begin our stay.

The Ballroom
Before heading to our room, I took a peek at the grand room behind the lobby.

 I wonder if they have to roll up that impressive Oriental rug for dancing.  And who has played the grand piano that was on the left of the room... and do they have roaring fires in that lovely white fireplace? I headed under the lit chandelier and made my way to the dining room table, which held 3 flower arrangements. 

We headed through a door into the older building.  We found the old set of stairs and climbed towards a painting and another curious light fixture.  Down the hall we headed, towards our Rosewood Room.

The Door

Room 214 had a brass plaque honoring Lady Bird Johnson, who was born not far from Jefferson.  She supported the Garden Club ladies who took over the hotel years ago.  This was the room they decorated in her honor.  Once inside I turned to see the row of locks and gave a smile.  It might be hard to escape this room quickly if there was a fire... or ghosts.

Ghosts?

There are many fans of haunted hotels and I'm sure they've eagerly searched for ghosts in this old hotel.  But we didn't have any encounters. There's a rumor that Steven Spielberg stayed in a nearby room when filming "Sugar Land Express" decades ago.  One writer said Spielberg and his wife left in the middle of the night because they were so afraid.  Hmm.  I don't know about that.

Lady Bird was keeping an eye on us from above the fireplace, right above the clock which she gave as a gift to the hotel.  She was surrounded by flowers on the wall, which I'm sure was no coincidence.  Lady Bird is of course responsible for the beautiful wildflowers that grow along country roads in Texas! 

More Pink and Lace

I feel so incredibly lucky that I have a fellow-traveler-husband, who doesn't mind sleeping in a room that is dripping in Pepto-Bismol pink!  We both were equally tickled by the matching pink glass decorations on the mantel. I have no idea what you call these.  And the wallpaper, along with lace curtains was a little piece of lady heaven.  In contrast, I just loved the warm wooden floorboards meeting up with woodwork, lace and flowers.

View

When I pulled back the lace I was sad to see there was no balcony, just an iron rail prop.  Across the street was an old train car and a pretty home which now serves as a wine garden.  Lots of trees!  I felt like I was in an old neighborhood.

Veranda in Back

So I did find a porch in the back. There were a few rockers and a courtyard to enjoy below.

The courtyard was quite lovely.  There were places to sit out and enjoy the sound of the fountain. 

I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious and clean and comfy our room was.  But what I will mostly remember  about our stay, is the connection of our room and hotel to Lady Bird.  We've stayed in rooms before with names of famous people, but Mrs. Johnson was passionately connected to the hotel and our room.  There were framed letters and photographs in the room.  I loved the photo of her with her elf-grandchildren. I loved knowing that she worked with the Garden Club to preserve this building, the second oldest hotel in Texas.   Thanks, Lady Bird!