From rural towns to mid-size cities to urban metropolises and in every region of the state, more than sixty historic hotels welcome overnight lodgers in Texas. After traveling at least 20,000 miles to visit these unique accommodations first-hand, author Liz Carmack has written the essential guide for anyone looking for out-of-the-ordinary lodging or travel destinations. Historic Hotels of Texas includes detailed profiles of sixty-four hotels that are at least fifty years old, have been in operation as places of lodging for the majority of their existence, and are still open today. Ranging from stagecoach inns and railroad hotels to resort and community-built lodging, some facilities have retained the flavor of their origins; others have become sleek commercial establishments or have been transformed into trendy, boutique locations. Anticipating the diverse interests of travelers, Carmack offers advice in her introduction to help readers choose hotels according to taste and occasion. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway, booking a fishing trip, planning a ghost hunting excursion, or going on a cycling tour, Historic Hotels of Texas offers the perfect lodging option to complement your interests. In her description for each hotel, Carmack includes fascinating historical nuggets and focuses on special characteristics that create the unique ambience so often found in these living tributes to the past. An “Essentials” sidebar includes contacts for reservations, room rates, payment methods, parking, and pet accommodations as well as details about amenities and facilities. The author notes the hotel’s historic registration status and also offers a tip or two from her experiences. Together, the information summaries and insider tips give readers the details they need to choose the hotels that best suit their tastes and to make the most of their visits. Historic Hotels of Texas is indispensable for travelers interested in both a good night’s sleep and the culture and history of the great state of Texas.

Recognized as the oldest continuously operating hotel west of the Mississippi, the Menger Hotel opened its doors in 1859. Business-minded men and women followed suit, establishing inns, lodges, motels, and hotels for tourists, businessmen, and passers-through that offered a wide range of amenities. The Crockett Hotel has overlooked the Alamo since 1909. The St. Anthony Hotel was the first luxury hotel in the state of Texas and often hosted celebrities, politicians, and other elite society. The Gunter Hotel was called the "first million-dollar hotel" in Texas by the Austin American Statesman and was deemed to have the "largest hotel lobby in the South" by the San Antonio Light and Gazette. The Fairmount Hotel drew acclaim after being moved five blocks in April 1985, when it was honored with an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the "heaviest hotel ever moved." The evolution of San Antonio from military post and Texas's oldest municipality to the fastest-growing large US city, told through the lens of the city's hotels, is filled with unique historical perspective.

A collection of Courtney's columns from the Texas Monthly, curing the curious, exorcizing bedevilment, and orienting the disoriented, advising "on such things as: Is it wrong to wear your football team's jersey to church? When out at a dancehall, do you need to stick with the one that brung ya? Is it real Tex-Mex if it's served with a side of black beans? Can one have too many Texas-themed tattoos?"--Amazon.com.

Check out the Historic texas Inns and Hotels and their history.

Fort Worth, originally named Camp Worth, was founded as an Army outpost in 1849, and the old cavalry stables became Fort Worth's first hotel. The Texas & Pacific Railroad arrived in Fort Worth in July 1876, bringing the need for more lodging. Shortly after its arrival, boardinghouses and simple accommodations were quickly opened. At the turn of the century, Fort Worth became a center for cattle ranchers, and the first luxury hotels were built. By the next decade, wealthy oil barons replaced the cattle ranchers, and the demand for larger and more elaborate hotels was established. Many of these first hotels were replaced with motor lodges and smaller chain hotels after the growth of the automobile industry; however, a few are still in operation today.