Paisano Courtyard: The Hotel Paisano in Marfa. is constructed in a ‘U’ shape with a large inviting courtyard in the entrance. Shown is the courtyard and entrance to the historic hotel. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Paisano Exterior: The exterior of the Hotel Paisano as viewed from streetside offers a nice courtyard as you enter the facility. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
While wandering west Texas towns in the Big Bend region of the state we noticed similarities and differences between four of the towns located close to Big Bend National Park. One of the primary similarities was the historic hotels in the center of each town that have been maintained or remodeled to their original glory.
The four hotels featured are the Hotel Paisano in Marfa, the Hotel Limpia in Ft. Davis, Holland Hotel in Alpine and the Gage Hotel in Marathon. These four towns are located within about a 50-mile radius of each other which in west Texas is like next door neighbors.
The Hotel Paisano in Marfa is probably the most well-known of the four hotels. Built in 1930, it also is the “newest” of the hotels as well. The hotel was constructed for cattle ranchers to stay in while in town buying and selling cattle and other business transactions.
The Hotel Paisano was made famous in 1955 during the filming of the movie “Giant” starring James Dean, Liz Taylor and Rock Hudson. This southwestern style hotel is built in a “U” shape with a large courtyard entrance. Still today, visitors can stay in the same room that each of the stars lived in during the making of the film.
A few miles up the road is Ft. Davis where the Hotel Limpia is the center of town. Built in 1912, the Limpia has a relaxing atmosphere for visitors. White rocking chairs line the front porch for relaxing and enjoying the cool mountain air in Ft. Davis, which sits at 5,050 feet in elevation. Downtown Ft. Davis and the Limpia sit about four miles from the Ft. Davis National Historic site, a former military post.
In Alpine, the Holland Hotel sits on the main thoroughfare in town. The Holland Hotel was built in 1912 and was the center of the social and business activity in Alpine for years. Alpine is the largest of the four towns and also home to Sul Ross University and several other hotels have been built through the years. However, the historic Holland is still the heart of downtown Alpine.
The Gage Hotel is in Marathon, which is the closest town to Big Bend National Park. The Gage was built in 1927 and additional rooms were added years later with addition of a garden area and a newer wing to the hotel. The original hotel had 15 rooms and the expanded hotel has 45 rooms and the garden provides an outdoor area for events or an area to sit and relax.
All four of these hotels have had their ups and downs but the key is each one has been maintained and/or remodeled to its original state and decor which proudly display the regions historic history and continued success. Each of the hotels offer dining and other services generally found in nice hotels. There is an obvious pride in these hotels in each of the four communities.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Paisano Lobby: The lobby of the Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas. shows the southwestern tile work and woodwork in the historic hotel. All of these historic hotels are all restored to their original glory. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Limpia Exterior: The Hotel Limpia sits in a prominent location in the center of Ft. Davis. The white rocking chairs offer an inviting place to sit and relax while enjoying the cooler temperatures in Ft. Davis, which is situated in the Davis Mountains at 5,050 feet in elevation. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Hotel Limpia Lobby: The rich wood interior of the Hotel Limpia is evident as you enter the hotel lobby. All four of the hotels listed have beautiful western artwork as well as furnishings appropriate to their historic past. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Holland Exterior: The Holland Hotel sits on the main thoroughfare in Alpine. The hotel was the center of social and business activities in Alpine for years and is still the prominent building in the downtown area. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Holland Lobby: Shown is a sitting area in the lobby of the Holland Hotel Lobby in downtown Alpine. The furnishings of each of the hotels reflect the artwork and furniture style of the historic hotels. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Gage Hotel Exterior: The Gage Hotel is the center piece of Marathon. Marathon is the closest town to Big Bend National Park which is a major tourists draw to this area of west Texas. The original hotel had 15 rooms, but the hotel was enlarged later to 45 rooms and an exterior garden space for events. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Gage Interior: The lobby of the Gage Hotel in Marathon shows a sitting area in the foreground and the guest registration services in the background. Also seen is the western decor of the historic hotel. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com