El Paisano Hotel facts for kids
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El Paisano Hotel
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East entrance of El Paisano Hotel
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 El Paisano Hotel
Location in Texas
El Paisano Hotel
Location in the United States
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| Location | 207 N Highland Marfa, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | Trost & Trost |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Revival, Spanish-Baroque |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002973 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 1, 1978 |
El Paisano Hotel is a famous historic hotel in Marfa, Texas, United States. It opened in 1930 and was designed by the well-known architects Trost & Trost. This hotel is especially famous because it was the main base for the cast and crew of the classic film Giant in 1955. The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 1, 1978, recognizing its important history.
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A Historic Texas Hotel
The El Paisano Hotel was built by Charles N. Bassett from El Paso. It was designed by Henry C. Trost, part of the Trost & Trost architecture firm. The hotel's style is called Spanish Revival. This means it looks like old Spanish buildings.
Unique Design
The hotel has a special "U" shape. In the middle of this "U" is a large courtyard. This courtyard is fifty feet by fifty feet. It has a big fountain in the center, making it a beautiful and relaxing space.
Early Days and Famous Guests
In the 1930s and 1940s, the El Paisano Hotel was a popular spot.
Who Stayed Here?
Many of the hotel's first guests were cattle ranchers. They came to Marfa to buy and sell their herds of cattle. Tourists also visited West Texas. They enjoyed the dry desert air, which was thought to be good for health.
The Giant Movie Connection
One of the most exciting times for the El Paisano Hotel was in 1955.
Hollywood Comes to Marfa
That year, director George Stevens and a film crew from Warner Bros. came to Presidio County. They were there to film the movie Giant. The El Paisano Hotel became their headquarters. For several months, while the movie was being filmed nearby, the hotel was buzzing with activity.
Star-Studded Stays
George Stevens himself stayed at the El Paisano Hotel. So did over 300 members of the cast and crew. This included many famous actors of the time. Some of the big names were James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson. Other well-known actors like Sal Mineo, Chill Wills, and Jane Withers also stayed there.
A New Beginning
After its glory days, the hotel faced some tough times.
Decline and Renovation
In the 1960s and 1970s, the El Paisano Hotel started to decline. Later, a company bought the property. They changed the hotel's 65 rooms into 9 timeshare condominiums. Even though many timeshare units were sold, the business eventually failed. Presidio County took over the property because of unpaid taxes.
Reopening Its Doors
In March 2001, Joe and Lanna Duncan bought the hotel at an auction. They paid $185,000 for it. They spent three years renovating the entire hotel. After all that hard work, the El Paisano Hotel reopened. It now has 33 rooms and suites for guests to enjoy.
