The Holland Hotel facts for kids

The Holland Hotel is a famous hotel located in Alpine, Texas. It first opened its doors in 1912. A well-known cattle rancher named John R. Holland built it. He believed that Alpine needed a good place for travelers to stay. Many people were visiting the area because of the growing mining industry.

The hotel was finished when mercury mining was very popular. This made it a big success right away. It became important for business and also as a place for people to gather. After John R. Holland passed away, his son Clay took over. In 1928, Clay Holland hired famous architects Trost and Trost. They built a brand new hotel building nearby. This new building cost $250,000 and was designed in the beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style. Like many buildings by Trost and Trost, the Holland Hotel looked like a magical place with its Spanish decorations. In 1980, it was officially recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark.

A Look at the Holland Hotel's Past

The Holland Hotel has a long and interesting history. It has had many different owners over the years. Each owner helped shape the hotel into what it is today.

Early Changes and New Owners

In 1946, Clay Holland sold the hotel to a company called George Hotels, Inc. Lawrence George from Mount Pleasant, Texas was in charge. Mr. George ran the hotel for three years. Then, in 1949, he sold it to Frank Hofues. Mr. Hofues owned the hotel until he passed away in 1957.

After Mr. Hofues's death, his family sold the hotel to James C. Henderson. However, Mr. Henderson faced money problems. In 1959, the hotel was given to I.C. Roark. Mr. Roark continued to operate the hotel for about 10 years.

The Hotel Closes and Reopens

In 1969, the Holland Hotel closed its doors. All of its furniture and equipment were sold off. The building stayed empty for several years. Then, in 1972, a person named Gene Hendryx decided to buy the hotel. He bought it from Mr. Roark's family. The deal was that all the old furnishings had to be removed. So, an auction was held. After that, Mr. Hendryx took control of the building. He renovated it, changing it from a hotel into an office building.

Bringing the Hotel Back to Life

In 1985, the McFarland family bought the Holland Hotel. This family included Robert, Myra Jo, and their daughter Carla. Carla McFarland became the general manager. They slowly started turning the building back into a hotel. They did this as the leases for the office tenants ended.

The McFarlands opened a fancy restaurant called McFarland's. People still talk about how good it was! After that, several other great restaurants opened in the hotel. The McFarland family, especially Carla, owned the hotel for over 20 years. This makes them the longest-standing owners so far.

In the early 2000s, Carla McFarland hired a Texas artist named Style Read. She also hired other local artists. Their job was to bring the Holland Hotel's lobby back to its original beauty. They found surprising colors underneath old paint. This made the hotel feel very lively and fun. However, new owners later covered up much of that work.

In September 2011, the Greenwich Hospitality Group bought the Holland Hotel. They worked hard to restore the building to its former glory. Today, it has 24 guest rooms and a full-service restaurant called The Century Bar and Grill.