Historic Holland Hotel

 

Alpine's historic Holland Hotel (1928) sits across from the train station, which made it convenient for travelers in the early days, and for Amtrak passengers today!

Designed by the Trost and Trost firm, which was responsible for other hotels in the area (Gage Hotel in Marathon, 1927; Hotel Paisano in Marfa, 1930; Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn, 1930), the property is now completely and lovingly restored and open for visitors.

Click here for a list of historic hotels and related sites in the Texas Mountain Trail region. 

#30DaysofBiking

A great, but little known, mountain biking route is waiting for adventurous riders in Guadalupe Mountains National Park on the Williams Ranch road.  The rugged 4x4 road is open to just two vehicles at a time through locked gates, and keys can be secured by the park rangers at the visitors center.  The road is 7.3 miles one way, and is rugged enough that it takes a vehicle about an hour to get to the ranch house.

The road even follows the historic route taken by stagecoach on the Butterfield Overland Trail and overlooks the salt flat, the source of the historic 1877 Salt War of El Paso.

Click here for a historic overview of Williams Ranch.

Dining Along Historic Highways presentation today at the Viva Big Bend Food Festival!

 

Today, as part of the Viva Big Bend food festival, we'll be presenting a FREE program about "Dining Along Historic Highways" at the Hotel Paisano in Marfa at 4pm.  

We'll be sharing old photos, recipes and samples of food from the region, with a special emphasis on the 1930s when the highways were being paved and some of our historic hotels (still in operation) were just beginning to serve travelers.  Come join us!

#30DaysofBiking

Many travelers learn Marfa is a great place to ride a bicycle...and some of our hotels have bikes for loan or rent.  We found this lovely photo from early Marfa as we were doing research for our "Dining Along Historic Highways" presentation, see above!

Dining Along Historic Highways: Viva Big Bend Food Festival on Saturday!

Our Texas Mountain Trail non-profit is happy to be participating in the Viva Big Bend Food Festival this Saturday, with a free program with photographs, recipes and samples on Saturday at Marfa's historic Hotel Paisano at 4pm.  Everyone is welcome! 

Today, we feature images from the Paisano's sister property in Van Horn, the Hotel El Capitan, now fully restored and operating as a hotel and a place to have dinner at the Crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail.

#30DaysofBiking

One of our favorite roads to cycle is the first 30 miles or so (which are paved) of FM2810 heading southwest from Marfa.  Called "Pinto Canyon Road," this scenic stretch was featured in the film "No Country for Old Men," and has little vehicular traffic too, making it great for bicyclists.

Dining Along Historic Highways at Viva Big Bend Food Festival

At next weekend's Viva Big Bend Food Festival, our Texas Mountain Trail is presenting a special free program at the historic Hotel Paisano on "Dining Along Historic Highways."

From the Viva Big Bend website:

Dining Along Historic Highways Saturday, April 12, 4 pm Hotel Paisano Ballroom in Marfa - 207 Highland St What was it like to travel in the early days in Far West Texas? Join Beth Nobles, Executive Director of Texas Mountain Trail, to see historic photos and enjoy samples from regional recipes in this presentation on our historic hotels and restaurants. We'll focus on several locations and time periods, but will pay special attention to the early 1930s when Marfa's Hotel Paisano was built and our regional highways were being paved. Our program is free, but there are other TERRIFIC programs at the festival you can enjoy. Click here to get to the festival's ticket page!

#30DaysofBiking We're celebrating the cycling assets of our Texas Mountain Trail region every day this month!  Did you know that El Paso's Franklin Mountains State Park has terrific trails for mountain biking?  Visit our friends at www.geobetty.com for information on trails, elevations, maps, etc. for your own mountain biking adventure.  Though right in the city, once you're on the trails, you never feel you're in the city!

Another from this week's cold snap

The thaw is just beginning at Marfa's historic Hotel Paisano!   Our list of historic hotels in the Texas Mountains is HERE.

Henry Trost: A Touch of Genius in the Arid Southwest

Click image to enlarge and get details on this great event!

The Gage Hotel in Marathon is hosting a wonderful evening later this month.  Texas historian and Gage Hotel owner, JP Bryan will speak on the impressive career of architect, Henry C. Trost, who was responsible for some of our best historic hotels in the region.

 They include the Hotel Paisano in Marfa.

The Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn, now completely restored and open for dining and lodging.

The Holland Hotel in Alpine.

And the Gage Hotel in Marathon.

Click here for a list of historic hotels in our Texas Mountain Trail Region, and get your tickets for this great night at 432-386-4205.

Make your Holiday Reservations NOW!!

Our region offers some FANTASTIC places to stay, and they often (usually) fill up long before peak travel times begin.  If you're planning a Chritmas or New Years, or even Spring Break trip....call RIGHT NOW and make your reservations!  You might try properties on our Historic Hotels list or our cycle-friendly list...these are fine folks offering great places to stay.  Local Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Centers may be able to help...don't give up, just be sure to make reservations before you head to the mountains! 

Roosevelt Stone Cottages in the Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park

Courtyard of the Gage Hotel, Marathon

Hotel Paisano, Marfa