Stockyards Hotel- Fort Worth, TX

The Stockyards Hotel may be small in size, but it has a lot of character. Built during the heyday of the Stockyards for wealthy cattlemen, its prime location next to the Livestock Exchange kept the hotel busy for decades. Later, it became a convenient hotel for country singers with shows at The Cowtown Coliseum. With a true Old West vibe, a stay here is a bit like stepping back in time.

In 1904, as the Fort Worth Stockyards grew in importance, local developer Colonel T.M. Thannisch purchased property at the intersection of North Main and East Exchange. There, he constructed a simple two story wooden building, with balconies on the west and south sides. The first floor housed a saloon and billiards parlor, while the second floor offered rooms for rent.

The venture proved so successful, he added a three story brick building in 1907, abutting the eastern wall of the original structure. The new space included a barber shop, real estate offices, confectionery shop, restaurant, and doctor’s office, with a street level lobby and rooms on the second and third floors.

In 1913, the original wood frame building was demolished, and replaced with another brick structure, which was designed to match the 1907 building. The new space offered suites with private baths, ceiling fans in every room, and steam heat in the winter. Fancy.

In 1933, Bonny and Clyde rented one of these suites while on the run, a corner room with a view of the intersection of East Exchange and Main, necessary for avoiding the law. Rumor holds the two left personal effects behind in the room when they departed, including Bonny’s gun. They may have been in a hurry. More recently, Willie Nelson, George Straight, and Tanya Tucker have stayed at the legendary hotel.

Like the rest of the Stockyards, the hotel fell on hard times following the decline of the railroad, and the closing of the packing plants. However, following the Historic District’s designation in 1976, new owners began to restore the historic property. In addition to restoring the lobby, several specialty rooms were added, including a Cattle Barron Suite with a wet bar, and a Celebrity Suite, complete with covered patio, hot tub, and fireplace.

You can also rent out Suite 305, Bonny and Clyde’s old room, which is decorated with faux bullet holes, and memorabilia on the walls. Downstairs, there is a bar where you can sit on saddles, and of course a steakhouse. Nicely updated, but retaining a rustic edge and its original charm, it’s the perfect hotel for exploring the Stockyards, and slipping back to the past.