Hotel Texas

Hotel Texas was the original name of a landmark hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, now operating as the Hilton Fort Worth. Constructed between 1920 and 1921, the building was designed by the architectural firms Sanguinet & Staats and Mauran, Russell, & Crowell, with Westlake Construction Co. serving as contractor. Its location in the city center helped establish it as an important lodging and meeting venue for Fort Worth. The property has undergone several substantial physical and commercial transformations. A two-story north addition was completed in 1963, adding a ground-floor bank and a 25,000-square-foot ballroom. The hotel gained lasting historical significance that same year when President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy stayed in Room 850 on November 21, 1963. On the following morning, Kennedy delivered what became his final public address in the hotel's Crystal Ballroom before traveling to Dallas, where he was assassinated later that day. A John F. Kennedy tribute memorial stands across from the property. The original Hotel Texas identity ended in 1968, when the property became the Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel. A major renovation completed in 1970 was coordinated with the opening of the Fort Worth Convention Center and repositioned the hotel as the convention center's headquarters hotel. The project divided the original two-story lobby into two levels, added meeting space, modernized guest rooms, and reduced the main building's room count to 289. It also introduced an eight-story, 230-room annex above a five-story parking garage dating from 1928. The annex was connected to the principal building by a skybridge across Commerce Street. The Sheraton closed in 1979. After a reported $33 million gut renovation by Jarvis, Putty, Jarvis, the property reopened in January 1981 as the Hyatt Regency Fort Worth. The renovation restored the lobby's two-story arrangement, created an atrium between the rear wings of the U-shaped tower, replaced the interiors, and added lighting intended to echo the building's original appearance. In 1995, the hotel was renamed the Radisson Fort Worth. The property underwent another interior renovation from 2005 to 2006 and became the Hilton Fort Worth on April 1, 2006. The 1970 annex was not renovated as part of the conversion; it was sold separately and remained vacant for years. Plans announced in 2015 proposed converting it into a 140-unit apartment building, while plans announced in 2020 instead proposed reopening it as a Le Méridien hotel. Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown opened in August 2024, giving the historic complex a separately branded hotel use in the former annex. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1979. The listing boundary was expanded in November 2014 to include the annex, and the Hilton Fort Worth joined Historic Hotels of America in 2016. The property's cultural associations also include Jim Thompson, the American crime novelist and screenwriter, who worked there as a bellboy for two years during Prohibition while attending high school. As a brand, Hotel Texas is therefore best understood as the property's historic original identity rather than its current operating name.

Hotel Texas was built in downtown Fort Worth between 1920 and 1921. The project was designed by Sanguinet & Staats together with Mauran, Russell, & Crowell, and constructed by Westlake Construction Co. The building became a significant downtown lodging and events property, later serving Fort Worth's convention activity. In 1963, a two-story addition was built on the north side. It included a bank at street level and a 25,000-square-foot ballroom above. The property's historical profile changed dramatically in November of that year. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy stayed in Room 850 on November 21, and Kennedy spoke in the Crystal Ballroom the next morning. He then continued to Dallas, where he was assassinated later that day. The hotel remains closely associated with this final presidential appearance, and a JFK tribute memorial is located across from the building. The original name was replaced in 1968 when the hotel became the Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel. A major renovation completed in 1970 coincided with the opening of the Fort Worth Convention Center. The hotel was designated as the convention center's headquarters hotel. The work reconfigured the original lobby, created additional meeting rooms, renovated the guest rooms, and reduced the main building to 289 rooms. A separate annex was also constructed: an eight-story, 230-room tower above a five-story parking garage built in 1928. A skybridge connected the annex to the main building across Commerce Street. The Sheraton closed in 1979, the same year the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A comprehensive gut renovation followed, costing a reported $33 million according to the reference account. Designed by Jarvis, Putty, Jarvis, the work restored the lobby to a two-story configuration, replaced the interiors, created an atrium between the rear wings, and installed lighting intended to recall the original upper-floor appearance. The hotel reopened in January 1981 as Hyatt Regency Fort Worth. In 1995, the property became Radisson Fort Worth. Its upper-floor lights were switched off during the Radisson period. Interior renovations carried out from 2005 to 2006 preceded the change to Hilton Fort Worth on April 1, 2006. The main hotel currently has 294 guest rooms according to the reference material. The 1970 annex was excluded from the renovation, sold separately, and left vacant. The annex's future was the subject of successive redevelopment plans. In 2015, a proposal called for conversion into a 140-unit apartment building. In 2020, a different plan proposed a hotel operated under Marriott International's Le Méridien brand. Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown opened in August 2024. In 2014, the National Register listing boundary was expanded to include the annex, and in 2016 the Hilton Fort Worth joined Historic Hotels of America, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program. The property's historical associations extend beyond presidential history. Jim Thompson, later known for hardboiled crime novels and screenwriting, worked as a bellboy at Hotel Texas for two years during Prohibition while attending high school during the day. The historic Hotel Texas name is no longer the operating name of the main hotel, which is now Hilton Fort Worth.

• 2024

  Annex reopens as Le Méridien

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The former annex opens as Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown in August.

• 2016

  Joins Historic Hotels of America

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The Hilton Fort Worth joins Historic Hotels of America.

• 2014

  National Register boundary expanded

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The historic designation is expanded to include the 1970 annex.

• 2006

  Hilton Fort Worth opens

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  Following interior renovations, the property adopts the Hilton Fort Worth name on April 1.

• 1995

  Radisson period begins

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel is renamed Radisson Fort Worth.

• 1981

  Reopens as Hyatt Regency

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The extensively renovated hotel reopens in January as Hyatt Regency Fort Worth.

• 1979

  Historic designation and closure

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The building enters the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, and the Sheraton closes later in the year.

• 1970

  Convention-focused expansion

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation supports the opening of the Fort Worth Convention Center and adds the connected annex tower.

• 1968

  Sheraton conversion

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The property becomes the Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel.

• 1963

  North addition and Kennedy visit

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  A north addition adds a bank and ballroom. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy stay at the hotel, and Kennedy gives his final address in the Crystal Ballroom the next morning.

• 1921

  Hotel Texas completed

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel is completed after being designed by Sanguinet & Staats and Mauran, Russell, & Crowell.

• 1920

  Construction begins

  [1]Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the downtown Fort Worth hotel that would be known as Hotel Texas begins.

A historic, full-service downtown hotel associated with Fort Worth conventions, civic events, and the final public appearance of President John F. Kennedy.

• Historic hotel · 1921

  Hotel Texas

  The original hotel identity of the downtown Fort Worth property, built in 1920–1921. It offered guest accommodation and event facilities and became known for its central location, historic architecture, and association with President John F. Kennedy's final public address.

• Event venue · 1963

  Crystal Ballroom

  A major ballroom added to the hotel complex as part of the 1963 north addition. It is particularly significant because Kennedy delivered his final public address there on November 22, 1963.

• Hotel annex · 1970

  1970 Annex

  An eight-story, 230-room tower constructed above a five-story parking garage and linked to the main building by a skybridge. It was not renovated during the 2005–2006 Hilton conversion and later became the site of Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown.

• 2020

  Redevelopment plan for the annexStrategy

  Background

  The annex had been vacant since 2006, following its sale and exclusion from the Hilton conversion.

  Action taken

  Plans were announced to reopen the annex as a Le Méridien hotel operated by Marriott International.

  Aftermath

  Le Méridien Fort Worth Downtown opened in August 2024.

  Source

• 2006

  Conversion to Hilton Fort WorthStrategy

  Background

  The main property received interior renovations during 2005–2006 after operating as Radisson Fort Worth.

  Action taken

  The hotel adopted the Hilton Fort Worth name on April 1, 2006.

  Aftermath

  The main building continued operating under the Hilton brand while the annex remained outside the renovation.

  Source

• 1970

  Convention headquarters positioningStrategy

  Background

  The Fort Worth Convention Center was opening, creating demand for a large nearby headquarters hotel.

  Action taken

  The property underwent a major renovation, added meeting capacity, and developed a connected annex tower.

  Aftermath

  The hotel was positioned as the convention center's headquarters hotel.

  Source

• 1968

  Adoption of the Sheraton brandStrategy

  Background

  The historic Hotel Texas property transitioned from its original identity to an international hotel-brand operating model.

  Action taken

  The hotel was renamed the Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel.

  Aftermath

  The property subsequently passed through Hyatt, Radisson, and Hilton branding.

  Source

1. 1Hotel Texasen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hotel Texas – Fort Worthatlas.thc.state.tx.us