Stay a While

Check in to this midcentury modern gem of a hotel in Texas' oldest town

Midcentury modern is still having a moment, and you can surround yourself with the style at East Texas' The Fredonia Hotel.

The boutique hotel is located in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas, where red brick streets criss-cross the lively downtown area that's bursting with antique and vintage shops, plus the new Fredonia Brewery right across the street from the hotel.

The Fredonia Hotel has a unique origin story: It was born a community-owned hotel, financed by the citizens of Nacogdoches who in turn got to select everything from the color of the brick to the hotel's name (4-year-old Susan McKinney proposed the winner). Hotel Fredonia opened its doors on April 1, 1955, and between 1955 and 1967 it was believed to be the most successful community-owned hotel in the nation.

Named for the Fredonia Rebellion of 1826, when Haden Edwards and a group of settlers declared Nacogdoches independent from Mexico, the new hotel boasted a "modern contemporary-styled hotel building" which was entirely air-conditioned and featured 100 rooms, conference facilities for 600, a patio, and a kidney-shaped pool surrounded by a semi-circle of cabana suites.

After decades of structural changes and ownership transfers, The Fredonia Hotel was purchased in 2015 by local business owners Richard and Barbara Dewitt. The couple vowed to bring the historic property back to life, and after a $18 million renovation it officially reopened on June 26, 2017.

Its modern, luxurious aesthetic also preserves several of the hotel's original features. For example, the original hotel's atrium was built around an ancient Catalpa tree, and while the tree eventually had to be cut down it's now honored with a hand-made iron tree in the current atrium.

Two restaurants, a bar, and a boutique are also onsite, making The Fredonia Hotel the town's go-to hot spot. The chic Nine Flags Bar showcases refreshing artisanal cocktails and delicious food amid a trendy atmosphere of Edison lightbulbs and sumptuous leather seats.

The 1st City Café is brunch central on the weekends, while The Republic Steakhouse is a world-class fine dining experience that's unlike anything else offered in the piney woods region. The Shop is a purveyor of exclusive merchandise that ranges from home accessories to gifts for any occasion.

Of the hotel's two pools, one is heated year-round and features cozy fire pits and al fresco movie nights. You might get so comfy you'll never want to leave.

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For more information about The Fredonia Hotel, please visit its website or follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

The 1st City Cafe is the spot for brunch.

Photo courtesy of The Fredonia Hotel

The 1st City Cafe is the spot for brunch.

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Where the Bison Roam

Popular Texas Panhandle park expands with 2,200 more acres to explore

Popular Texas state park expands with massive 2,200-acre acquisition

Caprock Canyons has 2,200 more acres to explore.

A popular state park in the Texas Panhandle that's known for its roaming bison population is getting a major expansion after recent land acquisitions by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, located at 850 State Park Rd. in Quitaque, approximately an hour-and-a-half north of Lubbock, has added approximately 2,200 acres. It will now encompass 17,500 total acres of the Caprock Escarpment in Briscoe County, according to a press release.

TPWD first expanded the park with the purchase of the 1,066-acre Rocking W Ranch in 2024, and then the department acquired the 1,120-acre Hawkins Ranch in January 2026.

"The Hawkins Ranch is the last piece of property to the west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and affects our watershed," said Superintendent Donald Beard in the release. "The Rocking W Ranch was also important because it expands the park to the northwest, allowing the Texas State Bison Herd potential access to the high plains."

The release said a 5,000-square-foot, fully furnished "barndominium" was included in the purchase of the Rocking W Ranch property, and it will be used for "future family-style retreats for activities like hiking and horseback riding."

Park visitors have access to more than 90 miles of trails at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and bison-watching. Lake Theo, a 120-acre lake on the south side of the park, is open for swimming, fishing, and no-wake boating.

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway TPWD encourages visitors to take caution when observing bison.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Wildlife enthusiasts can search for bats roosting in the Clarity Tunnel, an abandoned railroad tunnel that 500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats call home from late April through mid-October. TPWD said even more local wildlife can be found by visitors with the acquisition of the Hawkins Ranch, such as quail, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, and more.

The park is also a designated International Dark Sky Park, meaning overnight campers have unobstructed views of the stars in the sky thanks to light pollution reduction and prevention efforts.

"At night, Caprock Canyons transforms into one of the darkest and most awe-inspiring skies in Texas," the International Dark Sky Association said. "Far from urban light pollution, the park’s remote location allows visitors to experience an exceptional view of the Milky Way, countless constellations, and celestial events in their purest form."

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