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Braniff Airways flight attendant college to become Dallas boutique hotel

They'll keep some original features including the famed "Passion Pit."

Photo courtesy of Braniff

A vintage building near Dallas Love Field that was once part of Braniff Airlines is being redeveloped into a boutique hotel.

Located at 2801 Wycliff Ave., the building was home to Braniff International's Hostess College, built in 1968 as a dormitory and training center for flight attendants.

Braniff Airways is the former airline, based in Dallas; the company is now a branding/marketing and tour firm.

According to a release, Braniff Airways chairman Richard Ben Cass signed a deal with MM Property Holdings, Inc. (Centurion American); "MM" is Mehrdad Moayed, who restored the Statler Hilton Hotel in downtown Dallas in 2018.

The property will be a luxury hotel with approximately 75 hotel rooms, plus pool, restaurant, and gift shop.

The building itself is minimal: a five-story rectangle with windows on the top three floors — "mid-century internationalism style," according to the Texas Historical Commission.

Braniff went out of business as an airline in 1982. But nostalgia for the airline's mid-century modern flair, embodied by the iconic colorful Pucci uniforms the flight attendants wore, lingers.

The renovation of the building will retain some of its original character, including most famously a sunken fireplace lounge nicknamed the Passion Pit.

A Braniff boutique will sell Braniff-branded goods such as model airplanes and T-shirts. Braniff designs include creations by big names such as Alexander Girard, Emilio Pucci, Halston, Harper and George, and Alexander Calder.

Braniff also has an online retail store, and administers an employee discount travel progam.

This will be the only Braniff hotel in existence in the United States, but the release says that additional Braniff hotels are planned for other former Braniff destinations.

The hotel is part of a larger renovation of Braniff's operation and maintenance base. In 2019, the company signed an agreement with the Dallas Cowboys, TACAir, Lincoln Property Company, and Randall Reed Enterprises authorizing their use of the Braniff name at the former 1958 Braniff International Operations and Maintenance Base located at 7701 Lemmon Ave., with whom they're working to preserve their signature hangar, which boasts a mid-century-era dual butterfly design.

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Best of the South

Southern Living lauds Hill Country hotspot among best towns in the South

Photo by Steve Rawls

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The famous German Hill Country town of Fredericksburg is getting the spotlight as a must-visit destination in Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Awards.

Fredericksburg claimed the coveted No. 3 spot in the publication's ranking of the Best Small Towns in the South.

The annual awards are determined through third-party online surveys of Southern Living consumers from July 9 to September 9, 2025. Over 17,000 respondents rated their favorite places across the South, the report said.

The top two best small Southern towns were St. Augustine, Florida (No. 1), and St. Simons Island/Golden Isles, Georgia (No. 2).

Specifically, Southern Living gave a nod to Fredericksburg's growth and the recent addition of The Albert Hotel, which opened in 2025. The Albert Hotel was ranked the 10th best new hotel in 2026.

"The city’s premier full-service luxury hotel revives a cluster of 19th-century landmarks, from a historic saloon to a former pharmacy that is now a cafe, deli, and artisan market," the report said. "Alongside the 105 minimalist guest rooms, a holistic spa and a limestone pool provide moments of quiet relaxation."

We all need a relaxing day poolside at the Albert Hotel pool oasis.Photo by Chase Daniels

As the Fredericksburg area grows, Southern Living said, it still maintains its cozy, small-town feel.

"Fredericksburg still wears its German heritage on its sleeve, evident throughout Main Street architecture and a lively cluster of biergartens and long-running seasonal festivals," Southern Living wrote. "Wine lovers will feel particularly at home thanks to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms scattered throughout town and the surrounding countryside."

It's no wonder Southern Living decided to locate its 2026 Idea House there.

Popular events like the Fredericksburg Food & Wine Festival and locally focused programs like the Texas Hill Country Wineries wine passports draw in crowds from all parts of Texas. The town is about a five-hour drive from downtown Dallas, which makes it a great weekend or spring break escape. North Texas travelers might even spot small patches of bluebonnets during their road trip through the Hill Country.

No matter which route you take, travelers should make a pit stop through another small Texas town called Marble Falls, which is home to one of Southern Living's most legendary Southern restaurants: Blue Bonnet Cafe. According to the report, its longstanding staff members embody the idea of "southern hospitality" every day.

"There’s one real reason the Blue Bonnet Cafe is so widely respected: The folks who run the place have been holding this small-town diner to high standards for years," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe opened in 1929 and was later bought by the Kemper family in 1981, who still own and operate it today. Southern Living recommends ordering one of the blue plate specials, and a slice of pie is a mandatory treat.

"With 15 options — from luxuriously creamy to bright and fruity — you’re guaranteed to find one you’ll love," the report said.

Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas Ordering a slice of pie is a requirement, not a suggestion.Blue Bonnet Cafe - Marble Falls, TX/Facebook

The only other Texas destination to earn recognition in Southern Living's annual awards was the iconic Franklin Barbecue in Austin, which was crowned the best barbecue joint in Texas by the publication's readers.

"Fans from around the world queue up for hours to experience the craftsmanship that has made Franklin a barbecue celebrity," the report said. "Flawless prime-grade brisket with a sweet, tangy glaze is still the showstopper here, and it’s accompanied by the quintessential Central Texas lineup of pork ribs, turkey, and jalapeño-Cheddar sausage."

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