Hotel News

Hotel Swexan opens in Dallas' Harwood District with art and high design

One of 134 guest rooms at Hotel Swexan.

Marco Galloway

Opening day has arrived for Hôtel Swexan, the first hotel from Dallas-based Harwood International, which owns the 19-block Harwood neighborhood and its menagerie of restaurants and bars such as Happiest Hour, Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, and Dolce Riviera.

It opens with design by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, five culinary concepts, a female master sommelier, a rooftop infinity pool with 180 degree views, and a museum-grade art collection.

Even the press release accompanying the opening has a certain flair: "Fusing its Swiss heritage with Texan hospitality (as detonated by its moniker), the hotel was founded on an acute attention-to-detail, service, and best-in-class amenities and design, while also sharing a playful, familial spirit in a way that only a local Texas born and bred hotel knows how." Pause for a moment to savor: as detonated by its moniker.

The hotel has:

mirrored exterior to blend in and reflect its surroundings
hand-carved stone and wooden fireplaces on every floor
a grand foyer that serves as backdrop for artworks that will change year-round
carved millwork walls, plank wood ceilings and wood parquet floors
Hermès scarves, designed for the founder’s art collection, displayed throughout the hotel

Rooms
The 134 guest rooms have a residential feel, five-fixture baths, Le Labo body and hair care products, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Dallas skyline, and eight suites, no two alike, including:

Grand Swexan suite combining masculine color palette, antique statement pieces, and private sauna
District Suite with leathers, metals, and a chandelier made of solid glass whiskey decanters
Harwood Suite featuring high contrast natural marble and wood details, a dining room, a private sauna, and 1.5 bath

Extras
On the 20th floor: infinity edge rooftop pool stretching 75 feet with chaise loungers and cabanas.

On the 6th floor: event space with Corinthian details, including floor-to-ceiling white millwork walls, marble floors, brass chandeliers, and antique hand-carved fireplaces.

On the 8th floor: fitness center with city views, cold plunge, outdoor green space for outdoor yoga, bootcamps, and pilates, separate wet and dry saunas for men and women.

Food
The hotel has a steakhouse, tea room, and library cocktail lounge open to the public, plus two other options open only to hotel guests. (A previous story has info on the menus and other details.)

Stillwell’s is a Texas steakhouse with Harwood Premium Beef from Akaushi cattle and Master Sommelier Barbara Werley.

Isabelle's is an afternoon tea enclave with a Parisian-inspired patio that transforms to a martini bar at night.

Babou's and Library at Babou’s is a two-story intimate library with a cocktail lounge, DJ sets, and eclectic décor.

Pomelo and Leonie are two spots for international cuisine and drinks on the rooftop, reserved for hotel guests.

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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