major award

Las Colinas' Ritz-Carlton gains entry into elite club with Michelin Key

The spa is among various amenities that earned the Ritz Michelin accolades.

Photo courtesy of Ritz-Carlton

An iconic luxury retreat in Irving's Las Colinas district is one of seven Texas properties awarded a coveted Michelin Key this year. The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas — which was the Four Seasons prior to a multimillion dollar renovation and rebranding — joins several other Texas resorts to make this year's list, including:

In its entry on the Michelin website, the Guide’s inspectors admire the way The Ritz-Carlton's sprawling 400-acre retreat, complete with golf course, several hundred guest rooms, suites, and poolside villas "all but blend into a hilly Las Colinas landscape."

They add that although "golf is the draw, tennis and pickleball courts, three pools and a spa keep guests busy off the course."

Hotel representatives in a press release said they are honored to earn what they consider a "top-of-the-industry achievement" that is a "true testament to our ladies and gentlemen who work tirelessly to deliver unforgettable service."

"Following our massive property transformation," they add, "this accolade underscores our commitment to establishing a new benchmark for luxury hospitality here in North Texas."

Announced Friday, September 18, Michelin added 65 properties in America to its list of Key-worth stays, bringing the overall total to more than 350 hotels nationwide. Several Dallas-area hotels have previously been awarded keys, including last year's recipients Casa Duro on Greenville Avenue, Hotel Swexan in Uptown, Hotel Zaza in Uptown, and Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, all of which received a one key ranking.

The Bowie House, Auberge Collection in Fort Worth maintained its two-key ranking from 2024.

The state’s only two key properties are the Commodore Perry Estate (Austin) and Hotel Emma (San Antonio). No properties in Texas hold three Michelin Keys.

Similar to the famous Michelin Stars awarded to restaurants, hotels may receive one, two, or three keys, which is defined as follows:

One Michelin Key for hotels that offer "very special" stays with service that "provides significantly more than similarly priced establishments."
Two Michelin Keys for "exceptional stays" where memorable guest experiences are "always guaranteed" with a special emphasis on the hotel's design or architecture.
Three Michelin Keys for hotels that provide "extraordinary stays" for "the ultimate in comfort and service, style and elegance."

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SHUCK AND AWE

Farm near Texas Gulf coast honors Dolly Parton with corn maze attraction

Photo courtesy of The MAiZE Inc

San Antonians can find the corn maze near Corpus Christi.

A farm near Corpus Christi is giving a larger-than-life salute to Dolly Parton. Rockin’ K Farms, in Robstown, Texas, has built a massive corn maze in tribute to the country music icon, who passed away in late August.

The maze is one of 20 U.S. attractions designed by Utah-based The MAiZE Inc. The corn maize consulting company has gone viral in recent years for its campaigns honoring some of Nashville’s biggest stars, including Reba McEntire in 2023, Luke Bryan in 2024, and Lainey Wilson in 2025.

"We are beyond humbled to honor Dolly's legacy, joining the world in mourning the passing of a true American treasure," says MAiZE founder Brett Herbst in a release. "Dolly's impact on the world and her love for farming is immeasurable, and our corn maze tributes now take on new meaning and significance.”

The Robstown maze features a profile of the late singer sporting her signature big, blonde hairdo. A guitar and butterfly — Parton’s personal symbol since childhood — complete the image.

Dolly Parton passed away on August 25. Photo courtesy of Dolly Parton

Once inside the labyrinth, guests at Rockin’ K will be able to hunt for clues and play an interactive trivia game testing their knowledge of all things Dolly. Throughout the fall season, visitors will also be able to pose for photo ops, take part in storytelling sessions, and listen to live music.

Fittingly, the corn mazes honor Parton’s philanthropic work as much as her musical legacy. Each participating site will donate a portion of their proceeds to Imagination Library, the singer’s nonprofit literacy program that provides free books to children from birth to age five.

The charitable contribution might have been one reason Parton gave the project her blessing, even though she sometimes shied away from tributes.

“I’m grateful for the support of my Imagination Library and am excited to invite people out to get lost in this year’s country music corn maze for a little fun, laughter, and a real good reason to get lost,” Parton said in a statement prior to her death.

In addition to the Dolly corn maze, visitors to Rockin’ K will also find plenty of other family friendly fun, including mini golf, slides, a petting zoo, paintball, and backyard games. There’s also festival food and a pumpkin patch for those who want to carve out their own Parton homages at home.

The Dolly Parton corn maze is open September 26-November 7 and included in regular Rockin’ K admission ($19.61 online). Hours are noon-10 pm on Saturdays and noon-7 pm on Sundays, except for Halloween night, when the farm closes at 5 pm. Rockin' K Farms is located at 5385 County Rd 52 in Robstown.

For other ideas for a Dolly pilgrimage, check out this story.

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