Restoring South West Texas History One Brick at a Time....
New owner will bring George West Hotel back to life
It has sat vacant for too many years and pigeons have been its only guests, but a new owner has plans to bring the George West Hotel back to life. Rob Ord, a businessman and entrepreneur, has purchased the building and is already drawing up plans and prepping the building for renovations.
Ord’s plans are to have the hotel open in October 2026 barring any major obstacles. Hotel rooms will be on the upper floor and the first floor will have a bar and restaurant. Once it opens, 15-20 people will be employed.
A fence has already gone up around the building so work can be started. The first item on the renovation list is to clean up the interior that is currently filled with dirt, broken windowpanes, old furniture and fixtures and graffiti. Temporary windows will be installed, as well as temporary connections to provide air conditioning and water for workers. Most of the construction will happen in 2025. The second floor will be completed gutted, and a new concrete floor will be poured. On the first floor, most of the layout will be preserved with some ceiling modifications made for air conditioning and electrical systems.
The building has been through a series of owners, so why is Ord taking on this tremendous challenge? “I love this hotel. Every time I drove through George West and saw the hotel, I thought, ‘Someone needs to do something.’ I decided that if it ever came up for sale, I would buy it.” The opportunity did arise and now Ord plans to spend about $5 million in total renovation costs.
Ord’s vision is to preserve as much of the hotel as possible, but create 12 guest rooms that are modern, spacious and private. Originally, when the hotel was built in 1917, there were about 18 rooms on the second floor, and guests shared restrooms and bathtubs. The hotel provided railroad travelers a nice place to stay, and today trains continued to pass right by the hotel, which will require good insulation. Over 100 windows will be replaced, and the building will be updated to become energy efficient. Guests will also be able to enjoy a deck area and spa.
The first floor will have a grand entrance with a turnstile front door. Using a black, white and gold color scheme, visitors will be greeted by a grand staircase. To the right of the entrance will be a bar and a patio deck outside. Ord is planning to use what was once the old bank’s teller cages at part of the bar. Toward the back will be an upscale restaurant, mainly open for evening dinners and brunch on Sunday. Off to the left is a separate room, and while there are not specific plans for it yet, Ord thinks it would be an ideal place for a bakery.
Ord, the President/CEO of a national security firm, explained that while he is not a construction expert, through his business he has worked with many professionals who are. He is the owner and recently completed construction of The Nest, an event facility, located outside of George West. Looking at the outside of the George West Hotel, he gets excited thinking about what is to come. “It’s beautiful. It makes you wonder about the history and who all stayed here.”
Janet Cunningham
Jun 7, 2024
