Texan Hotel
Panhandle, Carson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Texan Hotel During the height of Carson County's oil boom in the 1920s, the major oil field supply houses headquartered in Panhandle, and lodging was in great demand. In 1926, Clark B. (d. 1946) and Margaret (d. 1967) Downs opened the Downs Hotel to help meet this need. It was renamed the Texan Hotel when the property was conveyed to J. H. Paul (d. 1960) in 1932. Later owners converted the Texan Hotel to apartments but continued to make a few rooms available for guests after World War II. By the early 21st century, the Texan was the only hotel built in Panhandle during the oil boom years that remained in operation. (2002)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When Carson County's oil boom peaked in the 1920s, Panhandle became a hub for oil-field supply houses and lodging was scarce. Clark and Margaret Downs opened the Downs Hotel in 1926 to meet the demand; it became the Texan Hotel after changing hands in 1932. Later converted partly to apartments, it still welcomed a few guests after World War II and, by the early 21st century, was the last boom-era hotel in Panhandle still operating.
Why it matters
The Texan Hotel is a survivor of the Texas Panhandle oil rush, embodying the sudden boomtown prosperity that reshaped rural communities in the early 20th century.
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Related people
- · Clark B. Downs
- · Margaret Downs
- · J. H. Paul
Themes & tags
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