The state of Texas has acquired two historic hotels located near the Alamo in downtown San Antonio. The Crockett Hotel at 320 Bonham and the Menger Hotel at 204 Alamo Plaza were purchased by the Texas General Land Office on August 21, according to Bexar County records. While the sale price was not disclosed, both properties had a combined assessed value of $55 million, as reported by the San Antonio Business Journal.
Ownership of the hotels will remain with the state, which will partner with Ohio-based investor Rockbridge for daily management operations. The previous owner was Galveston-based 1859-Historic Hotels, a company controlled by the Moody family.
Kate Rogers, executive director of the Alamo Trust, said that integrating these two hotels into the visitor experience would help provide a seamless and immersive experience for guests to the Alamo. “By securing the footprint around the Alamo Complex for the State of Texas, we are protecting these hallowed grounds and enhancing one of our nation’s most sacred historical sites,” said Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham.
The acquisition is part of ongoing efforts to revamp the area surrounding the Alamo. A $550 million renovation project is underway that includes development of new educational and visitor centers. In May 2024, San Antonio’s City Council voted to transfer ownership of the Alamo Cenotaph monument to the General Land Office as part of these updates to public spaces such as Plaza de Valero.
Last year, in another significant move related to this redevelopment effort, Texas used eminent domain to purchase Moses Rose’s Hideout—a bar adjacent to the Alamo—for $6.75 million after its owner declined an earlier offer from the state.
Both hotels have deep historical significance. The Menger Hotel dates back to 1859 and has hosted numerous U.S. Presidents over its long history. Its bar is known as a place where Teddy Roosevelt recruited members for his Rough Riders cavalry unit in 1898 before heading to Cuba during the Spanish-American War. The Crockett Hotel was constructed in 1909.
