Artisan Hotel
	Artisan Hotel – 325 N. Kansas, El Paso, Texas 79901. (915) 225-9100.  This is a luxurious new property scheduled to open May 1, 2007.  The Artisan Hotel, located in the arts and financial district of El Paso, should be a great boon to the city’s vision of revitalizing the downtown area.  The hotel has major works of art featured prominently throughout the lobby, including the ceiling. All of the spacious rooms are themed and each displays works from an individual major artist.  The Artisan Café and Lounge will be patterned after the famous watering hole of the same name in Las Vegas where you can recline on leather couches.  The hotel will feature a daily complimentary wine tasting from 4:30-5:30pm.  For a welcome respite from the El Paso heat, visit the 5th floor rooftop pool which offers incomparable views.  Pool area includes comfortable daybeds for sunbathing and private cabanas.  Cocktail and food service available at pool.
Camino Real El Paso
	Camino Real El Paso – 101 South El Paso Street, el Paso, Texas 79901. 1-800-769-4300. This landmark hotel in the heart of El Paso was opened in 1912.  Located in el Paso’s revitalized downtown district adjacent to the newly remodeled convention center and a short 15 minute drive from the airport.  The hotel reflects the city’s colorful past.  The Camino Real is listed in the national Historical Register and offers 359 large rooms and suites decorated in an elegant style reflecting the hotel’s prestigious past.  The lobby’s grand staircase is one of the most photographed in the Southwest. The lobby and ballrooms also features exquisite crystal chandeliers and marble accents crafted by Italian artisans almost a hundred years ago.  Two dining rooms – Azeuljos featuring breakfast, regional Mexican cuisine and a fabulous Sunday brunch, or the Dome Restaurant, featuring fine upscale cuisine and a well-rounded wine list.  The Dome Bar, underneath a fabulous 25-foot diameter Tiffany cut glass dome suspended by wires, is a relaxing spot for a pre-dinner cocktail or after diner drinks. www.caminoreal.com
Cibolo Creek Ranch
	Cibolo Creek Ranch – HCR 67, Box 44, Marfa, Texas 79843. 1-800-496-9460 Cibolo Creek Ranch provides an imaginary journey back in time to the Texas frontier days that is as real as you can get.  To stay at Cibolo Creek Ranch is to experience an important part of Texas’ history.  It is truly one of the most unique vacation destinations Texas has to offer.  It’s an adventure as well as a haven of serenity and relaxation.  Located 25 miles north of the Texas-Mexico border, Cibolo Creeks Ranch’s proximity to Mexico embues the property with the overwhelming presence of the Mexico’s culture and customs.  The property is tucked away in the beautiful Chinati Mountains with elevations of 4,000-6,000 feet.  The ranch is surrounded by lush, spring-fed orchards and boasts abundant wildlife and a long and interesting history.  The ranch was founded in the 1880s by cattle baron Milton Faver. Faver married Senorita Francisca Ramirez from Chihuahua, Mexico and began a trade route between Mexico and Fort Davis, the U.S. Army post founded in 1854 in the Big Bend region.  Eventually Faver acquired a vast amount of land on Cibolo Creek where he built three forts.  The first and Faver’s stronghold, El Fortin del Cibolo (the fort of the buffalo) was built in 1857 to defend the ranch against Apaches and Comanches.  (His ranching empire boasted over 20,000 longhorns and herds of sheep and goats by the 1880s, making Faver the preeminent pioneer of the region.)  The second fort, El Fortin de la Cienega (the fort of the marsh)  was the headquarters of Faver’s cattle operation.  El Fortin de la Morita (the fort of the little mulberry tree) became the center of the sheep and goat operations.  The forts provided  beef, farm produce and Faver’s famous peach brandy to troops at Fort Davis as well as settlers in the area.  The ranch, protected by its three forts, withstood the withdrawal of Federal troops from Fort Davis during the Civil War, until the return of Federal troops in 1867.  Faver’s continued trade with Forth Davis through the late 1800s, supported their stay in the regions and ensured continued settlement of the area through the advent of the railroad. Faver was an early pioneer in the famous Texas cattle drives.  In fact, he is believed to have been the inspiration for the character Gil Faver in the old Rawhide TV series. Milton Faver died in 1889, leaving the ranch and vast holdings to his wife and only child, Juan.  Juan died in 1913, followed shortly by his mother.  The ranch and forts fell into disrepair, passing through several owners, finally succumbing to ruin.  The ranch was purchased in 200 by John Poindexter, a successful businessman.  He first purchased the property as a retreat for family, friends and business associates.  Poindexter undertook a massive restoration of the three forts with exacting historical and architectural accuracy.  The restoration project included rediscovering the art of making adobe, determining the configuration of the old walls and gardens, restoring every detail.  The State of Texas has erected five state historical markers on the ranch, describing its rich and colorful history. Elegant accommodations are available in the three restored forts.  Due to the ranch’s remote location, three gourmet meals per day are included in the price of accommodations.  The cuisine at Cibolo Creek Ranch has been featured in Travel & Leisure, Food and Wine and Gourmet magazines.  El Cibolo, largest of the forts, contains 21 guest rooms located in an adjoining hacienda.  It features a well-equipped spa, swimming pool, hot tub recreational facility and multimedia room as well as a skeet range and a museum of historical and regional artifacts.  La Cienega, located 30 minutes across the ranch from El Cibolo has 5 rooms in the actual fort and 5 rooms in an adjacent hacienda. It also offers a swimming pool and hot tub.  La Cienega also has hammocks, a well-equipped kitchen, dining room and recreation/multimedia room.  La Morita is the smallest and most remote of the forts.  It has an adobe guest cottage with a living room, full bath and a separate bedroom.  Because of its remote location La Morita does not utilize electricity.  Oil lamps and a gas-burning water heater, plus breezes and a gas-log stove provide air conditioning and heat.  Meals are served at El Cibolo.  All of the guest rooms and suites are beautifully appointed, with each one indivudally designed.  Each accommodation provides: Traditional Mexican architecture and appointments, including spacious verandas and Saltillo tile floors; Mexican and Spanish antiques complemented by down comforters, hand-stitched quilts, painted tin retablos and vintage lamps; fireplaces.  Optional activities are available by arrangement including guided tours of the ranch, horseback riding, spa services, airport shuttle, or hunting.  Pampering is included in the accommodations. www.cibolocreekranch.com
El Paisano Hotel
	El Paisano Hotel – 207 West Highland, Marfa, Texas 79843. (866) 729-3669. The El Paisano Hotel was built in 1926, designed by the same architectural firm, Trost and Trost of El Paso, that designed the Gage Hotel in Marathon and the soon to be refurbished El Capitan Hotel in Van Horn.  The hotel is a fine example of Pueblo Revival-Style Architecture,  one of the few structures of this style remaining, but its biggest claim to fame is that it was the headquarters for the making of the epic 1955 movie, Giant.  Fans still visit the hotel to view photos and memorabilia of the cast, especially James Dean.  His room in the hotel is one of the most requested.  The rooms have been modernized, but retain the original compact size and style of the original architecture. The bathrooms are small European style with French penny round tile on the floors and subway tile wainscoting on the walls.  Each bathroom has the original 1929 Kohler fixtures, but most have been refinished.  Suites are made up of two or three of the original rooms and each is different in size and configuration. Some suites have full kitchen with dining areas, living areas and semi-private outdoor patios overlooking the courtyard and fountain.  The Rock Hudson Suite, where the actor stayed during the filming of the movie has a large private roof top terrace and fireplace, separate bedroom, 1-1/2 baths, a kitchen, wet bar and sun room.  The Elizabeth Taylor Suite has one bedroom and French doors opening to a small balcony overlooking the courtyard.  The impressive fountain is the centerpiece of the hotel’s courtyard patio.  The courtyard is a popular place to enjoy morning coffee, afternoon cocktails, and dine or dance at night.  Jett’s Grill is the hotel’s dining room offering breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Dinner menu features appetizers, salads steaks and seafood plus traditional desserts. www.hotelpaisaano.com
Gage Hotel
	Gage Hotel – 102 West Highway 90, Marathon, Texas. 1-800-884-4243. The Gage Hotel was built by Alfred Gage, a prosperous banker and rancher, in 1927.  Gage needed a headquarter for his extensive operations and employed the firm of Trost and Trost of El Paso to design the hotel. The hotel quickly became a gathering place for ranchers and miners in the area.  The hotel suffered decades of neglect before it was purchased by J.P. and Mary Jon Bryan of Houston.  The Bryans completely renovated the hotel which today offers elegant accommodations furnished with period décor in a rustic, West Texas setting, surrounded by the mountains of Big Bend National Park.  A swimming pool was added.  The Los Portales rooms were added in 1992.  Accommodations include room in the original historic two-story hotel. Rooms are available with private baths or shared baths.  The Los Portales wing features 20 rooms, ten with kiva-style fireplaces.  Each of the Los Portales rooms has a covered front porch and is decorated with historical and museum quality artifacts. All Los Portales rooms open onto a central courtyard with lush landscaping and shade trees.  In addition three separate cottages are available.  In 1996, the Café Cenizo was built and today offers award-winning Texas-style cuisine. The menu includes steaks and lots of Texas game in addition to Southwestern entrees.  Superb wine list and mixed drinks.  Visit the White Buffalo Bar –  full bar, specializing in premium tequilas, with snack menu available.   When you’re headed to West Texas for some adventure, the Gage is an adventure that should definitely be included on your itinerary.  www.gagehotel.com
Hotel Limpia
	Hotel Limpia – P.O. Box 1838, Fort Davis, exas 79734. 1-800-662-5517. The original structure, which eventually became a private home, opened on may 31, 1834 in the “new town” just outside the grounds of Fort Davis, a major U.S. Calvary fortification.  When the fort was abandoned in the late 1800s, the town declined rapidly and the hotel became a private residence in the 1890s.  In 1912, the Union Trading company, owned by local stockholders, purchased land from one Pedro Guano who had been deeded the land in return for his services in the army of the Republic of Texas.  The present hotel was built on the land in 1912, constructed of local pink limestone.  The hotel, with the Davis Mountains as a backdrop, has been completely restored.  The hotel consists of four buildings and a cottage.  Thirty-nine guest rooms (including three guest houses), ten of which have 12-foot, pressed tin ceilings and are done in period furnishings.  Hotel Limpia has three suites, including the 1,100 square foot Master Suite, decorated with late-Victorian furnishings. There is a lush courtyard garden, fragrant with roses and herbs and a recently added swimming pool. There is a glassed-in veranda and covered porches with rocking chairs.  The Hotel Limpia Dining Room features traditional foods characteristic to the area.  The Sutler’s Club is a private club, with membership available to guests.  It is the only watering hole in dry Jeff Davis county and features a full bar.  Local attractions include big Bend State Park, the McDonald Observatory and the Fort Davis National Historic Site.  www.hotellimpia.com
The Thunderbird Motel
	The Thunderbird Motel – 601 West San Antonio, Marfa, Texas 79843. (432) 729-1989. Described by Arhtur Frommer’s Budget Travel 2005 as “cowboy zen”, “a 24-room oasis” by Conde Nast Traveler, May 2005, and “a cool retreat” by the New York Times in march of 2005, the Thunderbird Motel has a regular following.  The vintage motel is located in Marfa, Texas seated nearly a mile high in the Chihuahuan Desert and surrounded by stark mountains, desert beauty and breathtaking sunsets.  The motel was built in 1959 and was re-designed by a team of Lake/Flato Architects, R.L. Fletcher,  Jamey Garza and Liz Lambertto create a modern take on a traditional motel.  The guest rooms are spare yet comfortable and filled with custom-designed furniture, colorful woven Peruvian blankets and original works of local art.  The grounds behind the white stucco wall with its blue neon sign, feature a heated swimming pool and arbor-like sitting areas offering shade or a fireplace to warm up the cool desert nights.  Local attractions include the famous Marfa Mystery Lights, big Bend National Park and the McDonald Observatory.  www.thunderbirdmarfa.com