Historic Motel in Texas Hill Country Lists for $2.5M

A unique opportunity has arisen in the Texas Hill Country, for real estate investors and history buffs alike.

The Stonewall Motor Lodge, a vintage motel with ties to former President Lyndon B. Johnson, has hit the market for $2.5 million, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The property is about 90 minutes west of Austin, near Fredericksburg.

Built in 1964, the Stonewall Motor Lodge was created to provide accommodations for the U.S. Secret Service and White House press corps during LBJ’s stays at his nearby ranch along the Pedernales River. The motel, situated on 3 acres, offers direct access to U.S. Highway 290.

The motel underwent a major renovation and rebranding under the ownership of Anita Ortiz Lubke, her husband Lance and a consortium of family members and friends, who bought it in 2019.

“I’ve always loved renovating old properties and seeing them come back to life,” Ortiz Lubke told the outlet. “This one was special because it had such a unique Texas history.”

LBJ State Park, about half a mile from the hotel, served as President Johnson’s personal ranch, often referred to as the Texas White House. The small town of Stonewall lacked sufficient lodging for the influx of media, Secret Service and dignitaries accompanying the president, prompting family friends of the Johnsons, Tillie and Kermitt Hahne, to open the Stonewall Motor Lodge.

The motel has hosted the likes of Walter Cronkite, Jimmy Carter, Carol Channing, Gregory Peck, Anthony Perkins, Douglas MacArthur, Sen. Ted Kennedy and Buzz Aldrin, according to its website.

Today, the Stonewall Motor Lodge features 12 rooms, four cabins, four RV spaces and an upstairs deck offering scenic Hill Country views. The property remains a popular destination, as it’s surrounded by wineries, distilleries, breweries, wedding venues and natural attractions like Enchanted Rock.

“Every time I drive out to the hotel, there’s a new winery, restaurant, or shop going up,” Ortiz Lubke said. “For the new buyers, this is an opportunity to be in the middle of the explosive growth, and there is area to expand on the property.”

—Quinn Donoghue