tween San Antonio and El Paso. In
1955, motion pictures came to Marfa
and the Paisano was headquarters for
Warner Brothers and the filming of the
movie Giant, starring James Dean,
Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.
Learn more at www.HotelPaisano.com
HOTEL EL CAPITAN
VAN HORN, TEXAS
The El Capitan was also constructed
in 1930 by Bassett and built by McKee
Construction. The design is very similar to the Hotel Paisano, although
smaller at 26,000 square feet and 52
rooms. The El Capitan exterior design
and lobby finish follows the same Spanish Colonial Revival emphasis with an
exterior courtyard, cast concrete ornamentation, wrought ironwork, tile
work, exposed ceiling beams and high
ceilings.
Today the current owner, who also
owns the Paisano, has beautifully restored both hotels, making them destinations again.
Learn more at www.HotelinVanHorn.com
THE GAGE HOTEL
MARATHON, TEXAS
The Gage was constructed in 1927 as
a hotel and ranch headquarters office
by Alfred Gage, a prominent TransPecos rancher. It was built by H.T.
Ponsford of El Paso. This building contains many Spanish Colonial design influences but represents Trost’s
embrace of alternatives to that style
and his design flexibility. It is a simpler building than the other hotels
mentioned here but it’s purpose was
different serving the needs of its owner
– office and home away from home.
While incorporating some Mission elements - particularly on the interior exterior ornamentation is less pronounced than on other Trost designs.
Current owners have restored and ex-
ALFRED S. GAGE
(1860-1928)
Alfred S. Gage moved from Vermont to
Texas in 1879 at age 19 to join his
brother Edward who had acquired
land in Presidio and Pecos counties.
After working on some ranches in
North Texas, Gage moved to
Marathon in 1881 to take charge of a
small herd of cattle his brother owned,
earning $100 a month.
By 1912, Gage acquired full ownership
of his brothers cattle company having
suffered through the drought and agricultural depression of the 1880’s and
early 90’s. Gage continued to acquire
land in the area until he owned much
of the most valuable land in the TransPecos area. Gage moved to San Antonio in the early twentieth century and
was a leading businessman there serving for many years as the Presdent of
the San Antonio Water Company. In
1927 he built the Gage Hotel as a
ranch office and for a comfortable
place to stay on visits to the area.
Gage died in June 1928 from surgery
complications, unable to fully enjoy his
hotel. Upon his death he was remembered as a man who "...never went
back on a friend and never endeavored
to get the best of any by any unfair
means. He was always ready to do
what he could for the benefit of the
people and community."
Today,
Marathon - and the Big Bend - benefit
from his desire to bring a well- designed hotel to the region.
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