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History

Discover the Hotel Settles, which appeared in the film Midnight Cowboy.

A member of Historic Hotels of America since 2011, the Hotel Settles is one of the best historic hotels in all of Texas. This fantastic holiday destination offers a rich history and retains a notable place in the story of the town of Big Spring. Sitting on what once was railroad company land, the corner of Third Street and Runnels has been through numerous changes over the years. Once alive with antelope and turkey, this rugged land slowly gave way to cowboys and buffalo hunters visiting the nearby saloons and dance halls toward the end of the 1800s. During the oil boom of the late 1920s, W.R. Settles bought the location and began construction on this landmark building.

The cost of original construction was reported to be $500,000 – a fortune in those days. Opening in October 1930 to great fanfare and support by the local community, Hotel Settles was often compared to the finest hotels of the day. In its earlier incarnation, the hotel hosted notable guests including Elvis Presley, Lawrence Welk, President Herbert Hoover, and many others. The building was occupied until the early 1980s, at which point it was out of service until renovation began around 2006. Its extensive restoration has reclaimed its place as a true icon of West Texas grace and hospitality.

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Hotel Timeline

Will R. and Lillian Settles developed the 15-story hotel after oil was discovered on their ranch. Architect David S. Castle designed the reinforced-concrete building, which included 150 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a pharmacy. At the time, it was the tallest building between El Paso and Fort Worth, and its doors opened in October 1930.
 

Will and Lillian Settles sold the hotel after two years as the Great Depression reduced their oil revenue. The property subsequently passed through several owners.

The decline of the West Texas oil economy and mounting repair costs forced Hotel Settles to close. The building then remained vacant for nearly 30 years.

Hotel Settles was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, recognizing its architectural and historical importance.

Big Spring native G. Brint Ryan purchased the deteriorated hotel and launched plans for its restoration. The extensive project was designed to preserve the building’s historic Art Deco character while adapting it for use as a modern hotel.

Hotel Settles was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Following an approximately $30 million restoration, the former 150-room hotel was reborn as a 65-room historic property. The project restored significant architectural details and public spaces, allowing Hotel Settles to reopen in December 2012, after nearly three decades of closure.

Following the hotel’s reopening, construction and restoration continued in other areas of the property. Hotel Settles was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural significance and connection to Big Spring’s oil-boom development.

The West Texas Historical Association presented “A Grand Dame Shines Again: Big Spring’s Hotel Settles During Eighty-five Years of Boom, Bust, and Boom” at its annual conference in April 2015.

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