P.A. Smith Hotel
Navasota, Texas
111 S. Railroad St., Navasota, Texas 77868
Original Property Opened in 1876
Historic Hotels of America member since 2026
P.A. Smith Hotel in Navasota, Texas is a AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel offering custom staterooms, refined event spaces, and thoughtfully curated amenities. The hotel is an authentic piece of Brazos Valley’s living history. Financed by Louisa Loften in 1876, P.A. Smith Hotel was named after her husband, a Philip Aurene “P.A.” Smith, a New York–born schoolteacher turned businessman who had arrived in Navasota in 1869 during the railroad boom. An ambitious community leader, Smith built newspapers, businesses, and the Navasota Opera House. Promoting her new hotel located just across from the booming railroad station, Loften advertised that the hotel’s stables were “kept in perfect order,” the tables were “supplied with the best the market affords,” and that no guest had ever missed their train. In 2019, thoughtful restoration combined the historic P.A. Smith Hotel with the adjoining Giesel House, the oldest building in Grimes County and a National Register landmark. Two of the oldest remaining structures in the town were given new life and incorporated into the refurbished historic boutique hotel, once again welcoming visitors to charming Navasota.
Discover
- Discover P.A. Smith Hotel, a historic structure comprised of two buildings constructed in 1860 and 1876 during Navasota’s railroad expansion. Preservation efforts by local historians and community leaders helped save the structures, and they exist today as part of Navasota’s Historic Railroad District.
- Discover the stories behind the historic hotel through a guided hotel tour. Staff share the history of the Historic Railroad District, Texas Ranger and former Navasota City Marshal Frank Hamer (for whom the hotel’s speakeasy is named), and the work required to restore the buildings.
- Discover original craftsmanship throughout the hotel. Spot the pressed tin elements and cast iron on the façade. The cast iron work was manufactured by Pullis Brothers of St. Louis, Missouri. Much of the interior woodwork was crafted with local timber. The flooring in the guestrooms is a long leaf yellow pine, a hardwood harvested from the East Texas Pine Forest, while the wood paneling throughout is fashioned from native Texas pecan, the state tree of Texas. Some pieces of pine were removed during the renovation and repurposed into beautiful tables on the third floor of the hotel and in the neighboring Red Board Tavern & Table.
Explore
- Explore Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site, known as the Birthplace of Texas, where 59 delegates met in 1836 to declare independence from Mexico and draft the Constitution of the Republic of Texas. The site includes Independence Hall, the Star of the Republic Museum, the Barrington Living History Farm, and interactive exhibits interpreting the people and events that shaped the Republic of Texas.
- Explore the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in nearby College Station, Texas. The presidential library houses permanent exhibits, presidential artifacts, archival collections, and rotating galleries that examine President Bush’s life and public service. The site is also the burial site of the former president.
- Explore the scenic landscapes of Brazos Valley. Guests can spend the day hiking and birdwatching along the trails at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site or kayaking sections of the Brazos River. The surrounding countryside offers opportunities for cycling, nature photography, wildflower viewing in spring, and scenic drives through rolling ranchlands.
Experience
- Experience Navasota through the hotel’s proud partnerships with local wellness and recreation providers. Guests have access to spa services and a nearby fitness center, while Pecan Lakes Golf Club, an award-winning links-style course, is located just minutes away. The hotel’s 14-passenger shuttle is available for select events and group transportation.
- Experience why Navasota was named the Blues Capital of Texas. Born in 1895, the Navasota-born Mance Lipscomb rose to fame as a local blues singer and guitar player before creating his first record in 1963. Today, visitors can enjoy live music throughout the Historic Railroad District and annual events such as the Navasota Blues Fest. Hamer’s Speakeasy at P.A. Smith Hotel continues this musical heritage with live music every Friday and Saturday night.
- Browse the region’s antique scene, which draws collectors, designers, and treasure hunters from across Texas and beyond. Seasonal antique fairs, vintage markets, architectural salvage shops, and independently owned galleries offer opportunities to browse everything from fine furnishings and artwork to Texas memorabilia and one-of-a-kind finds.
Taste
- Enjoy a long-standing tradition at the historic hotel during Wednesday Afternoon Tea. The service features finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, pastries, and seasonal sweets.
- Taste local favorites in Navasota. Red Board Tavern & Table is the hotel’s partner restaurant serving American fare with Cajun influence. Texas barbecue, an old-fashioned creamery, regional brews, a honey farm, and local wineries are all within a short distance of the hotel.
- Sample craft cocktails at Hamer’s Speakeasy, the Prohibition-themed bar at P.A. Smith Hotel. Or enjoy the daily happy hour at Louisa’s Cache coffee shop inside the hotel while browsing the shop’s charming boutique.
FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS
Featured Offers
Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
