Hotel Ella
1900 Rio Grande Street
Austin, TX 78705

Property Description

 

The Hotel Ella is a boutique hotel in Austin, Texas with 47 guest rooms, including ten suites, within walking distance of The University of Texas and the State Capitol, and within minutes of the Austin Convention Center and the heart of downtown.

 

Features And Amenities

 

The property has 47 guest rooms, including ten suites all within walking distance of The University of Texas and the State Capitol, and within minutes of the Austin Convention Center and the heart of downtown. Amenities include a cabana-lined pool, 24-hour fitness center, complimentary shoe shine service, laundry & dry cleaning services, and complimentary house-car service within a 3-mile radius. Event space, including a ballroom, is available for rent for weddings, meetings and events.

 

Architectural History

 

In 1878, Thomas Dudley Wooten, one of the founders of The University of Texas, purchased the land on which Hotel Ella now sits. Wooten's son, Goodall, moved into the home on the property in 1900 with wife Ella, who oversaw its transformation into the Greek revival structure you see today. The hotel's namesake, Ella was known for her impeccable taste, calling upon Stanly Marcus of Neiman Marcus to redecorate the entire home in 1925 for $10,000—roughly a million dollars today. For the Greek columns, Ella asked the Vanderbilts for a recommendation, eventually opting to use the same stone carver who constructed the famous Biltmore Mansion in Asheville. After undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, Hotel Ella opened in 2013 as a boutique hotel, featuring 47 guest rooms, a casual American bistro called Goodall's, and an extensive art program showcasing the works of Charles Umlauf, Ansel Adams and more. Thanks to its rich history in Texas, Hotel Ella can be found on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Restrictions

 

Only dogs are allowed, and they must be under 30 pounds. All rooms are non-smoking.