Lorin McDaniel has been named the new General Manager of the Historic Hotel Paisano, a landmark property in the heart of downtown Marfa known for its architectural legacy and ties to Texas and Hollywood history.
The Hotel Paisano opened in 1930, just months after the 1929 stock market crash, as one of five Gateway Hotels developed by Charles Bassett and designed by famed architect Henry Trost. With 65 rooms, retail and dining space, and elegant design, it was hailed as “the most elegant hotel between El Paso and San Antonio.” During the 1930s and ’40s, it served ranchers, travelers, and tourists drawn to West Texas for its dry desert air.
In 1955, the hotel gained lasting fame as the headquarters for Warner Brothers during the filming of GIANT. Stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean—along with over 150 cast and crew—frequented the hotel’s restaurant, lounge, and ballroom throughout the six-week shoot.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978, the building fell into disrepair in the 1990s before being sold at a tax auction in 2001. Since then, it has been restored and now features 42 guest rooms, a ballroom and conference center, fitness facilities, retail space, and a restaurant with a courtyard.
McDaniel steps into leadership at a property that continues to attract visitors from across the globe. The hotel remains a cultural anchor in the region—both for its role in cinematic history and as a vibrant gathering place in present-day Marfa.
Photo by Kera Bell McDaniel.
