The historic Hotel Paisano in downtown Marfa is under contract to be sold to new owners, with new details obtained by Big Bend Times confirming both the buyers’ identities and their initial plans for the landmark property.
Lauren Werner King and her husband, Harrison King, confirmed they are under contract to purchase the hotel and hope to close on the transaction July 1. The couple currently owns and operates Willow House, a boutique lodging property near Terlingua, and lives in Marfa with their young son.
Big Bend Times previously confirmed through hotel staff that the Paisano would be changing ownership, though employees at the time said they did not know the identity of the buyers. Representatives at the Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn — another historic West Texas hotel associated with the same ownership group — also confirmed they were aware the Paisano had been in the process of being sold, while noting that El Capitan itself remains under its current ownership.
The Kings’ confirmation provides the first public clarity about the transaction and the future direction of one of the most recognizable properties in the Big Bend region.
“We are so excited. It is a dream project,” Lauren Werner King said in a message to Big Bend Times. She expressed gratitude to current owners Joe and Lanna Duncan, saying the family trusted them with the historic property.
Harrison King has personal ties to Fort Davis and the current owners, having grown up with the Duncan family, which Werner King described as “like family.”
The Hotel Paisano, located at 207 North Highland Avenue, opened in 1930 and was designed by noted architect Henry Trost in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The hotel is widely known for hosting the cast and crew of the 1956 film Giant, starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean, during filming in the region. Over the decades, it has remained a centerpiece of Marfa’s tourism economy and cultural identity.
According to the prospective owners, operations will remain largely unchanged in the short term following the sale. However, significant updates are planned over time.
“We will keep the hotel operating as is in the short term,” Werner King said. “Over the summer we will reimagine the dining program entirely with hopes to open the new restaurant and bar by mid-September.”
Room renovations are also planned, though they will occur in phases to minimize disruption. The owners anticipate temporarily closing the hotel for approximately two months between mid-January and mid-March during the renovation process.
The couple plans to manage and design the project themselves while preserving the building’s historic character.
“We want to honor the original integrity of the architecture,” Werner King said, adding that their goal is for the hotel to remain both a community asset and a welcoming destination for visitors.
Ownership changes at the Paisano are closely watched locally due to the hotel’s economic impact on downtown Marfa and its role in regional tourism. Future renovations and repositioning could influence visitor patterns and business activity throughout the city.
Big Bend Times will continue to report updates as the transaction progresses toward closing.
