History runs deep in Texas.
Known for its wide-open spaces, petroleum industry and ranching heritage, the Lone Star State has more than its share of great stories to tell. Meeting groups can tap into Texas’ mighty past at these historic venues.
Plaza Theatre Performing Arts Center
El Paso
El Paso’s historic Plaza Theatre was built in 1930 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It features beautifully painted ceilings, mosaic-tile floors, decorative metal railings and a Mighty Wurlitzer Blaban III organ, with 1,071 pipes that can simulate 15 different instruments. The theater is one of a handful of atmospheric theaters that are still in operation in the U.S. It is called atmospheric because the theater’s design and painted flourishes make the audience feel they are sitting in an open-air Spanish courtyard instead of an enclosed space.
The theater was restored to its original splendor in 2006 after sitting vacant for 30 years. The 2,050-seat Kendall Kidd Performance Hall is large enough to bring in large touring Broadway musicals. It also is a great place to host lectures, opening sessions of conferences and movie screenings.
The Philanthropy Theatre, above the main theater on the third level, can host groups of 200. The rooftop Alcantar Sky Garden is a beautiful outdoor space for receptions, mixers or icebreakers of up to 130 people. Arts Festival Plaza, located between the Plaza Theatre and the El Paso Museum of Art, is another outdoor event space for larger groups.
1877 Tall Ship ELISSA
Galveston
Tall Ship ELISSA is a square-rigged iron barque that was built in 1877. It was brought to the Galveston Historic Seaport by the Galveston Historical Foundation from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, for restoration work in 1978. By 1982, the restoration was completed, and the ship was turned into a floating museum.
The ship is the top attraction at the seaport because it is one of only three vessels of its kind in the world that are still actively sailing. It welcomes more than 40,000 visitors annually and is considered the official tall ship of Texas. At the time it was built, the beautiful ship was used to ship cargo all over the world. It actually made port in Galveston twice in the late 1800s, so it has a connection to the waterfront it calls home.
Groups can incorporate the ship into their events. Many will rent out the pier and ship for banquets for up to 300 guests. The pier can accommodate 200, and the ship can host 100. There’s also a small room inside the seaport that can hold groups of up to 50. It has a window that overlooks the ship and the pier.
There are no kitchen facilities on board ELISSA, but catered food can be brought in, along with beer, white wine and cocktails. Red wine is not allowed because it would stain the wood if spilled.
The Gage Hotel
Marathon
The Gage Hotel sits in the rugged Chihuahua Desert in the small town of Marathon. It was built in 1926 by Alfred Gage, who amassed a ranching empire of over 500,000 acres. At the time, Marathon didn’t have much in the way of lodging, so Gage decided to build a hotel to use as a base to oversee his ranching operation. The hotel officially opened in 1927.
Built in the Spanish mission style with 14 guestrooms, the Gage offers several other lodging types. Los Portales is a pueblo-style adobe brick building next door that houses 20 guest rooms surrounding a central courtyard. The Captain Shepard House, which was built in 1890 and was fully restored in 2012, is a Colonial-style, two-story, five-bedroom main building with a two-room carriage house. There are also six casitas.
The Gage Hotel was purchased by J.P. Bryan, a descendant of Stephen Austin, in 1978. He has spent the past 40 years restoring it, and the town of Marathon, to its former glory. Meeting groups can tap into the history of the area by hosting events on its beautifully landscaped grounds. The 27-acre Gage Gardens offers a wrought-iron gazebo with an open dance court and a large firepit circled by banquette seating that can easily accommodate large groups for parties or weddings. The Captain Shepard House has a large private yard that can host parties or banquets for 60 guests.
The Ritchey Building can accommodate up to 250 in a restored, historic mercantile building.
Cactus Theater
Lubbock
Built in 1937, Lubbock’s Cactus Theater served as a single-screen movie house from 1938 to 1958. Originally it featured 720 seats and a marquee with 750 feet of neon lighting. When it closed in 1958, it was stripped of its interior furnishings by Greer Iron Works. It wasn’t until 1993 that Lubbock music producer Don Caldwell purchased the theater in the hopes of turning it into a venue that would showcase West Texas performers.
As part of the renovation, the theater retained its balcony, sloped floor and stage. The projection booth was redesigned to hold spotlights and a state-of-the-art sound and light system. Nearly 400 seats were installed, along with a concession stand and bathrooms in the lobby.
The Catus reopened in 1995 as a live performance venue. In 2016, Lubbock businessman and music promoter Darryl Holland purchased the theater, which continues to bring in top talent, including national and regional touring acts. He installed a large retractable screen and a digital laser projection system to show movies. He also updated the sound and lighting. Groups can rent the theater for private screenings, corporate getaways or business presentations.
The theater is unique in that it has an in-house band. If the theater isn’t booked with concerts or comedians, Holland will put on his own productions, such as “The British Invasion,” which features the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, or “A Tribute to Progressive Rock.”
The Grand Hotel and Ballroom
McKinney
The building that is now the Grand Hotel in McKinney was built in 1885 and served as a mercantile until the 1920s. The second floor of the building was the Heard Opera House until a portion of it was destroyed by fire in 1910. In its heyday, the Opera House hosted John Philip Sousa’s band, which played “Stars and Stripes Forever.” After the fire, the property was purchased by Woolworths, which operated there until the 1970s.
The current owner, Rick Wells, and his partner purchased the building in the late 1990s. The original hotel with 14 rooms was built 17 years ago, and a hotel tower with 31 rooms was built two years later and connected to the historic building. A grand ballroom was created in the space once occupied by the Opera House, and Rick’s Chophouse, a four-star restaurant, was added on the ground floor of the hotel. The property is decorated with Southwestern flair, and all of the furniture and art are locally sourced, including lamps and iron tables in the guest rooms.
The hotel is centrally located with easy access to shops, restaurants and nightlife. Groups can rent out three private dining spaces on the property that total 4,100 square feet. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 150 for a plated dinner or 170 for a cocktail reception. Rick’s 110 is a private dining and meeting space with its own entrance through the lobby. It can host 75 guests for dinner. The Wine Room and Library are ideal for smaller groups.
