A historic hotel in downtown San Antonio is gearing up to reopen this fall as a vibrant “urban oasis” as it undergoes renovations that aim to honor its heritage as a storied property, according to a release obtained by Hotel Dive.
The midcentury El Tropicano, located along the city’s bustling 15-mile River Walk, will reopen as the 315-room Sítio El Tropicano (Sitio translates to “place” in English). The historic property originally opened in 1962 and was the first hotel to open along the iconic urban waterway and popular tourist attraction.
Chicago-based developer Trestle Studio, alongside Austin, Texas-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, is overseeing the design of the property. The project marks the duo’s first in San Antonio following collaborations on The Line Hotel, Hotel Ella and the South Congress Hotel in Austin. Trestle Studio landed a $79 million construction loan on the property in the first quarter of 2025.
The revamp plans to preserve the hotel’s history (over the years it has hosted celebrities such as Dolly Parton and The Rolling Stones) while ushering in a “new era of cultural exchange.” A spokesperson with Trestle confirmed that former president Lyndon B. Johnson also frequented the property.
Sítio El Tropicano will be “elegant, upscale and a touch whimsical,” blending design and nature, per the release. Set along more than 400 feet of River Walk frontage, the property will feature three culinary and cocktail concepts in partnership with a yet-to-be-announced local restaurant group; a 5,000-square-foot spa; a private members’ club; and what it claims will be the city’s largest hotel pool deck.
“El Tropicano has long been part of San Antonio’s cultural rhythm, its mid‑century character holding an optimism from another era,” said Michael Hsu in a statement. “With Sítio, we’re building a dialogue with that history: preserving what’s meaningful while introducing richer textures, deeper landscape connections, and a lobby experience that will welcome guests as a true gathering place along the River Walk.”
“Boundaries will blur between hotel, home, shop, and spa to create a dynamic ecosystem of experience that feels both deeply San Antonian and refreshingly unexpected,” according to the release. Reservations for the revamped hotel are slated to open this spring.
The hotel’s transformation comes as other historic properties in the U.S. are undergoing face-lifts, including the landmark Baxter Hotel in Bozeman, Montana, which is set to re-open as a boutique hotel in fall 2027.
The new hotel will re-open alongside some other high-end properties in downtown San Antonio, including the Kimpton Santo and the revitalized historic Gunter Hotel.
