It was 4.30 p.m. when we rolled into this prime example of "small town America" & we decided we could chance driving on for an hour before finding accommodation. However, having driven the length of the broad main street, we looked at each other, did a "U" & returned to the Hotel Limpia in cute Fort Davis, near the Davis Observatory.
Husband came out with big smile on face- "you'll like this one" ..an historic house with huge verandahs, enormous, airy , light rooms & an abundance of "Victorian" furniture throughout but modern bathrooms with good smellies, towels etc. Reception was welcoming; a real fire was lit in the lounge later & when we asked about drinks, we were told to buy from the store as it was cheaper & they'd provide glasses & corkscrew- which we did & sat on verandah to watch the sun going down on enormous Town Hall.
The Limpia does seem to have a tendency to creep, i.e., they own a large gift store & we ate in the separate restaurant; good meal in a "down-home " atmosphere but properly waited on.
Fort Davis is the sort of town where one can buy tins of differently-flavoured local nuts; have a home-made broom or walking stick; home-made fudge etc., It is about 2 hours ' drive from isolated Big Bend National Park.
The crowning moment of our stay was when the 18lbs.!! cat came, complete with food & pooh-box , to sleep in one of our armchairs overnight, as I love cats....not everywhere is like this.
We paid only $89 for our room (includes coffee/cookies for stand-up breakfast) but we noticed the usual price was $149. Even at full price, we would have thought this was reasonable, considering the size of the room, quality of bedlinen, furniture etc. If we were within 100 miles of the hotel again, we would go out of our way to stay there- what more can be said?

This hotel was built in the 1920s. Reopened in 1978. Definitely has that old world charm. It is family owned and managed by Don Parkinson, who is gem of an employee. Ready to help with dinner reservations, where to sight see, etc.

The building has lots of places to sit and relax; several porches, a 2nd story balcony, pool area, and two lovely sitting rooms(one with a fire in the fireplace every evening.)

Tea and coffee are ready in the lobby every morning.

Eat at the Drug store across the street. Very good food and exceptionally nice wait staff.

Fort Davis is an interesting place to visit. It has the fort, which was occupied by the Buffalo Soldiers and there is the McDonald Observatory. With Fort Davis' elevation, it is a great get away for those who live in a hot climate.

The price is also a bargain. The night before we arrived, we stayed in a dump Super 8 in Fort Stockton for the same price as a night at the Limpia. Should have kept driving instead of stopping in Fort Stockton.

Enjoy!

We stayed at the Hotel Limpia on our last night of a driving tour of West Texas and the Big Bend and really enjoyed our stay. The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. When we arrived early at 12:30, the woman at the front desk walked upstairs to see if our room was ready. It was not, but she said that it would be ready in about 20 minutes. We took a walk around town and when we returned it was ready. The room was a basic room with a queen bed. The bathroom was very large with beautiful wood floors. Keep in mind that this is an old hotel, so the floors are a bit creaky and the rooms can be a bit musty. The room did not have an individual control for the air conditioning, but there was a ceiling fan. The room had a very small television, but no telephone, which seems to be common with the hotels in this area. Ft. Davis is a cute little town and this hotel is only a 20 minute drive from the McDonald Observatory.

Hotel Limpia is a treat for family stays. It's an historic building with many artifacts to see. It has a quaint garden, gift store and small dining room - we didn't eat there. The hotel room was huge! The beds were comfortable and everything is decorated with Victorian adornments. There's a grassy area for the kids to play croquet and a fenced in pool that we didn't get to use.

It's a perfect place to stay while in Fort Davis - close to the beautiful cliffs and drive through the canyons/mountains. It was about 20 minute drive to the top where the observatory is located and you can partake in a star party.

I'll definitely stay there again when we return.