Named after the legendary Davy Crockett, the colorful hero who defended the area during the Texas Revolution, the Crockett Hotel stands as a historic icon in the heart of San Antonio. Built in the early 20th century, the hotel’s creation marks a time when the United States was rising as a global power.

The land where the Crockett Hotel now resides has a rich and significant history. In 1718, Governor Martin de Alaroon established the Mission San Antonio de Valero near the San Antonio River—the site that would become the Alamo. By 1724, the mission moved to its current location, and an acequia (irrigation ditch) was constructed to water the mission fields. The hotel’s site lies between the two branches of this Acequia Madre, just south and east of the mission property.

The Early Landowners

In 1773, refugees from an abandoned mission in East Texas petitioned for the distribution of mission lands to support their families. In 1793, the land where the Crockett Hotel now sits was granted to Juan Bautista de la Zerda and used for agricultural cultivation for the next 50 years. Just east of the Alamo, this plot of land played a key role in the events of the Texas Revolution. On the night before the Battle of the Alamo, hundreds of troops moved into the area where the hotel’s pool now stands. Davy Crockett and his men defended the southeast palisade, cementing the hotel’s connection to this pivotal moment in Texas history.

Restoration and Preservation

In 1982, John Blocker, a San Antonio native, purchased the hotel with the vision of preserving its historic charm. Under the guidance of Blocker’s wife, Jeanne, and her sister, Mary Ann Castleberry, a past president of the San Antonio Conservation Society, the Crockett was meticulously restored to its original splendor. The restoration team uncovered original brickwork, windows, and storefront structures, cleaning and repairing trim and cornices. The hotel’s lobby was returned to its early 20th-century grandeur. The Crockett Hotel has maintained its historical integrity while updating its amenities. Celebrating over 100 years, the Crockett Hotel is a proud Historic Partner Hotel of The Alamo and a member of the National Register of Historic Places and continues to honor the legacy of Davy Crockett and the city’s rich history.