A Glimpse into an Era 100 Years Ago: The Stoneleigh Celebrates Milestone in Dallas

by Britni Rachal on December 23, 2023 in Living Texas, Dallas/Fort Worth,
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Step into The Stoneleigh in downtown Dallas and you’ll likely agree that it’s a lovely venue. Travel up the elevator to the 11th and 12th floors, and you’ll get an entirely different feel and perspective with architecture and design that is similar and mostly a replica of what the hotel looked like when it first opened in fall of 1923.

Once the tallest hotel west of the Mississippi, The Stoneleigh stood tall with 12 floors in Dallas in 1923. Photo courtesy the Stewart Family.

Back then, the hotel was one of five original luxury hotels in Dallas, and The Stoneleigh’s opening essentially marked the beginning of the modern high-rise era with a series of permanent residences. The center of art galleries and gallery walks in uptown Dallas for decades, you can still see some original era art pieces placed inside the boutique hotel, as well as modern baroque wall coverings and fabrics. Original carved wood paneling is still in the hotel’s Music Room, originally shipped to the U.S. from a 16th century English school.

The Stoneleigh’s Music Room with its original carved wood paneling. Photo courtesy the Stewart Family.

Still a popular spot today and with years of historical significance, the hotel celebrated its 100th anniversary in partnership with Preservation Dallas with a Roaring 20s themed gala. Now owned by Marriott and operating as a Le Meridian property, the hotel houses 176 guest rooms.

Then vs. Now: The Stoneleigh’s skyline view in 1923 vs. the skyline view 100 years later in 2023 (below). Photo courtesy the Stewart Family.

Judy Garland, Aretha Franklin, Andy Warhol, Elvis, Al Pacino, and Tom Cruise are some notable past visitors who have stayed within the walls of The Stoneleigh.

The hotel is on the radar of Preservation Dallas, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the city’s historic buildings, neighborhoods, and places.

Photo of Dallas skyline from The Stoneleigh terrace in Oct. 2023. Photo Britni Rachal

If you missed the first 100-year anniversary party, you are still in luck! The Stoneleigh will host its final Centennial party on New Year’s Eve. Guests can enjoy a hand-crafted four-course menu with a bottle of house sparkling wine and dancing until 1:00 a.m. with DJ Josefk. To purchase tickets, visit the Stoneleigh’s event website.

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Cover photo courtesy The Stoneleigh

Britni Rachal lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She is a fifth generation Texan, a full-time automotive marketer, and a freelance journalist. In addition to writing, Britni enjoys volunteering, traveling, and fashion.