The Cabana Motor Hotel of Dallas
by Paula Bosse
“Elegant and luxurious…”
by Paula Bosse
The Cabaña Motor Hotel is remembered mostly for being where the Beatles stayed when they came to Dallas in 1964 and for being a hotel with high hopes but which fizzled out fairly quickly. …But mostly for being where the Beatles stayed. When the Cabaña opened in January, 1963 on Stemmons Freeway, it was a big deal. It was swanky and even had a very show-bizzy lounge. Celebrities stayed there. The Beatles stayed there.
The Dallas Cabaña was actually the third in a proposed chain of hotels, following locations in Atlanta and Palo Alto. It even had some Hollywood star-power attached to it: Doris Day’s then-husband Marty Melcher was an investor in the company (turned out it was Doris’ money, and she wasn’t thrilled that he was investing so much of her money in this chain of hotels).
It was fab for a while — but the high point really was John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Before the ’60s had ended, the place was shuttered and mired in litigation. Melcher had died and left Doris $500,000 in debt. Ownership changed hands several times over the years, and each time, more and more of its original hep luster was lost. The building has never really recovered. For a few years it was a rather bizarre site for a minimum-security jail! In recent months it was announced that it has been acquired by the company that has recently renovated the long-moribund Statler Hilton — so there’s hope! It needs a lot of work, but it might actually turn out to be cool again.
Under construction, by William Langley, via Dallas Public Library
From the air, by Squire Haskins, via UTA
From the ground, by Squire Haskins, via UTA
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Sources & Notes
The postcard at the top is from the Texas History Collection, provided by Dallas Heritage Village to the Portal to Texas History, where I found it, here. I have to admit that I’ve never really been a fan of this building until I saw this postcard. It’s like a Dallas version of a subdued Vegas hotel.
Bottom two photos are from the Squire Haskins Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries Special Collections — the aerial image has been cropped; more info on these photos can be found here and here.
For more history of the Cabaña (…whenever I hear reporters in historic footage pronouncing the “n” in “cabana” with that tilde, it’s a bit jarring…), read the informative article “Lost + Found: Cabana Motor Hotel” by Preservation Dallas Executive Director David Preziosi on the AIA Dallas website, here. It’s got some great photos.
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Copyright © 2018 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
A friend of mine was the GM when it was the DuPont. Rather seedy at that point, especially compared to the Hyatt Regency where I worked in the convention sales office. When it became a jail,there were so many stories and jokes. One man said that he and his wife would have to get arrested if they wanted to continue to celebrate their wedding anniversary there. Glad it might see life again. Kay
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The Cabana was where The Adolphus recommended when the rock-n-roll world came to Dallas. I think restoring it to its original glory is an amazing idea. Dallas is not a “new” city anymore. It is time the city begins to embrace all its history. The Cabana is a landmark with an important past.
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My parents took me there when I was quiet young, and I remember the pool area and allt he lights and fountains.
Am I wrong that this was called the Hyatt House for a while ?
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I believe it was.
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It was Hyatt that bought it from Melcher’s group. I was the lobby valet at 14. It had a cool semi-grungy Vegas atmosphere, but whoever booked the talent in the night club was a genius! Lionel Hampton, 4 Aces, Gloria Loring and more. After Hyatt bought the place, they auctioned off all of the “Caesar’s Palace-style” pieces. Doris Day was there for the handover. I think she really took a bath on the deal. It was a great hotel and holds so many good memories.
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my Mother worked in the barber shop. remember Raquel Welch worked there.
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Yes it was a Hyatt at one time. I worked as a cocktail waitress for The Cabana & The Hyatt.
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[…] a lady representing the Dallas Civic Opera. After being taken by limousine to the recently built Cabana Hotel on Stemmons Expressway. They spent most of their time in their suites on the ninth floor, never […]
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[…] “THE CABANA MOTOR HOTEL OF DALLAS” […]
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The Dallas Cabana is a precursor to Caesars Palace. Developer Jay Sarno was a directly involved hotel man who continued much of his vision in Las Vegs about three years after completing the Dallas Cabana
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How’s interesting! I assumed Caesar’s Palace was first. Thanks!
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My father came to Dallas in 1954 and was involved in the commercial real estate development of the “Stemmons Corridor” from the mid 50’s until he retired in the 90’s. He visited the Cabana many times for after work “happy hour” drinks in the hotel’s hey day. There was a popular bar named “Nero’s Nook” where Raquel Welch once worked before becoming famous. He had some great stories to tell of the place. A former Dallas cop tells me that Elvis stayed there during one of his Dallas visits.
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I think Elvis liked a Sheraton Hotel in Dallas, and for sure any hotel in Ft Worth close to the American Airlines’ Stewardesses Training School!
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Quite a few cars with guns inside entered the underground parking lot during the Cabana’s Doris Hey Day; rarely did any leave with a gun. The doorman was an absolute slob and criminal. It is little wonder that the hotel would end up being a lock-up for Dallas County criminals.
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My mother Joan Ross had a business called House of Ross in Preston Center. She was contracted to design & produce the theme costumes for the Cabana Hotel. Because of her working on this project Jay Sarno contracted her to also design & produce the theme costumes for Ceasar’s Palace then Circus Circus. Also, the Beatles Fan Club had her make four black leather fringed vests as gifts for the Beatles when they stayed at the Cabana Hotel.
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How cool!!
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Thank you for sharing. I found what looked like a couture wedding gown on an auction site with a “House of Ross” tag and was curious about the designer. C Mars
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As a entertainer, musician…We worked The Cabana chain from 1964 through 1966 under the name “Swingin Lads”…then on to Las Vegas for a good 8 year run..
Also had a spot in ” The Glass Bottom Boat”
Staring Doris Day until Terry Melcher got involved….interesting time…and interesting
Life…
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