Travel Diary – Hotel Drover on the Fort Worth Stockyards

Today on weekend meanderings, a glance inside my journey diary from our keep on the Hotel Drover within the Fort Worth Stockyards, the place elegant western type, inviting outside gathering spots, and superb meals and drinks made our keep unforgettable.

Happy Saturday, pals!

It’s time for the weekend put up with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on.

Hope you had a enjoyable Halloween. There had been no trick or treaters right here on the pied-à-terre so we walked to one in all our favourite spots downtown for a cocktail and informal dinner. I learn that Halloween is likely one of the greatest bar nights of the 12 months – together with Thanksgiving Eve and New Year’s Eve. Halloween is additional enjoyable when it falls on a Friday or Saturday and our little city was hopping.

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Image: Jessica Brydson Photography

Holy moly, it’s November already and time to set the clocks again. I’m lacking Snowberry much more as we enter the autumn cozy season and this week I reminisced about final 12 months’s fall desk centerpiece. I can’t wait to recreate it on the little home subsequent 12 months.

Hotel Drover on the Ft. Worth Stockyards

Last week I shared our whirlwind weekend journey to Texas to go to niece Sammi and her household. After staying at Sam and Justin’s home over the weekend we moved to Hotel Drover on the Ft. Worth Stockyards. Sammi advised the lodge, as did a number of pals who’ve children attending TCU. The lodge opened in 2021 and shortly grew to become a TCU father or mother favourite. I can see why. Niece Shelby additionally knew about it and inspired us to test it out. We supposed to be there two nights however needed to return residence a day early for one thing associated to the brand new home. Sigh.

We arrived on the lodge for a late lunch at their 97 West Kitchen & Bar. It was Sunday they usually had been providing a brunch menu so in fact Jim began off with a Bloody Mary. He was nonetheless sporting his TCU gear and perfecting the Horned Frog cheer.

Our plans for an early check-in had been foiled so after lunch we walked across the Stockyards till our room was prepared. The Stockyards is a historic district with a lot of retailers, bars and eating places in style with locals and vacationers. It additionally has a vigorous nightlife. Or so niece Shelby tells me. It jogged my memory loads of downtown Nashville.

The streets are paved in outdated brick and lined with stunning, historic buildings. We loved peeking into the retailers and eating places, we did a double take on the cheeky bar under.

There are cool outdated vans and large Cadillac’s with longhorns as hood ornaments across the historic space.

And stunning outdated doorways on among the buildings.

Many of the retailers have a western flare – clearly – a lot of western put on and boot retailers together with a Lucchese Bootmaker on Mule Alley, the Main Street. I swooned over essentially the most stunning suede bag however was afraid to have a look at the worth tag. Funny story … Jim, in a previous life, owned a pair of Lucchese boots. He likes to inform those that I made him eliminate them. Not true. But I did tease him about them.

I liked the lovable fall themed seating areas. Take a load off, accomplice.

We obtained into our room simply in time to vary and meet up Sam and fam. I didn’t have an opportunity to snap photographs of our room earlier than unpacking, however I’ll share a number of from the lodge’s web site.

Images: Hotel Drover

The lodge opened in 2021 and has 200 visitor rooms in addition to occasion areas. If you’re a factors individual, it’s a part of the Bonvoy Autograph Collection. The frequent areas and visitor rooms lean laborious into upscale western type. I really feel like Ralph Lauren could be at residence right here.

Apparently a drover is somebody who strikes livestock round which is sensible because the Stockyards is a historic livestock market.

Tucked behind the foyer is a library nook reserved for lodge visitors.

While the foyer areas are very rustic luxe there are playful, enjoyable corners too.

The entrance courtyard is peaceable and enjoyable.

We met up with Sam and the gang to take one other stroll across the Stockyards. We wandered out and in of a number of retailers together with Lucchese, the Spice and Tea Exchange, which was fantastic and I want I’d introduced residence a number of of their hand-mixed tea and spice blends, and eventually the youngsters stuffed up a bag of treats on the Candy Barrel to get pleasure from later.

Grand-nephew Beau rocking his western look. He celebrated his ninth birthday this week.

Back we went to the lodge’s 97 West Kitchen & Bar for dinner on the patio overlooking the lodge’s yard which is a beautiful and expansive gathering house. More on that later. We deliberate to have a good time all of our OND (October, November, December) birthdays. however since that included 5 out of eight of us we determined to have a good time everybody’s birthday so nobody was omitted.

97 West serves ‘contemporary Texas fare’ which suggests consolation meals and loads of steak. Shelby referred to as our dinner theme steak and cake.

We lucked out with the climate all weekend. I imply, apart from rain on the TCU sport, which I discussed final week, the temps had been within the low 70’s, with a little bit overcast and a delicate breeze. Perfection. And splendid for eating al fresco.

Shelby is honing her cocktail images a la daughter-in-law Melody who’s a grasp.

After all of the discuss of steak, Jim and Justin had been the one ones who ordered it. I had rooster good friend steak with mashed potatoes and gravy … omg. Sam and Shel had fish. Fish?! And the youngsters all had burgers.

We began out with a number of appetizers together with fried inexperienced tomatoes. What an attractive presentation.

We ended dinner with birthday desserts together with an enormous slice of carrot cake with fireworks within the middle.

A black tie marriage ceremony was taking place on the lodge and from lunch by dinner I used to be monitoring its progress. I liked seeing the groomsmen, bridesmaids and superbly attired visitors strolling round. I snapped a photograph of their cute desk task ‘cards’ … are they little tambourines?

Before and after dinner we walked round what the lodge calls its yard which incorporates the Veranda bar, many seating areas, a pool and spa, giant garden, and hearth pits together with outside video games. In the middle of the yard is an attractive fountain and within the background you’ll be able to see barstools lined up alongside a curved bar overlooking Marine Creek. After darkish, when the overhead twinkle lights and hearth pits got here on, it was magic.

The ladies and I fell in love with the pool space and vowed to come back again for a pool day. There are cabanas adorned with crystal chandeliers, cozy porch swings in addition to the same old stuff … chaise lounges, and so on.

I packed this black maxi dress that I purchased for our journey to Cabo in July. You’re most likely sick of me saying it however I’ve gotten extra put on out of this gown and it’s packs properly so it’s nice for journey.

Hotel Drover’s yard is totally charming and hosts weekly dwell music nights which we heard are very talked-about locally.

Sam and fam headed residence with Shelby, who stayed the remainder of the week. Jim and I grabbed a nightcap from the Veranda bar and sat down at one of many hearth pits taking all of it in and speaking about what an exquisite weekend we had and the way good it was to be with everybody.

I don’t find out about you however a lodge makes or breaks my journey expertise. Maybe that’s shallow or superficial. I do know loads of individuals who aren’t in any respect specific about the place they keep – as long as it’s secure and clear – and consider their lodge room as nothing greater than a spot to sleep whereas experiencing nice adventures. For me the lodge is a key a part of my general expertise and if it’s lower than snuff I’m not going to get pleasure from anything. So there you’ve gotten it, I’m snooty about resorts. Sue me.

What’s my level? I don’t actually have one, I’m simply main into how a lot I liked Hotel Drover. It lived as much as its fanfare after which some. In addition to the attractive frequent areas – the courtyard, foyer, yard – and fantastic meals and drinks, our visitor room was so thoughtfully designed and cozy. I slept higher than I’ve in a very long time of their luxurious bedding. I did a little bit snooping and their sheets are Sferra sateen. The bathrobes are tender and comfortable (not all lodge bathrobes can say that) and are from Chadsworth & Haig. Speaking of nice merchandise, the lavatory is stocked with Los Pablanos lavender scented bathtub merchandise. If you get hooked, the lodge sells full-size bottles. Another enjoyable room amenity is a boot jack – which I had no thought about however Jim enlightened me.

Our solely remorse isn’t having extra time to spend and take advantage of all the things to see and do – eat and drink – around the property. Sammi and Shelby wished we’d stayed one other day as properly so we may have loved a pool day with the youngsters. And it could have been enjoyable to expertise the nightlife at The Stockyards. Oh properly, we’ll simply have to return.

Favorite Carry-On Bag

Last week I bragged about getting all of my issues right into a carry-on bag with a little bit room to spare. I notice that packing for an extended weekend in a carry-on isn’t actually a flex … however I’m a little bit challenged. Niece Shelby’s birthday is subsequent week and we gifted her the same carry-on bag, packing cube set, and luggage tags that I really like. She selected black (I’ve darkish inexperienced). I positioned the order final Sunday and she or he obtained it Wednesday. Can’t beat that.

Odds & Socks ~

Current Favorites ~

That’s what I’ve for you right now. Last week I shared for the primary a part of our whirlwind Texas journey and you could find that right here.

Wishing you the most effective weekend and don’t neglect to show the clocks again.

Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.

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