Kincaid Hotel

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Kincaid Hotel in Uvalde County. Now, some buildings just hold rooms. But every once in a while, a building holds a whole era.

The Kincaid Hotel is that kind of place. Four stories tall, constructed in 1927, built by the family of William Davis Kincaid, a man they called Billy, born in 1854, remembered as a prominent Uvalde cattleman, businessman, and civic leader. The family raised this hotel in his memory, and they did not build small.

Four stories rising up out of Uvalde, a monument in brick to a man who apparently took up considerable space in this world. Now, the moment that hotel opened its doors, the lobby became something particular. Ranchers and cattle traders claimed it.

Made it their meeting place. You have to picture that, boots on the tile, deals struck over handshakes, the smell of dust and leather mixing with whatever was cooking in the kitchen. The Kincaid lobby was, for a certain breed of Texan, the center of the known universe.

But it wasn't only ranchers who found their way through those doors. The Kincaid drew Texas governors. Congressional leaders.

President Lyndon Johnson walked those halls. And then there's the detail that tends to stop people cold. Among the movie personalities who passed through, one was a man named Ronald Reagan, who you may recognize, because he later became President of the United States.

Two presidents, one lobby. Not bad for Uvalde. The Kincaid Hotel hosted business meetings, banquets, and social gatherings, and somewhere along the way it quietly became the kind of place where history just kept showing up and ordering a room.

What the marker says

This four-story hotel building was constructed in 1927 by the family of William Davis "Billy" Kincaid (b. 1854) in memory of his life as a prominent Uvalde cattleman, businessman, and civic leader. The Kincaid Hotel became a popular place for business meetings, banquets, and social gatherings. Ranchers and cattle traders made the Kincaid lobby their meeting place. The hotel has served such noted guests as Texas Governors, Congressional leaders, President Lyndon Johnson, and movie personalities, including Ronald Reagan, later President of the United States. 1981