Worth Traveling For
The ’80s gave us plenty to celebrate (I’ll always have a soft spot for Michael Jackson’s Thriller), and it was also the decade that the iconic Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek opened its doors.
Even then, when everything was glammed and glitzy and larger than life, the Mansion (IYKYK) stood out. One reason was the building itself, a palatial 1925 private home complete with a turret, wooden doors salvaged from a Spanish cathedral, ancient Roman columns, and stained-glass windows. But it also came with a story. The home had fallen into disrepair and was slated for demolition until Caroline Rose Hunt, daughter of Texas oil tycoon HL Hunt, purchased the property, restored it down to the last fur vault, transformed it into a hotel, and opened it with a weekend-long Gatsbyesque gala. It was so successful that Hunt created a hotel brand, Rosewood, around the property.
Forty-five years later, the Mansion hasn’t lost a step. Ornately carved wooden ceilings glow with polish, guest rooms resemble a designer-decorated Manhattan penthouse, and the Mansion bar buzzes every night of the week.
Hotel Highlights
Guests enter through a sunlit rotunda that opens into a sophisticated residential-style lobby filled with low-slung sofas, sleek coffee tables stacked with books, and a huge fireplace. Hallways hung with historic photographs lead to rooms done in cool neutrals with crisp white beds and oversized marble bathroom; while ground-floor rooms open onto private walled patios.
Rooms & Experience
There’s a lot packed into the Mansion’s footprint including a lovely pool lined with fragrant magnolia trees, a surprisingly large gym, and an outdoor patio restaurant. Although the hotel was almost at capacity when I was there, public spaces retained a sense of serenity. This is the kind of hotel where you unconsciously lower your voice in the lobby; even in the morning, when guests make the pilgrimage for complimentary coffee, the scene was respectful.
My suite was wonderfully spacious and I loved being able to close off one of the rooms for privacy in the morning when my husband was still asleep. Suites also have double sinks in the bathroom and — my favorite amenity — a separate powder room.
What to Know Before You Book
One thing I did notice about the Mansion was the formality: with the exception of early-morning coffee runs, hotel and dining room guests were dressed to the nines for lunch, dinner, and cocktails. And while I love the idea of a romantic getaway at the Mansion, having small children at the hotel would stress me out — there are just too many tempting things to touch in the rooms and lobby.
It was beautiful during the holidays (be sure to book a driving tour of the extravagant, residential Christmas light displays nearby) but we couldn’t make use of the pool or patio. It’s sometimes cold in Texas.
Address: 2821 Turtle Creek Blvd., Dallas, TX 75219
Closest Airport: Dallas Love Field Airport is a 15-minute drive; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is 30 minutes.
Feature image, courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
