In downtown Bryan, sister city to College Station, the historic LaSalle Hotel has reopened after an extensive renovation as The LaSalle Hotel, Bryan College Station, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, now part of Marriott Hotels & Resorts’ family of independent boutique properties. It is managed by New Castle Hotels & Resorts based in Ridgefield, Connecticut; the company acquired the hotel in 2022.
“We wanted to give guests, and the citizens of Bryan, a hotel as memorable as the city itself,” says Jeremy Buffam, partner at New Castle Hotels & Resorts, in a prepared statement. “Trains and hotels evoke a nostalgia for travel and adventure that goes hand in glove with the preferences of today’s travelers for a truly authentic experience. The reimagined LaSalle strikes those notes of reverence and reverie in a way we know visitors will find compelling.”
The LaSalle’s reimagining contains nods to the railroad, a driving force in the history of Bryan’s economy and culture—its lobby-level restaurant is aptly named Station 36 and its outdoor event space is known as The Platform. 1920’s-inspired decor and styling can be found throughout the hotel.
“The [knowledge of] the people who have passed through these doors and the stories that brought them here spark the imagination and create connections to our shared past in a unique and inviting way,” Buffam continues.
The LaSalle Hotel’s building indeed has a storied history. Prior to its opening as a hotel, the building was home to Bryan’s first theater center and opera house. When it opened as a hotel in 1928 after additional construction, it was Bryan’s tallest building. While other structures in the city have since surpassed it in height, the hotel gained another designation in 2000, a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
“The LaSalle is a critical historical asset in Downtown Bryan, and the New Castle team has done a tremendous job in assuring that it is preserved and celebrated,” says Bryan’s Mayor Andrew Nelson. “This opening is an important milestone in our efforts to build the birthplace of Aggieland into a thriving, culturally rich destination for years to come.” The City of Bryan supported the project with municipal incentives and historic tax credits.
The LaSalle features 55 guest rooms; Station 36 serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner; The Boiler Room speakeasy with a sophisticated atmosphere and craft cocktails; and indoor/outdoor venues for groups. Station 36, The Boiler Room, and The Platform all can serve as private event spaces.
