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Cowboys Hotel

New Dallas Cowboys headquarters includes luxury hotel and 12,000-seat indoor stadium

Teresa Gubbins
Dec 24, 2015 | 9:30 am

New details have been revealed regarding the Omni Frisco Hotel, the luxury property opening in summer 2017 adjacent to the new Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters.

At a VIP-packed event, Frisco Mayor Maher Maso provided updates on the 300-room hotel with an assemblage that included executives from Omni Hotels & Resorts and the Dallas Cowboys, plus representatives from the Frisco City Council, the Frisco Economic and Community Development Corporations, and the Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. Anyone who's anyone in Frisco was there.

The Omni Frisco will serve as a cornerstone of The Star development, which will be anchored by the Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters and The Ford Center. The Cowboys' new headquarters facilities will be home to the entire football operations, including administrative offices, coaches' offices, and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. The deal was struck in October 2014.

With seating for 12,000, The Ford Center is in a position to be the largest indoor stadium for amateur football in the country. It'll function both as the home venue for Frisco Independent School District (FISD) for events and activities and the practice and training facility for the Cowboys.

Mike Deitemeyer, president of Omni Hotels & Resorts, said that the hotel would honor the history of the Dallas Cowboys and the city of Frisco, with lots of local flavor. The design concept will incorporate the city's motto "Progress in Motion," with a nod to the Dallas Cowboys' history.

The goal is to set a new standard for hotel accommodations in Frisco. "The Star will be a first-of-its-kind destination that brings the Cowboys brand to life," said Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Hotel attributes
The hotel will be 16 stories tall, with 300 guest rooms and suites. Eateries will include a fine-dining spot, a coffee and wine bar in the lobby, and a rooftop bar and grill. A luxury retail outlet will offer local designers' goods and artwork, including sketches of Cowboys Ring of Honor inductees.

A rooftop pool and deck will be situated on the fourth floor, with room for 300 to 400 guests, plus views of the plaza and The Ford Center. Features include three firepits, cabanas, and a bar and grill.

A key feature will be its viability for meetings and events, with 24,000 square feet of meeting space, inclusive of a 13,000-square-foot ballroom. The Omni and Dallas Cowboys partnership also offers planners and attendees access to additional meetings and exhibit space in The Ford Center, as well as events on the plaza.

The Omni Frisco Hotel's partnership with the Dallas Cowboys is the latest in its expanding collection of properties anchoring multipurpose sports developments. The Omni San Diego Hotel is connected, via skybridge, to Petco Park, home of the Padres, while the Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center connects to the College Football Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Dallas Cowboys broke ground on the property in 2014 on a 90-acre site at the northwest corner of Warren Parkway and the Dallas North Tollway in Frisco. Additional facets of development will include more offices, retail, and restaurants.

A rendering of a guest room at the new Omni Frisco.

Omni Frisco guestroom rendering
Courtesy rendering
A rendering of a guest room at the new Omni Frisco.
dallas-cowboys hotels
news/travel

New year, fresh air

Gear up for a 'first day hike' at a Texas park on New Year’s Day 2026

Stephanie Allmon Merry
Dec 30, 2025 | 9:30 am
Couple hiking
Photo courtesy of San Marcos CVB
This beats the stair-stepper at the gym any day.

Here's a way to start your health-focused new year's resolutions that won't make you want to hit the snooze button on January 1: Plan a "first day hike."

According to Texas Parks & Wildlife, First Day Hikes is a nationwide program to encourage hiking on New Year's Day. State parks near Houston and throughout Texas are offering the chance for people of all ages and fitness levels to stretch their legs and explore the great outdoors on the first day of 2026.

"First day hikes vary from short, leisurely nature walks on forested trails; boardwalk strolls through wetlands or to the beach; or climbs into the mountains of the Chihuahuan Desert," the agency says on its website. "Some first day hikes aren't hikes at all: We also lead bike rides, paddling tours, and maybe even horseback rides. Choose the event that's right for you."

State parks offer both guided and self-guided hikes on January 1. If you choose a self-guided hike, look for tables or stop at headquarters for hike information and maps, they advise. "After your hike, stop back by to report on your hike and collect a memento of your visit," they say.

Note that most state parks charge an entry fee or day use fee. For those who plan to visit several times throughout the year, a Texas State Parks Pass could help save money.

Here are all the Texas state parks offering first-day hikes on January 1, 2026, clustered by region. All are self-guided walking hikes that do not require registration, unless otherwise indicated. Find out more details about each one here.

Gulf Coast & Coastal Bend

  • Galveston Island State Park (Sunrise beach walk with a ranger.)
  • Mustang Island State Park (Ranger-guided walk at sunrise.)
  • Goose Island State Park (Bird hikes)
  • Sea Rim State Park (First Day Paddle)
  • Brazos Bend State Park (Guided hike)
  • Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center (Guided hike and dog walk)
  • Huntsville State Park (Chinquapin Challenge)
  • Lake Livingston State Park (Guided hike)
  • Stephen F. Austin State Park

East Texas & Piney Woods

  • Tyler State Park (Guided tour)
  • Daingerfield State Park
  • Lake Tawakoni State Park
  • Martin Creek Lake State Park (Birding hike)
  • Atlanta State Park (Guided hike)
  • Mission Tejas State Park
  • Caddo Lake State Park
  • Cooper State Park (South Sulphur & Doctors Creek. Hike or bike.)
  • Martin Dies, Jr. State Park (Guided and unguided hikes)
  • Village Creek State Park

Hill Country & Central Texas

  • Honey Creek State Natural Area (Registration required.)
  • Blanco State Park
  • Guadalupe River State Park
  • Palmetto State Park (Self-guided hike and sunrise bird hike)
  • Lockhart State Park
  • Pedernales Falls State Park (Guided hike)
  • Government Canyon State Natural Area
  • Lake Somerville State Park
  • Lost Maples State Natural Area
  • Inks Lake State Park (Guided hike)
  • Old Tunnel State Park (Guided hike)Hill Country State Natural Area (Gu
  • Hill Country State Natural Area (Guided hike)
  • Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site (First Day Bird Walk)
  • Dinosaur Valley State Park (Guided hike)
  • Meridian State Park (Story Book Stroll)
  • Colorado Bend State Park (Guided hike)
  • Lake Brownwood State Park
  • Bastrop State Park (Ranger-guided birding)
  • Buescher State Park

North Texas

  • Ray Roberts Lake State Park (Johnson Branch & Isle du Bois. Guided and unguided hikes.)
  • Eisenhower State Park
  • Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway (Guided hike)
  • Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site
  • Palo Pinto Mountains State Park (Registration required)
  • Lake Whitney State Park (Guided mindful walk)
  • Bonham State Park (Guided hike)
  • Lake Arrowhead State Park
  • Purtis Creek State Park
  • Possum Kingdom State Park

South Texas & Rio Grande Valley

  • Falcon State Park (Guided hike)
  • Choke Canyon State Park
  • Lake Corpus Christi State Park
  • Goliad State Park & Historic Site (Guided hikes)
  • Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park
  • Resaca de la Palma State Park
  • Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

West Texas & Panhandle

  • Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Guided and unguided hikes.)
  • Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway
  • Copper Breaks State Park
  • Abilene State Park
  • San Angelo State Park
  • Big Spring State Park (Guided hike)
  • Davis Mountains State Park
  • Franklin Mountains State Park
  • Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site
  • Big Bend Ranch State Park (including Chinati Mountains)
  • Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site (Guided and unguided)
state parks new year's day new years exercise hiking
news/travel

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