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    hospitality awards

    Houston billionaire's Uptown hotel ranks No. 2 in Texas, says U.S. News

    Amber Heckler
    Feb 13, 2025 | 5:30 pm
    The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston

    The Post Oak Hotel has held on to its No. 2 ranking for the second year in a row.

    Photo courtesy of U.S. News & World Report

    Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta's famous hotel has earned a new award to add to its trophy case. The Post Oak Hotel has claimed the No. 2 spot in U.S. News & World Report's just-released rankings of the Best Hotels in Texas for 2025 for the second consecutive year.

    The 15th annual report by U.S. News analyzes more than 31,000 properties across the United States, Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean. Hotels are ranked based on industry awards, star ratings, published opinions from travel experts, and online guest reviews.

    San Antonio's Hotel Emma continues its reign as the No. 1 best Texas hotel, and ranked 19th U.S. News' list of the best hotels in the nation.

    The Post Oak Hotel fell into second place statewide in 2024, after previously holding the crown in 2023. It also ranks 45th in the publication's national rankings for 2025.

    This resplendent hotel has been on the radar for many Houstonians and out-of-towners that want the most luxurious experiences in the city. But a stay there won't come cheap, U.S. News warns, considering its numerous amenities inside and outside their guest rooms.

    "The hotel houses a salon, a spa and a fitness center equipped with weight and cardio equipment, including Peloton bikes offering live cycling classes, seasonal wellness events and occasional exercise classes," the hotel's profile says. "The pool area, billed as a 'tropical sanctuary,' is lined with cushioned lounge chairs and cabanas – and travelers say it's another fantastic perk of staying here."

    The Post Oak HotelVisitors can enjoy the best Houston has to offer. Photo courtesy of U.S. News & World Report

    The hotel also boasts five different dining establishments with varying lavish cuisines.

    "The hotel is also home to a chic lobby bar and The Cellar, which boasts an inventory of 30,000 bottles of wine curated by the property's sommeliers," U.S. News says.

    The esteemed hotel has received many top awards as of late, including earning one Michelin Key in its inaugural Texas guide. The One Key status is awarded for hotels that provide exceptional stays with guest services that go above and beyond what other similar hotels would offer.

    10 more Houston hotels earned recognition among the top 50 best hotels in Texas, including:

    • No. 8 – Four Seasons Hotel Houston
    • No. 15 – The Lancaster Hotel
    • No. 18 – The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa
    • No. 20 – The St. Regis Houston
    • No. 23 – Hotel ZaZa Houston Memorial City
    • No. 32 – The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton
    • No. 33 – The Moran CityCentre
    • No. 34 – JW Marriott Houston Downtown
    • No. 35 – Hotel Granduca Houston
    • No. 50 – Houston CityPlace Marriott at Springwoods Village, Spring
    The best resorts in Texas
    In U.S. News' separate ranking of the best Texas resorts for 2025, The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa ranked No. 3 statewide, the highest out of all Houston-area resorts.

    Besides its glorious forested landscape, U.S. News says this luxe resort is highly valued by guests for its expansive size.

    "And with its multiple pools, tennis courts and jogging paths (all set in 27 acres of forest), it's no wonder a lot of recent guests couldn't find a reason to leave the property," the resort's profile says. "If you're looking to burn some energy, you'll find a rock-climbing wall and a gymnasium – where more than 180 fitness classes are held each week – at your service."

    The Houstonian Hotel, Club & SpaGet some laps in before heading off to the spa for a little relaxation.Photo courtesy of U.S. News & World Report

    The hotel's up-to-date tech also helps improve guest experiences.

    "Inside your digs, you'll find luxury bath products, Keurig coffee makers and occupancy sensors to let housekeeping know when you're in the room so as not to disturb you," the profile says.

    Other Houston-area resorts that ranked among the top 25 include:

    • No. 8 – The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton
    • No. 17 – Moody Gardens Hotel Spa and Convention Center, Galveston
    • No. 24 – Grand Galvez Resort, Autograph Collection, Galveston
    hotelsresortsus news & world reportawardshouston
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    REVIVING THE ALAMO

    Texas landmark the Alamo reclaims historic cannon from private ownership

    Brandon Watson
    Jan 19, 2026 | 2:00 pm
    The Alamo
    Photo by Gower Brown/ Unsplash
    A 90-pound cannon used in the Battle of the Alamo is returning to its San Antonio home.

    It turns out the Alamo's original 1836 cannons are good for more than just defense — they also make a sturdy birdbath. After serving as a garden ornament for Samuel Maverick’s descendants, an authentic piece of San Antonio history is finally returning home to the revered mission.

    According to an Alamo announcement, the swivel cannon weighs 90 pounds and is approximately three feet long. The relic was originally found in 1852 when Maverick built a home near the northwest corner of the battle’s site.

    The lawyer and land baron was saved from death when he was urged by William Barret Travis to ride to the Texas Declaration of Independence convention in Washington-on-the-Brazos to send reinforcements. Returning to the Alamo’s grounds, he found a cache of cannons buried where the Hotel Gibbs sits today.

    From there, the cannon wound up at the Maverick family’s Sunshine Ranch on the Northwest Side, where it was eventually incorporated into the garden DIY project. In 1955, the cannon was removed from the ranch, and the current location remained a mystery until the Alamo received a call from a Maverick relative in Corpus Christi.

    Alamo cannon This Alamo artifact gives an idea of what the cannon will look like once restoration is complete.Photo courtesy of the Alamo.

    “The relative graciously donated the cannon to the Alamo,” wrote a rep from the mission. “Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham and Head Conservator Pam Jary Rosser drove down the very next day to take this piece of history home to the Alamo.”

    Although the artillery is mostly intact, it is missing its trunnions (the pivot-point protrusions on the sides of the barrel) and cascabel (the knob and neck assembly at the rear of historic muzzle-loading cannons). The parts were removed by the Mexican army to make the cannon inoperable.

    Once preservation is complete, this cannon and the Alamo Collection’s other battle cannons will make their way to the upcoming Visitor Center and Museum, where they will be joined by rocker Phil Collins' collection of Alamo artifacts. The Alamo is in the midst of a $550 million preservation project, which includes conserving the Alamo Church, Long Barrack, and the mission’s original footprint. The museum is on track to debut in late 2027.

    historymuseumsartifactstexas historythe alamo
    news/travel
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