Hotel Giles Preserves Hill Country Heritage While Driving Community Economic Vitality

The Building Texas Show has rereleased a 2024 episode featuring Hotel Giles, one of the most cherished heritage hotels in the Texas Hill Country. Hosted by Justin McKenzie, the episode explores how this historic property has become emblematic of Comfort's enduring character and hospitality traditions. The show examines the hotel's role in preserving community identity while fostering economic and cultural opportunities in this unique unincorporated town.

Founded in the 1850s by German freethinkers seeking independence and community, Comfort maintains its distinctive character as one of Texas's rare unincorporated towns with a strong cooperative spirit. In the episode, McKenzie interviews Ernie, the innkeeper of Hotel Giles, about the responsibility of preserving this legacy while building a vibrant future for the Hill Country destination. "We immediately fell in love with the sense of community," Ernie recalls of his 2016 discovery of Comfort. "The history, the independence, and the way everyone supports each other—it just felt like home."

Hotel Giles, designed by renowned architect Alfred Giles, stands as a living landmark of 19th-century craftsmanship and community pride. The property has maintained its historic architecture while adapting to modern traveler expectations. The hotel's Night Sky Certification helps preserve the pristine Hill Country skies, while its 15 guest rooms, courtyard gazebo, and regular community events position it as a cultural gathering point for both residents and visitors. The full episode showcasing Hotel Giles and Comfort, Texas is available on YouTube.

Weekly community engagement forms a core part of Hotel Giles's mission. Each Friday evening, the hotel opens its doors for local jam sessions and happy hours, bringing together musicians and guests under the stars. Throughout the year, the property hosts songwriter workshops, artist retreats, and car club gatherings—all designed to strengthen Comfort's creative and economic vitality. "We feel a responsibility to help our neighbors and support our community," Ernie explains. "When guests come here, we want them to feel like family—and when they explore town, we want them to experience everything that makes Comfort special."

McKenzie describes Comfort as offering visitors a "step back in time" experience, where they can walk among more than 20 historic buildings and admire 1880s architecture while witnessing ongoing community progress. "Comfort's story is about preserving identity while inspiring new opportunity," he observes. "Hotel Giles embodies that balance perfectly." For travelers seeking an authentic Texas experience that combines historical preservation with modern hospitality, Comfort represents a distinctive destination—centrally located between Fredericksburg, Kerrville, and Boerne, yet maintaining its unique character. The Building Texas Show continues to document such stories through its website at http://www.buildingtexasshow.com.