My family lived at the Luther for several years when we moved to Palacios in 1979 when they were building the power plant. I was 11 and the Luther’s quickly because like another set of grandparents to me. Mrs Luther had a huge jewelry box full of this fabulous vintage costume jewelry that she would always let me look through. I still have the two pieces of rhinestone jewelry she gave me back then. Winters were wonderful there because the hotel was filled with snowbirds that came from all over the place to stay there every year. Nightly games of rummikub and bridge were held in the game room off the main lobby. My dad would make blenders full of daiquiris using the limes from Mr Luther’s tree and they would all sit out on the veranda in the evening and share them. It really was a special time living there when we did!
We were just there as guests in December of 2021. They were doing their best to hang on to it. It is an honor to have stayed in such a storied place. I would love to see them save it. Thanks for taking the time to tell this story.
Wow. thanks for this video. I stayed in the Luther maybe a couple dozen times during the 90s through about 2015. I went to Palacios for Catamaran and youth sailing regattas almost every year. It was an eclectic and salty bayside place. In the nineties we even stayed in one of the courts. I love eclectic places such as this and really enjoyed the feel of the place when the windows and doors were open to the bay breezes, and you could try to imagine the history. The reality is that it had become a musty, decrepit, fire trap, that there are few of us around that like such a place. The $ it will take to preserve and reopen are huge. I don't know that the local economy can justify that. Palacios and the Luther will always have a special place in my heart, that is very saddened by your images of disrepair. Things change. I will always remember the many good salty times there.
Cool story, without being there ever, you experience sounds about right for a family hotel that's been around too long, and I agree per my comment, the foundation work was not engineered to hold up over 120 years.
It's a shame it can't be kept open as a musem or something. Sadly its hard to keep everything historical from being replaced. Sometimes the economics just don't make sense. I don't see a new resort doing as well. this old town like many lost it's propserity when the highway replaced the railroad.
My paternal grandparents and great grandparents lived in Palacios until the 1980s. I remember going by the hotel when I would visit in the summer and on family holiday visits. The Luthers knew many of my family members. My parents went to high school there with the long term managers. I myself have stayed there several times as an adult and I enjoyed my visits. When I stayed there last it only had 1 tv and that was in the lobby! The Luther is truly a gem and I hope it’s saved and survives to greet the next turn of century - even though I myself will not see that event.
One crucial element to the story that was not mentioned here is that there are investors who have stated that they would be willing to buy and restore the building at a price higher than the Ed Rachal Foundation is paying.
Saying someone is interested and actually making a real offer are two different things. No one has made a concrete counter offer. Moreover, it would take a LOT more money to "restore" the hotel and no one has offered up a sustainable plan for that either.
This so depresses me. I'm from the Midwest and have stayed at the Luther three times in the past quarter century. I was half making plans to visit it again in a few months and went online to see if it was still around. Beautiful old building, nice people who owned it when I visited, just a short jog north of Corpus Christi. You could stay at the Luther, visit Corpus for the day, and be back easily. Thanks for posting this, but so, so disappointed to see it.
You'd be happy to know there is a solid effort to stop demolition including a developer that made a higher offer than the current one. I am planning a follow up video as this develops!
yes it is worth saving this beautiful historic building. I am a frequent visitor to Palacios, TX and I admire all the old buildings in the town and Luther Hotel is one that must be saved. Don't allow the past to be erased allow it to shine its interesting history for generations to come.
I stayed there a couple of times back in the 90s when in town for sailing. Though a big fan of preserving historical structures, the building was really far gone by that point. And keep in mind that was thirty years ago. I wish the people preserving it good luck. I think they have their work cut out for them.
It is irritating how developers are constantly trying to strip us of our history just to put up something that will be torn down later. These places are windows to our past that should never be forgotten.
I get it, I love old buildings, I'm in a 1825 building right now, and I can see New Jersey from my house. Look at it, it's not three stories, it's two and a half with window A/Cs and if you look closely at the foundation (or lack thereof), on these questionable piers... ... the right guy can fix this, but it might not be cost effective
Love your channel both for the content and because I don't have to give 15-20 minutes or more to see one video. Made it through this one in spite of your pronunciation of Palacios. I hate to see historic buildings torn down but I also hate historic organizations dictating what can and cannot be done to a building with no financial obligation for their decisions. How can a group with no skin (money) of their own tell someone else how they must run their business and spend their money? With the word "Fascist" being thrown around far too much these days, that is classic Fascism.
Palacios needs a reasonably priced, family friendly hotel. So called "preservationists" do not have the same vision. As to this video, the author didn't even bother to learn to pronounce the name of the town correctly. Several other inaccuracies (e.g., LBJ visited once while campaigning, he did not stay or frequent the hotel). Also, the video fails to mention many important related issues such as problems with mold and related lawsuits. One thing he got right: the Luther's "practicality has been outlived".
My family lived at the Luther for several years when we moved to Palacios in 1979 when they were building the power plant. I was 11 and the Luther’s quickly because like another set of grandparents to me. Mrs Luther had a huge jewelry box full of this fabulous vintage costume jewelry that she would always let me look through. I still have the two pieces of rhinestone jewelry she gave me back then.
Winters were wonderful there because the hotel was filled with snowbirds that came from all over the place to stay there every year. Nightly games of rummikub and bridge were held in the game room off the main lobby. My dad would make blenders full of daiquiris using the limes from Mr Luther’s tree and they would all sit out on the veranda in the evening and share them. It really was a special time living there when we did!
Love the Luther stories!!
We were just there as guests in December of 2021.
They were doing their best to hang on to it.
It is an honor to have stayed in such a storied place.
I would love to see them save it.
Thanks for taking the time to tell this story.
Wow. thanks for this video. I stayed in the Luther maybe a couple dozen times during the 90s through about 2015. I went to Palacios for Catamaran and youth sailing regattas almost every year. It was an eclectic and salty bayside place. In the nineties we even stayed in one of the courts. I love eclectic places such as this and really enjoyed the feel of the place when the windows and doors were open to the bay breezes, and you could try to imagine the history. The reality is that it had become a musty, decrepit, fire trap, that there are few of us around that like such a place. The $ it will take to preserve and reopen are huge. I don't know that the local economy can justify that. Palacios and the Luther will always have a special place in my heart, that is very saddened by your images of disrepair. Things change. I will always remember the many good salty times there.
Cool story, without being there ever, you experience sounds about right for a family hotel that's been around too long, and I agree per my comment, the foundation work was not engineered to hold up over 120 years.
Yes, when the windows were open at night to the bay, some of the best sleeping I've ever had.
It's a shame it can't be kept open as a musem or something.
Sadly its hard to keep everything historical from being replaced.
Sometimes the economics just don't make sense.
I don't see a new resort doing as well. this old town like many lost it's propserity when the highway replaced the railroad.
Ah, Jules Leffland. He desgined a lot of beautiful buildings that are still standing in downtown Victoria.
Yes, it is worth saving!!!
I grew up there. It's pronounced "Puh-lash-iss".
If you’re Hispanic it’s pronounced “PA-LA-SEE-YO-S.” Means Palace in Spanish.
@@YesSirYesSir3bagsFULLyup, both are correct around here. But I've never heard the host's pronunciation.
My paternal grandparents and great grandparents lived in Palacios until the 1980s. I remember going by the hotel when I would visit in the summer and on family holiday visits. The Luthers knew many of my family members. My parents went to high school there with the long term managers. I myself have stayed there several times as an adult and I enjoyed my visits. When I stayed there last it only had 1 tv and that was in the lobby!
The Luther is truly a gem and I hope it’s saved and survives to greet the next turn of century - even though I myself will not see that event.
I absolutely love this channel. I look forward to all your videos.
I appreciate it! Some cool ones coming up
One crucial element to the story that was not mentioned here is that there are investors who have stated that they would be willing to buy and restore the building at a price higher than the Ed Rachal Foundation is paying.
Saying someone is interested and actually making a real offer are two different things. No one has made a concrete counter offer. Moreover, it would take a LOT more money to "restore" the hotel and no one has offered up a sustainable plan for that either.
Yes and if I had the money, I'd buy it and restore it. Palacios deserves to hold on to this historic gem.
I wish the new property owners all the success they deserve.
My son's great grandfather built the 2 wings of the Luther beginning in 1905. Our family would like to help save this wonderful piece of Texas history
There's a great and active group working on this, please join us:
savetheluther.com/
thank you for this!!! were still fighting ,BUT we see the light t the tunnel!! im so thankfull for everyone!!!!who has help !!!
Major success with the efforts of Palacios Preservation Association!
This so depresses me. I'm from the Midwest and have stayed at the Luther three times in the past quarter century. I was half making plans to visit it again in a few months and went online to see if it was still around. Beautiful old building, nice people who owned it when I visited, just a short jog north of Corpus Christi. You could stay at the Luther, visit Corpus for the day, and be back easily. Thanks for posting this, but so, so disappointed to see it.
You'd be happy to know there is a solid effort to stop demolition including a developer that made a higher offer than the current one. I am planning a follow up video as this develops!
yes it is worth saving this beautiful historic building. I am a frequent visitor to Palacios, TX and I admire all the old buildings in the town and Luther Hotel is one that must be saved. Don't allow the past to be erased allow it to shine its interesting history for generations to come.
Which is fine, just don't force people to pay for it through taxes
😢sad to see it go … stayed there a couple of times ..
Worth saving for sure
Update: The Luther has been saved by preservationists.
After Carla i spent 2 summers there at the Courts. Nothing but good memories! Save it.
Thanks for this great video! This is such an interesting place. Too bad it may not survive. 🙁
I stayed there a couple of times back in the 90s when in town for sailing. Though a big fan of preserving historical structures, the building was really far gone by that point. And keep in mind that was thirty years ago. I wish the people preserving it good luck. I think they have their work cut out for them.
Lol a resort in Palacios? No one's going there for that. It's just a shrimping town now.
It is irritating how developers are constantly trying to strip us of our history just to put up something that will be torn down later. These places are windows to our past that should never be forgotten.
I stayed there years ago
I get it, I love old buildings, I'm in a 1825 building right now, and I can see New Jersey from my house.
Look at it, it's not three stories, it's two and a half with window A/Cs and if you look closely at the foundation (or lack thereof), on these questionable piers...
... the right guy can fix this, but it might not be cost effective
To bad it couldn't be restored. Such history.
I believe that they always decorated for Christmas and had an open house for it.
Excellent video about such a cool spot! Hope it gets saved!!
This small community needs a face lift and a Nice place for people to stay and want to come visit our little gem.
Great documentary! Much appreciated. Palacios is pronounced Pa La Sush
I always struggle saying these right!!
Love your channel both for the content and because I don't have to give 15-20 minutes or more to see one video. Made it through this one in spite of your pronunciation of Palacios. I hate to see historic buildings torn down but I also hate historic organizations dictating what can and cannot be done to a building with no financial obligation for their decisions. How can a group with no skin (money) of their own tell someone else how they must run their business and spend their money? With the word "Fascist" being thrown around far too much these days, that is classic Fascism.
Hello Terrica
OK the Luther hotel, you know how many ghost were around there and my is a part of the city
Well, your dream has come true!! Now witness the world class renovation
I am very happy!
I hate it when people reporting on towns mispronounce them.
No
Palacios needs a reasonably priced, family friendly hotel. So called "preservationists" do not have the same vision. As to this video, the author didn't even bother to learn to pronounce the name of the town correctly. Several other inaccuracies (e.g., LBJ visited once while campaigning, he did not stay or frequent the hotel). Also, the video fails to mention many important related issues such as problems with mold and related lawsuits. One thing he got right: the Luther's "practicality has been outlived".