True to its name, Estancia del Norte is a destination for respite. A place to pause and rest, restore and celebrate. Since it opened as Mansion del Norte in 1978, the hotel has served as a landmark for San Antonio hospitality. Following an extensive, multi-million dollar renovation, Presidian Hotels & Resorts is proud to unveil Estancia as its flagship property that epitomizes San Antonio's unique culture and history, seamlessly blending Old World elegance with modern-day luxury. The boutique property's design, curated by a team of Texas-based firms, decorators and artists, invites guests to connect with the community, gather with familiar and new friends, and create memorable moments.
Designating this property as extremely special among Presidian’s nine hotels was no accident. Presidian CEO Charles Leddy is a born-and-raised San Antonio committed to sparking this storied property back to vibrant life while honoring so much of its original character and charm.
“This property, with its rich history and iconic architecture, has the potential to become a fixture in the rich fabric of San Antonio,” Leddy said.” It is a very special property for Presidian. I feel extremely lucky to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to revitalize a San Antonio landmark. Our goal is to restore the charm of the property while honoring its original design and enhancing many features with our own stylistic touches.”
Every corner of the hotel remains true to this mission, leaving no detail forgotten and ensuring guests are met with beauty at every turn.
A Lasting First Impression
Upon entering, guests feel instantly at ease as they glide beneath the renewed grand porte-cochere – the hotel’s official warm welcome – a masterfully detailed visual of intricate woodworking. Enter into the reimagined breathtaking lobby, exhale, and sink into a space that feels familiar yet full of pleasant surprises. A classic Spanish-style fountain babbles peacefully below the hustle and bustle, hugged by custom leather armchairs and dreamy sandy-colored sofas. Bursting pops of terra cotta orange accentuate charming Old World ironwork, leading guests to some of the hotel’s most special event and gathering rooms.
Inside Estancia’s Niche Spaces
From flipping rundown Texas ranches to renovating celebrity homes, San Antonio interior designer Kim Wolfe is always ready to transform the everyday into the extraordinary. Known for juxtaposing styles, Wolfe brings together handmade organic textiles, modern lines and funky antique finds to create distinctive and welcoming spaces. Wolfe designed several of Estancia’s niche spaces — the Dahlia Room, Leddy Ranch Room and the Southeast Atrium — to provide guests with uniquely luxurious yet intimate experiences.
The Dahlia Room, a room designed by and for Texas women, is the ideal private space for any dream wedding, friendly party or work gathering. Drawing inspiration from the hotel’s history and classic Spanish archways, The Dahlia greets its guests with a beautiful arch-covered bubbly bar, upholstered in turquoise velvet, and complete with a champagne button that allows the party to order more libations.
“We wanted this to be a really beautiful, elegant space that any bride would be thrilled to spend a day in,” Wolfe said. “The Dahlia Room is a place where anyone — whether a grandmother or a 24-year old girl — will walk in and feel welcome and ready to celebrate.”
Just opposite the bar, you’ll find a colorful flower wall — adorned with orange marigold strands — for Insta-ready group photos, or sit in front of the wall in the vintage rattan peacock-style throne for a dramatic portrait session. The L-shaped room extends to include a credenza for Don Strange’s catering services and a custom-made white wood oval table from Ruidoso, New Mexico, for an elegant gathering space that seats up to 20.
Featuring vibrant and original artworks such as the room’s central oil painting from local artist Kathy Sosa’s celebrated Tree of Life series, the Dahlia Room celebrates the iconography and color that define San Antonio and Texas. Wolfe has included vintage-inspired design touches like the stained glass windows original to the hotel, glass sconces and nature-inspired gold leaf chandeliers from Hudson Valley Lighting. Plentiful seating options including the room’s luxe pink Curvo sofa, a collection of glamorous velvet armchairs and an assortment of handmade Guatemalan textiles and pillows that give The Dahlia its natural yet bespoke feel.
A wall of white Hollywood-style vanities with feathered resin mirrors, modern lighting and power outlets makes Dahlia the perfect place for bridal parties to dress, take flattering photos by a second flower wall or use the room’s antique mirror on wheels for a sophisticated full-length look. Dahlia’s beautiful archway is the best spot for a bride to hang a wedding dress on her special day, while the curtain divider offers privacy, storage and access to a private pocket restroom. The private powder room is equipped with power and lighting and includes hand-painted, textured turquoise Mexican tiles and a colorful handcrafted Mexican Talavera toilet. Just steps away from the Dahlia Room, you’ll find Leddy Ranch, an ideal room for business casual meetings and friendly gatherings, and a great place for a groom’s party to prepare for the big day. An enchanting private courtyard connects Dahlia and Leddy Ranch for the picture-perfect “first look” or intimate rehearsal dinner.
Leddy Ranch
Just beyond its robust wood and iron doors, the Leddy Ranch is a room well-suited to host business casual meetings, friendly gatherings, and that special groom’s party to prepare for the big day.
Decked out with generous black leather sofas, Danish leather chairs and vintage bootmaking tools, Leddy Ranch is all about bringing M.L. Leddy’s Texas roots and modern Western legacy life. A gallery wall with celebrity boot sketches and crocodile skins from the original Texas boot store pays homage to the iconic family.
Guests can take step into the room’s lounge for a pool game on one of two large silver pool tables, play darts or kick back and watch the game from the room’s three TVs. A modern black bar and glass bar rail, accompanied by red bar stools, is equipped with a curated selection of liquors including high-quality bourbons, so guests can enjoy a simple glass of their preferred spirit or a classic cocktail.
Exit the Dahlia Room or Leddy Ranch to access the Southeast Atrium, a space where hotel visitors can simply relax, wait for their table at the nearby Lazo With Don Strange or take a beat and take in astounding original art.
Southeast Atrium
Inspired by the atrium’s natural light, Wolfe brings the best of the outdoors to Estancia’s interior. Take a seat in one of the atrium’s handmade Equipale chairs — Mexican furniture woven with wood and leather — and enjoy a cocktail or coffee with friends while you wait for your table at Lazo.
Flanked by oversized olive trees and featuring a masterful 21-foot by 6-foot tile mural by local artist Sienna Dunis-Ginn on its south wall, the atrium is a simple and inviting place for partygoers or guests to lounge or unwind.
“I want these spaces to feel unique; I think the rooms will be a novel experience for visitors, in terms of ambiance and vibe, but it will be a distinctly San Antonio experience,” Wolfe said. “My favorite thing about San Antonio is the way we celebrate our unique blend of cultures. We come together in a really cool way unlike anywhere else.”
Estancia del Norte is Home to Original San Antonio-Made Artwork
Estancia del Norte is filled with work by talented artisans, but its true masterpiece is a 21-foot by 6-foot tile mural installation by San Antonio artist Sienna Dunis-Ginn. Dunis-Ginn created 504 individual ceramic tiles for the mural, carefully forming, glazing and firing each piece multiple times over a six-month period. Drawing from decades of experience as a professional artist, Dunis-Ginn was able to create impeccable colors using hundreds of custom glazes. She then fired tiles at nearly 200oF, often multiple times, to develop the desired variety of finishes, textures and colors. She worked closely with a professional installer to ensure that each tile was installed correctly.
“The amazing thing about a tile mural is that it’s so unique in appearance,” she said. “Ceramic tile and glaze, which is basically liquid glass, gives it that richness and depth that you get with layered glass, to create the shading, giving it a lot of color.”
The mural, which highlights the stories and celebrations of San Antonio, is told through the viewpoint of three large Spanish arches, similar to the familiar arches found at Estancia and similar architectural icons across San Antonio.
“This mural will engage viewers to approach and touch and feel it. That’s a powerful thing,” Dunis-Ginn said. “The mural will draw people in and make them want to look more closely and find all the stories being told inside these arches.”
Under the first arch, you’ll find iconic landmarks and events in San Antonio — The Missions, the River Walk, the skyline, Fiesta, the iconic cowboy boots at North Star Mall and Estancia del Norte — that embody San Antonio’s spirit of celebration.
The center of the mural shows celebrations at the hotel. One side of the hotel’s porte-cochere highlights La Mansion del Rio as it appeared in 1978, with the modern Estancia del Norte sign and logo on the other side. Just below the hotel’s logo, we find a high school reunion taking place in Estancia’s Grand Courtyard, a quinceñera procession in the Grand Ballroom and a wedding toast in the hotel’s private courtyard as newlyweds embrace under the arches.
The right side of the mural shows how San Antonio celebrates through dance. Colorful mariachi and Folklorico dancers fill the archway. Meanwhile, the symbols of San Antonio culture — a cactus, sombrero, a Día de Los Muertos candy skull, guitar, piñata and bluebonnets — can be found throughout the mural, connecting all three arches. Together, each arch demonstrates how the city’s history and modern-day celebrations come together at Estancia del Norte.
“Everyone knew of Mansion del Rio when it was here, and now everyone will know of Estancia del Norte. It was important to recognize that this is an iconic landmark too, that it’s becoming a place that people will know and associate with the best celebrations our city has to offer.”
Destinations Within the Hotel: Paseo Bar and Estancia Ballroom
Multiple local designers and artists worked independently to create the hotel's original yet welcoming spaces but the
MatchLine Design Group — a prominent design team from Dallas, Texas — helped bring it all together. Interior
designer Lesley Hughes-Wyman, who co-founded the MatchLine Design Group in 2009, helped establish the final look and feel for the hotel's guestrooms and several of its most prominent spaces, including the Paseo Bar and the Estancia Ballroom.
Drawing on over 20 years of professional experience, Lesley has successfully overseen hotel design projects nationwide, including the current conversion of San Antonio's historic El Tropicano into a member of the Tapestry by Hilton Collection, DoubleTree Atlanta and The Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake Ozark.
The hotel boasts nearly 270 rooms and 12 luxury suites, all designed with guest comfort in mind. From the spa-inspired shower to the Italian bed linen with handmade throws, every detail of this guest room evokes relaxation and awe. Each night, curl up in your plush robe and slippers, savor a treat from your minifridge, and fall asleep with a movie on your 55’ flat-screen TV. Wake-up whenever you’d like, thanks to your I-Home Clock, blackout curtains, and in-room Keurig coffee maker. Get ready for your day with our artisanal soaps, hairdryer, and ironing equipment. Catch up on business at the workspace and stay connected with Wi-Fi and remote printing capabilities. Through curated art and a delight in the details, Estancia del Norte welcomes you to enjoy San Antonio’s unique culture and charm while providing you an oasis of luxury within a busy cityscape.
The MatchLine Design Group utilized many materials found throughout the original hotel property, including hand-painted tiles, locally-sourced woods and metals, and a mix of warm, earthy colors and cool accents to create a distinct South Texas modern aesthetic.
“We’re trying to give a nod to the history of the hotel, keeping a lot of those original design elements — the old, wooden entry doors will be reused to , cleaning up the beautifully carved stone fountains and connecting it all through the hotel’s Spanish archways,” Lesley said. “The hotel is a nice infusion of Spanish style, Mexican heritage and Texas; it’s what makes San Antonio so interesting. It’s really a mix of all those elements.”
A set of colorful, hand-painted floor tiles will lead guests from the hotel's renovated lobby into the vibrant new Paseo Bar. Surrounded by walls of custom-designed metalwork, the bar invites visitors to leave their worries at the door. Patrons can approach the slate-topped bar for regionally-sourced tequilas, mezcals, and a curated selection of specialty bourbons, as well as classic and original cocktails.
Paseo Bar, which measures 3,400 square feet space, will feature generous seating options, including several wooden tables surrounded by leather lounge chairs, banquette seating, and groups of wooden chairs, juxtaposed by copper and steel finishing. Patrons can enjoy drinks and small bites with friends indoors or visit Lazo With Don Strange, the renowned San Antonio catering company’s first brick-and- mortar restaurant. Inspired by Spanish hacienda-style and the flavors of Southwest Texas, Lazo With Don Strange offers culinary experiences that will delight the senses, capture the imagination and provide world-class hospitality.
Walk past the courtyard's attractions to access the newly renovated Estancia Ballroom, a 7,000 square foot space designed to host the perfect bar or bat mitzvah, quinceñera, or wedding reception. MatchLine raised the ballroom's existing architectural arches while refinishing the exposed ceiling beams to create a more spacious and elevated space. The room's decor has been updated with vintage-esque carpeting and deconstructed glass globe chandeliers to offer an elegant yet modern appearance. Look for select millwork items, such as the antiqued glass mirror, which can be used to make any wedding reception or coming-of-age ceremony feel even more momentous and help encapsulate those special celebratory moments.
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About Estancia del Norte
A landmark hotel in the heart of San Antonio’s Uptown District, Estancia del Norte seamlessly blends the city’s storied past with its thriving arts and business scene. Since its debut as La Mansion del Norte in 1978, the hotel has welcomed generations of travelers to relax, celebrate and explore all the city has to offer. As the new flagship of Presidian Hotels & Resorts, Estancia remains an icon of San Antonio’s unique culture and charm, providing guests an oasis of luxury within a busy cityscape.
The historic hotel recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, revitalizing its timeless Spanish archways, original courtyards and antique glass elevator. The hotel boasts nearly 270 rooms and 12 luxury suites, all designed with guest comfort in mind. Estancia del Norte features 20,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event spaces, including the Estancia Ballroom, five private meeting rooms, the Dahlia and Leddy Ranch rooms for special milestone celebrations and an opulent pool. From drinks and dinner to dancing, Estancia is home to exquisite culinary experiences unlike anywhere else. In partnership with Don Strange of Texas, a renowned catering company for over 70 years, the hotel will offer the perfect plates and sips for any occasion. Venture to the Paseo Bar for craft cocktails and small bites, or experience South Texas-inspired cuisine and impeccable hospitality at Lazo With Don Strange, the catering brand’s first-ever restaurant. Count on Estancia for luxury shopping options, state-of-the-art gym facilities, and space to celebrate San Antonio’s most extraordinary moments, which embody the hotel’s legacy. Estancia del Norte is part of the Tapestry Collection by HiltonTM, a portfolio of upscale, independent hotels that adhere to Hilton hospitality standards.