German-Texans have a long tradition of the Sunday house — a place in town where, from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, rural farmers could gather and celebrate with family and friends on the weekends. Kimpton Santo takes its inspiration from these community rendezvous and carries on the tradition of the joyful gatherings by offering a welcoming place to socialize. We even have a circa-1858 German-English schoolhouse on the property, dedicated to poet, playwright, and historian Friedrich Schiller, who wrote "Ode to Joy."

The Kimpton Santo Hotel was chosen by the Power of Preservation Foundation as the winner of this year’s Preservation Project of the Year. The hotel was chosen for its successful repurposing of the 19th century German English schoolhouse buildings, which now house eight luxury suites, an intimate cocktail bar, and a high-end steakhouse, Dean’s Steak & Seafood. Watch the full video to learn about this recognition.