The Gage

I love The Gage. For anyone who hasn't read my previous entries rhapsodizing about it, The Gage is a small, historic hotel in Marathon, Texas. More importantly, it's an oasis of civilization (thick towels and plenty of them, good beds, great sheets) in a part of Texas so remote that it's 5 hours out of cellphone range.




These are the front doors of The Gage...the Gage was built in 1927 by a Texas cattleman and native of Vermont, Alfred Gage, as a headquarters in which to meet and conduct his banking and ranching operations. Unfortunately, Alfred Gage was able to enjoy the use of his hotel for just a short time, as he died the same year it was completed. The Gage eventually became run-down; however, in the early 1990's it was purchased and restored.

Two stone lions sit guard at the entrance of The Gage; this is one of them.

Although The Gage is small it's 37 rooms are housed in 3 areas: in the Historic Hotel (in which rooms are available With Bath or, for slightly less money, With Bath Down the Hall); in the adjacent Los Portales (Spanish for The Porch); and in a separate cottage, Wilson House. I've stayed in both types of rooms in the Historic Hotel (Bath Down the Hall is not a problem) and I've stayed in Los Portales. The lobby and each of the rooms is charming, furnished with a variety of authentic artifacts representing the Mexican, native Indian, and American Cowboy cultures of the Big Bend region of West Texas (The Gage is designated as an historical landmark). In addition to it's 37 rooms, The Gage also has a bar (The White Buffalo), a dining room (Cafe Cenizo) and a heated pool (I said it was civilized).

here's one of several giant yuccas on the grounds....

...here's one of two beds in a Room With A Bath in the Historic Hotel...the bed was very comfortable, and the sheets were great but I brought my own pillow and was glad of it...and the Indian blanket on the bed is approximately 100 years old, and as heavy as a rug...

Here's a detail on the courtyard walls...

...and here's the sign to the bar...