The Cabana Motor Hotel along Stemmons Freeway had a unique place in Dallas history — and the building will play a unique role in its future.
After opening in 1963, the hotel welcomed some of the biggest stars in pop culture and Hollywood during its heyday. The Beatles stayed at the hotel during their lone trip to Dallas in 1964. It also saw The Monkees and Jim Morrison pass though, while actress Raquel Welch once worked as a cocktail waitress in the hotel bar.
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More than 60 up and down years later, the property is being transformed into a 175-unit apartment complex by Sycamore Development LLC. Pre-leasing is expected to begin this month for what is now called Cabana Design District.
Matt Finn, architect with Sycamore, said the property at 899 N. Stemmons Fwy. was completely gutted when it was purchased, and it was “more suitable” for a hotel-to-residential conversion than for office space because of the floor plans. The firm wanted to preserve and incorporate historical or original parts of the hotel, including bringing back the building’s lighting system and putting back a portion of the original signage. The property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as an example of mid-century modern design.