One of the River Walk’s long-lost gems will soon regain its luster. After closing during the Covid-19 pandemic and suffering years of disrepair, downtown’s El Tropicano Hotel is getting some renovations. According to filings at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the $46 million refresh will begin in August.

The property, the first resort-style hotel to be constructed along San Antonio’s signature tourist attraction, debuted in 1962. With a design that capitalized on the then-vogue for Latin destinations, it quickly became a favorite of jetsetters like the Rolling Stones, Dolly Parton, and former president Lyndon B. Johnson.

By the start of the millennium the glamor had faded. Various conglomerates, from Holiday Inn to Clarion, cycled through ownership with bland interpretations of the hotel’s original charm. A more thorough reinvention happened under the direction of Alamo Architects.

A 2018 acquisition by Alamo Equity and Phoenix Hospitality promised a return to El Tropicano’s glory days. Then, the group promises a major redux of the hotel’s public space and its 300-plus rooms. That came to an abrupt halt as the pandemic halted American tourism.

As El Tropicano decayed, it became a source of contention. In May 2023, hotel investor and former broadcast executive Emilio Nicolas Jr. sued Alamo Equity principal Logan Anjaneyulu, citing mismanagement. Shortly after, the property barreled towards foreclosure after a loan default, only to be pulled from the auction block under the wire.

In January, a consortium including Trestle Studios, Sopris Capital, and the Town Lake Company officially acquired the property, committing to a new chapter. Paperwork submitted to the Office of Historic Preservation showed a few changes to the hotel’s historical structure including pool deck improvements, a new storefront, landscaping, and improved traffic flow at the entrance.

The involvement of Trestle Studios, however, implies an upscale approach to the interior. The company’s projects include tony national boutique hotel groups such as Line, Freehand, and NoMad. Typically, the hotels come complete with high-profile restaurants like Top Chef host Kristen Kish’s Arlo Grey.

Design details will no doubt be forthcoming as construction gears up. The remodel is expected to wrap up in February 2026.