
Location
311 E Franklin Ave El Paso, TX 79901
Gardner Hotel and Hostel in El Paso
Welcome to Gardner Hotel, the oldest continually operating hotel in the city of El Paso, Texas. This hidden jewel will transport you back to the 1920’s and offer an experience like no other hotel in El Paso. Our hotel was first opened in 1922 by Preston E. Gardner, and has been in the Nebhan family since the 1940s; a stay with us is an experience in El Paso history.
Guests are transported from the busy Downtown El Paso streets to a place that is reminiscent of another era. Our marble staircase leads to rooms that have seen countless guests and still retain their charming features. One such guest was America’s Most Wanted, bank robber John Dillinger and two members of his gang who checked into Gardner Hotel while on the run. American novelist, Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award Winner Cormac McCarthy was a longer resident here who used to stay at the Hotel while writing his novels. He even mentions the hotel in his books! Stay at the Gardner and see how this hotel inspires you.
Gardner Hotel offers all the amenities you could need during your stay. We have a variety of hotel rooms including private rooms with a twin or full bed & shared hall baths, a variety of private rooms with private baths, and shared hostel rooms– many retaining their original antique furniture. This Downtown hotel has a unique sense of old world charm and the western frontier, with a lavishly decorated reception with well-maintained memorabilia dating back to the 1920s. Guests are welcome in the lobby to see the history, but for the safety of our guests there is a no visitor policy (unless prearranged with us).
Note that our elevator is original and nearly as old as the hotel! Therefore, it is very delicate and not currently operational. All of our rooms are located one or two levels up, so you will need to use our stairway to access your room. We do employ very strong people who are more than happy to help you with your luggage to your room, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!
A lot has changed in El Paso since we were built, and due to our downtown location that means we now have a pulsing nightlife in the city centre. If you are here to enjoy yourself then please take advantage of our discounts available at neighboring bars and restaurants. If you simply want a good night’s sleep, then grab a free set of ear plugs at reception if you are a sensitive sleeper!
Due to El Paso’s dry temperatures, the Gardner Hotel uses centralized evaporative cooling not AC, and each room has a transom above the door to allow air to the room. In the winter, radiators in each room provide centralized stream heating. There is no individualized heating and cooling, however, there are ceiling fans in the rooms and extra blankets available upon request.
Welcome to the El Paso Hostel at the Gardner Hotel. The hostel opened in 1984 and has been serving travelers from around the globe since then. We have dormitory rooms and communal areas for those traveling in groups or backpackers on a budget. Our hostel guest kitchen and common room areas have been recently renovated as featured on Travel Channel’s ‘Hotel Impossible‘ Hostel Takeover. We have been recognized for excellence by Lonely Planet and Harvard University (Let’s Go)
Find out more about Gardner Hotel and Hostel El Paso in our ‘About Us’