Mineola, Texas

The Beckham Hotel
115 Commerce Street
Mineola, TX 75773
903-569-0835

Location Rating: T-B-x

The Beckham Hotel is a genuine railroad hotel, built to house passengers as well as
railroad employees laying over between runs. Located on Commerce Street in the
downtown area, the hotel sits directly across the tracks from the Amtrak station.
Several rooms overlook the tracks, and are favorites of guests who find Mineola's
railroad heritage particularly appealing. The present brick structure was completed
in 1927 after a fire razed the first (ca. 1880s) hotel. Big bands were said to have played
in the upstairs ballroom during the 1920s and 1930s, and there are stories of bootlegging,
ghosts and late night poker games interrupted only by the passing of trains.

One upstairs room (with private bath) and two upstairs suites have been refurbished for
public use and restoration is underway in other areas. The Beckham functions more as a
hotel (offering a continental breakfast) compared to the traditional bed and breakfast
inns where a full breakfast is provided.