The historic Sitio El Tropicano Hotel on San Antonio’s River Walk is moving toward a December reopening following a substantial renovation program. Owners Trestle Studio have begun taking reservations for both overnight guests and events, signaling that the property is on track to return to active operation after a long period of vacancy. The hotel, located at 110 Lexington Ave, first opened in 1962 and is now undergoing a $100 million overhaul aimed at repositioning the asset as a contemporary urban resort.
The property will reopen as a 315-room urban resort, maintaining its role as a riverfront hospitality destination. Sitio El Tropicano originally held the distinction of being the first riverfront hotel on the San Antonio River Walk, tying the current repositioning to a long-established presence in the city’s tourism and hospitality corridor. The investment in the building’s modernization reflects an effort to bring a historic hotel up to current guest expectations while leveraging its location along the River Walk.
A key component of the repositioning strategy is the introduction of a members’ club alongside the hotel operation. Sitio is being marketed as both an urban resort and a members’ club, with membership options that layer additional revenue streams on top of transient and group business. According to the ownership, a founding membership is offered as a one-time fee of $12,500, while other membership tiers start at $3,500. These memberships provide access to members-only spaces and a curated calendar of programming and events.
The private club element will also include a dedicated bar and preferred room rates for members, integrating the club experience directly with the hotel’s core lodging business. By combining exclusive spaces, tailored events and discounted room pricing, the membership program is designed to create a recurring base of local and repeat users in addition to out-of-town guests. The property is also noted for featuring what is described as San Antonio’s largest pool deck, which is positioned as a distinguishing amenity within the local hospitality market.
As the renovation progresses toward completion, Trestle Studio has opened its booking calendar for future guests. The first day currently available for booking is December 15, with nightly rates starting at $236. Reservations are being accepted for both guest stays and events, indicating that the hotel is preparing to serve a mix of leisure, group and social functions upon reopening. The combination of a large-scale renovation budget, a defined reopening timeline and a structured membership program outlines the next phase for this longstanding River Walk asset.
With the property moving from long-vacant status back into active use, Sitio El Tropicano is positioned to reenter San Antonio’s hospitality inventory as both a renovated hotel and a members’ club. The December reopening will mark a new chapter for the 1960s-era riverfront hotel, reintroducing 315 rooms and expanded amenities to a central location within the city’s tourism corridor.
