Where Hilton Began
The Hilton hotel story starts here, in a 40-room hotel in Cisco, with a bank deal that fell through.
He came for a bank
In 1919 a young New Mexico banker named Conrad Hiltonsource arrived in Cisco looking for a bank to buy in the oil country. The seller raised his price, and the deal fell apart.source
Instead, Hilton noticed the Mobley Hotel, built in 1916 by Henry Mobley.source It was so packed with oil workers that rooms turned over around the clock.source Hilton bought it instead, for about $40,000.source It was the first hotel he bought.source
The building's state historical marker says Hilton dreamed of seeing Texas dotted with a chain of Hilton hotels.source That dream reached far beyond Texas.
Mobley Hotel · Guest Register
| Item | Entry |
|---|---|
| Built | 1916, by Henry Mobleysource |
| Rooms | 40source |
| Check-out | Every 8 hours. Beds were rented in shifts to oil workers.source |
| New owner | Conrad N. Hilton, 1919 |
| Price | About $40,000source |
| Honors | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1970; National Register of Historic Places, 1981sourcesource |
Beds in shifts
At the height of the boom, the Mobley rented each bed in eight-hour shifts, so a room could earn three times a night. Hilton's company still tells the story of the Mobley running at “300% occupancy.”source
It was a crash course in the hotel business, and Cisco was the classroom. Hilton went on to build one of the best-known hotel brands in the world.
The Conrad Hilton Center
The restored Mobley is now the Conrad Hilton Center at 309 Conrad Hilton Blvd. The ground floor serves as a community center, and upstairs is a small free museum with a re-created guest room.source The Hilton Foundation rescued the building in 1986.source
Before you go: published hours vary, so please call ahead at (254) 442-2537.source
Every fall the old hotel hosts the 40-foot pie buffet at Cisco TX Pie Fest.
Hilton checked in.
Cisco checks up.
Conrad Hilton came to Cisco in 1919 and left with a hotel. Today the town's smiles are in the hands of Cisco Dental, Dr. Jarred K. Donald DDS, with over 26 years of clinical experience. Same small town. Same big ambitions. Better teeth.