COUNTY LIFE
Families partner to breathe new life into, remodel Nocona motel
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net
Nocona residents Bob and Kristal Ferguson and Rusty and Carolyn Fenoglio on July 1 purchased the former Nocona Inn at 219 Clay Street.
The plan is to reopen the small hotel by early February 2015, just in time for Nocona’s Mardi Gras celebration, under a new name – Red River Station Inn.
Coincidentally, a new restaurant will open next door called Red River Pizzeria sometime later this year.
Nocona has long been a resting spot for travelers, with United States Highway 82 and several Texas State Highways and farm-to-market routes running like arteries throughout the community.
“It was a rest point for those headed north up to the Red River and Oklahoma,” said Bob Ferguson.
The building was once the location of a mini-mall.
The Fergusons and Fenoglios have the idea that remodeled rooms will have specific themes based on figures from Nocona’s storied past.
The previous hotel had 18 rooms, but that will be pared down to 14 once remodeling has been completed, Ferguson reported.
Some of the historical people expected to be included are: Herman Joseph “H.J.” Justin, Enid Justin, Quanah Parker, Ruth Roach and Jack Crain.
“Each room will have a shadow box that will explain the story of that room,” Bob’s wife Kristal Ferguson said.
Bob Ferguson explained the hotel will have a New Orleans theme – especially with the exteriors and an interior courtyard – because the first explorers to see the area were of French descent back in the 1700s.
“They came here even before the Spanish,” he said.
Ferguson and others are currently gutting the rooms, which includes the carpeting.
The quartet of owners is terming it a “total renovation.”
Read the full story in the Sept. 3 edition of The Bowie News.
Make plans to come out and honor Bowie High School state tennis champions Heidi and Willow Siebert on Wednesday afternoon.
Members of the Nocona City Council will meet for a regular meeting at 5 p.m. on May 12 in council chambers.
A public hearing on an ordinance annexing adjacent and contiguous territory to the city will be offered. This relates to two small tracts of land at the front and back of the Tales ‘N’ Trails Museum property. It does not involve providing any services, but clarifies the property in the museum’s tract. Any action would follow in the regular agenda.
Mayor and council reports on items of community interest follow along with public comments.
Items slated for the agenda include the following: Discuss bid to mow and weed-eat the Nocona Cemetery; discuss bids to furnish a 180,000-200,000 gallon capacity tank for potable water; three requests from the Nocona Economic Development Corporation – Type A and B boards funding a grant for signage at the American Legion at $2,300, both boards fund a grant for Tales ‘N’ Trails to enclose the east win of the barn for $18,000 and both boards to grant the Chisholm Trail Art Association $2,000 to support the Art of the Song Music Festival Art Show.
Other council topics will be consider repair of the water found at Enid Justin City Park; discuss public nuisance code violations; hear request from David Yowell to purchase water for the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss appraised value, setting price and conditions for sealed bids on 19.5 acres of city-owned land adjacent to the Nocona Hills Golf Course; discuss slide on upstream water side of dam and discuss changes to rental agreement for H.J. Justin Community Room.
The majority of these items will be considered for action during the regular agenda following the workshop agenda.
Present for the Bowie Community Development proclamation for National Travel and Tourism Week May 3-9 made by Mayor Gaylynn Burris were volunteers and staff: Matthew Hunt, Cindy Roller, Brittany Barnes, Sylvia Henning, Mildred McCraw, and Joe Barnhill. Community Development focus is on beautification and tourism for the City of Bowie. The group focuses on tourism through its many festival and events, welcoming people to the community. (News photo by Barbara Green)
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