Crowne Plaza Houston near Reliant Park / Medical Center
8686 Kirby Drive • Houston, Texas 77054
Phone: (713) 748-3221 • Fax: (713) 796-9371
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Our World Famous Houston Celestial Hotel Suites

The Crowne Plaza Houston near Reliant Park / Medical Center hotel was built in 1969 by Judge Roy Hofheinz as the Astroworld Hotel and features the world famous Celestial Suite (not curently available for guest use).

Roy Hofheinz was always on the fast track; earning early graduation from Rice University and continuing on to be Houston Law School's youngest graduate at age 19.  His political career began at age 22, elected to the Texas State Legislature and then at 24 became Harris County's youngest Judge.  His political aspirations continued and at the age of 40, Judge Roy was elected to be Houston' Mayor and held the office from 1953 to 1955.

Judge Roy was part of a group that helped to create the Major League Baseball franchise the Houston Colt 45s (later known as the Houston Astros) as well as building the Houston Astrodome.  After the Astrodome was completed in 1965, Judge Roy built the Astroworld Hotel and Astroworld Amusement Park, his Astrodomain was complete!

Judge Roy decided it would be in his best interest to have a home at the hotel so after the hotel was completed, he decided to have the Celestial Suite built on top of the existing hotel.  He and his wife, Mary Frances spent over one million dollars creating the most expensive suite in the world to house all of their many treasures collected over the years. Harper Goff, art director for Disney's Academy Award winning, live-action film, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, designed the Judge's million dollar suite.   In 1978 the Guinness Book of World Records listed the Celestial Suite as being the most expensive suite in the world. 

The Celestial Suites

The Celestial Suite has thirteen suites with bedrooms, many with unique features and each with its own story.  

The entrance foyer, also known as The Foyer of Fountains, provided Judge Roy the suggestion of the legendary Fountain of Youth, which Ponce De Leon was searching for in the 1500s. 

The Lane of Lanterns was designed with the ironwork of the New Orleans French Quarter in mind.  It is reminiscent of Bourbon Street, where at one time, pirates and statesman strolled past lanes lit with lanterns.

The Sadie Thompson Suite

Mr. W. Somerset Maugham, an English novelist and playwright, wrote books on human nature, which were famous in the early 1900's.  Sadie Thompson, the title character in his book "Rain", was a woman of ill repute somewhere in the South Pacific Islands.  The décor of this room is that of the South Pacific with bamboo, rush hut and mosquito netting.

The Lillian Russell Suite

Named for the woman who represented the feminine idea of her generation, Lillian Russell made her singing debut as a member of the chorus in Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore.  Her striking beauty and hour-glass figure made her the most photographed woman of her time.  The room is very ornate, as is the bouquet bath, which adjoins with flowers inlaid in the tile and painted onto the antique cameo mirror.

The Acapulco Patio / The P.T. Barnum Suite

Carved wood doors and colorful Mexican tile mark the entrance to the P.T. Barnum Suite, this area was very popular with Judge Hofheinz's children. 

Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-1891), began a career that would give new meaning to our founding fathers phrase of "the pursuit of happiness".  The celebrated American showman did not join Barnum and Bailey until he was past the age of 60, but amused Americans at his museum with sensational exhibits of both fake and genuine curiosities.

The Big Top room is the parlor of this suite with three circles on the carpet and above on the ceiling, depicting the three ring circus theme.

The Band Wagon room is furnished with a short looking bed that is actually wider than a king size bed and is made from an old bandwagon calliope, complete with wheels.

The Adventurer Suite

The Reception Area and Parlor are reminiscent of Tarzan, the jungle hero created by novelist Edgar Rice Burroughs.  The two-story Tarzan Room with its vine- covered tree puts you in the middle of a jungle safari.  The sculpture of the natives and the one of the woman were both imported from Tahiti by Harper Goff. This suite was a requested favorite of the late Michael Jackson.

The Fu Manchu Room which is an adjoining bedroom was named after the character Dr. Fu Manchu, created by novelist Sax Rohmer.  The Fu Manchu Room includes the ornate Mandarin Bath.  It has very unique features, including the showerhead, faucets and tissue holder.

The Master Suite begins with The Monterrey Kitchen.  The kitchen was created in a Mexican motif, the mosaic work surrounding the skylight was hand-painted and then imported from Monterrey, Mexico.  The kitchen contains a cozy breakfast nook, a wine cellar with architecture not found today. 

Adjoining is The Bird Cage Dining Room with spectacular lighting done in red, yellow and blue.  The dining room is in a style reminiscent of a French monarch.

The Marble Library was considered to be the Parlor of the Celestial Suite and was designed as a tribute to our European ancestors.  The ceiling was gold leaf and the veins of leaf in the antique Hamburg stained glass windows were inked and then fired.

The Roman Bath contains a comfortable whirlpool tub and sunken bath tub which holds 100 gallons of water.  The beautiful marble sink depicts ornate gold swan faucets and pillars.

Last, but not least is The Mini Dome.  The Judge used this room as his own private wet bar area.  The Mini Dome also features a miniature baseball diamond on the floor and a miniature scoreboard above the bar. The Mini Dome provides a beautiful view of Reliant Park.

This suite has housed and been visited by many famous people including:

The Celestial Suites are in line to be renovated with the hope that guests of the Crowne Plaza Houston near Reliant Park / Medical Center hotel will have access to these wonderful designs in the future.

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