The Provident City Hotel

September 8, 2017 by MP

Way out in the middle of nowhere, about 30 minutes from the closest town, lives the most beautiful building I have ever seen. With it’s shining bright white paint and contrasting red brick steps and chimney, it is a sight to be seen. When I look at the Provident City Hotel, I am transformed back into the early 1900’s and can’t help but imagine what life was like back then.

At one point, the town of Provident City had around 500 residents. The town had a post office, banks, churches, restaurants, a school, general merchandise and grocery stores, a drugstore, jewelry store, and the hotel. You see, the Provident City Land Company out of Kansas City, Missouri founded this town and sold five to ten acre tracts, sight unseen, to families in the Midwest. They were promised excellent farming results and were eager to get down to Texas. Provident City was a thriving town for several years, until the residents started realizing that their land was not as favorable as had been promised. And even more disheartening, the railroad that had also been promised to run through the town, never made it out that far. Four years later, the town was quickly becoming a ghost town. During World War I, many men left the town for better paying jobs, which hurt the town even more. By 1949, there were only around 30 residents left, and in 1952, the post office was closed. Sometime after that, my husband’s great-grandfather, Papa Hancock, purchased the remaining land, including the Provident City Hotel. The first time T took me out to the ranch and we went to the hotel, I knew I wanted to have my wedding reception there. Yes, this building is fascinating, but what really does it for me is the entire atmosphere – the gorgeous trees, open prairie, wildlife, and the feeling of being in an old Western movie. I also can’t help but think of the beautiful plantation style homes in Gone With the Wind and wonder if Scarlett O’Hara would approve. We all know how much she loved her Tara and Twelve Oaks.

Every year, on the opening weekend of deer season, the descendants of the Hancock family have what is called “Hunters’ Mass” at the hotel. Because a large part of the family now has ranch houses on different parts of the land, many members of the family are at the ranch for the weekend – some hunting, some enjoying the peaceful escape, and some doing both. A priest drives in from one of the nearest towns and has mass in the living room. Afterwards, there is a buffet style lunch with more food than you can ever imagine – appetizers, sides, casseroles, and desserts, oh the desserts! This place has become very special to me in the time that T and I have been together, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy this little piece of history.