Stockyards Hotel and H3 Ranch Close in April for $30M Renovation, WARN

The Stockyards Hotel at 109 E. Exchange Ave. and its adjoining H3 Ranch steakhouse in Fort Worth will temporarily close beginning April 6, 2026, and nearly 120 employees are expected to be laid off while the properties undergo a roughly $30 million renovation, a WARN notice filed with state regulators says. The notice, submitted by Exchange Hotels Management, says the employment separations "are currently expected to last longer than six months."

Stockyards Heritage Development Company - a partnership between Majestic Realty Co. and the Hickman Companies that bought the hotel in 2022 - is directing the redevelopment as part of the next phase of expansion for the Stockyards Entertainment District. Kristin Assad, chief operating officer for Stockyards Heritage, said the work will be done with "a respect for what these properties represent," and added that the investment "positions them to continue serving today’s travelers while honoring their role in the district."

Project descriptions put the budget at roughly $30 million; one developer statement characterized the scope as exceeding $30 million. H3 Ranch's work is slated to focus on kitchen and back-of-house infrastructure and a refreshed dining room, while the Stockyards Hotel renovation will update guest experiences in a design meant to "tip its hat to a defining era in Stockyards history" and translate the past into present-day form. Majestic Realty’s Rick H. Kline III described the partnership's role in the area as central to the "revitalization of the historic Fort Worth Stockyards" and tourism growth.

The WARN filing schedules layoffs to begin April 6, 2026, with nearly 120 workers expected to be separated; the filing ties the layoffs to the temporary closure for planned renovations tied to broader district redevelopment. H3 Ranch is anticipated to reopen later in 2026, with several accounts targeting late 2026 for the steakhouse's return. The Stockyards Hotel is expected to reopen in early 2027.

The Stockyards Hotel opened in 1907 and has long been a local landmark with a "Bonnie and Clyde Junior Suite" tied to lore that Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow stayed there in 1933; notable guests have included Willie Nelson, George Strait and Vince Gill. Local accounts differ on a previous restoration year, listing either 1982 or 1984 as the date of past restoration work. H3 Ranch originally opened in 1998.

Fort Worth City Council representative Carlos Flores said he was glad to see Stockyards Heritage moving forward after a pause during some management changes. The renovation joins other major Fort Worth development efforts, including multi-hundred-million-dollar projects reshaping the city's commercial landscape.

Outstanding details for workers and vendors remain: the exact contract or final budget figure, the definitive historical restoration year, whether laid-off employees will have recall or rehire priority, severance or assistance provisions, and the names of contractors and construction milestones. For now, guests and staff should expect both properties shuttered from April 6, with H3 Ranch aiming to return late in 2026 and the Stockyards Hotel targeted to reopen in early 2027.