Downtown Lubbock, Texas (including Historical Buildings.

The Metro Tower

The Taller of the two buildings in the first few drone photographs is the Metro Tower, also known as the NTS Tower. It is an office high-rise building located in Lubbock, Texas. Completed in 1955, it is the tallest building in Lubbock at 274 feet (84 meters). The 20-story building was originally known as the Great Plains Life Building after an insurance company that served as its first occupant. It suffered heavy damage in the 1970 Lubbock tornado and sat vacant and derelict for several years amid talk of possible demolition. After extensive renovation, the building was reopened in 1975 and has been occupied ever since. It is the second tallest known building to have survived a direct hit by an F5 tornado. 

The Pioneer Pocket Hotel

The darker brick building in the foreground is the old Lubbock Hotel, completed in 1926.The eleven-story structure was originally constructed during the roaring twenties to provide much-needed housing during a boom time, and remained the leading hotel in the area for some time. For more than 30 years, its elegant ballroom played host to near every major social and civic event of the day. For 29 years, the Lubbock Hotel was the tallest building in the city, until she was bested by the Metro Tower in 1955.

In 1961, the ownership changed hands and the hotel adopted the well-known moniker, “The Pioneer Hotel.” The lobby floors were remodeled in Italian marble, three restaurants were added and the palatial ballroom was expanded.

In 1975, the Pioneer, like much of downtown Lubbock, fell prey to mass migration to the south and west after the devastating Lubbock Tornado of 1970. The building began to fall into disrepair and was sold again and converted into a retirement center.

Indeed, in 1994, after more than two decades of decline, the Pioneer closed its doors. Like many abandoned structures, the famous building and familiar part of the Lubbock skyline became more of a legend, with tales of paranormal activity and haunted halls and rooms.

Then, in 2005, the McDougal Companies bought the Pioneer with plans to renovate and return it to its previous glory as luxury condos and lead the way for Lubbock’s downtown revitalization.

After recovering from a series of setbacks over seven years, including the real estate crisis of 2008, the Pioneer finally began leasing in 2012 with an incredible remodel that preserved its distinctive renaissance revival architecture while making the building energy efficient and restoring its iconic staircase.

In 2018, the third floor was refashioned into the Pioneer Pocket Hotel, a contactless hotel that is one of the area’s most memorable and unique lodging experiences.

The Kress Building

The Kress Building at 1109 Broadway in Lubbock, Texas was built in 1932 as a S. H. Kress & Co. store building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

It is a Mission/Spanish Revival-style influenced building designed by Edward F. Sibbert. It was a S.H. Kress Company store until 1975. It has seen many uses over the years and is now the home of Bucklee Hills Vinyards.