DALLAS—Graduate by Hilton has officially opened in Dallas, marking the brand’s first hotel in Texas. Graduate Dallas, located in Highland Park, directly across from Southern Methodist University (SMU), is a restoration of the former Lumen Hotel.
The 93-room hotel features Graduate’s collegiate and maximalist charm, combined with mid-century modern architecture and Texas ranch-style design. While preserving the building’s original geometric, mid-century architecture, the reimagined space features locally inspired design elements: warm, textured interiors like tanned leather, velvet sofas, cowhide ottomans, shearling armchairs, and hand-woven textiles.
Graduate Hilton includes an outdoor pool and terrace, a lively lobby lounge, and the Los Charros Tex-Mex Smokehouse signature restaurant. The restaurant is named for the los charros Mexican horsemen known for their ornate attire and bold spirit. Set in an industrial-meets-rustic setting, it features reclaimed wood, patinated corrugated steel, and textile elements, including a ceiling mural inspired by hand-woven rugs.
Guest rooms combine mid-century modern influences with a red, white, and blue color palette. Grass cloth wall coverings and navy-striped upholstered beds are combined with playful design details and locally inspired artwork.
For meeting planners, Graduate Dallas offers more than 2,600 square feet of event space, including the Hilltop Terrace room, with 1,872 square feet, and Pony Express Place, with 1,269 square feet.
“Introducing the Graduate brand to Texas—one of the country’s largest and most dynamic markets—is a major milestone for us,” says Parker Henderson, brand leader for Graduate by Hilton. “A Graduate in Dallas’ Highland Park was a natural fit, as the property brings our collegiate-inspired hospitality to a neighborhood that reflects our core values of lifelong learning. It also kickstarts the brand’s Texas expansion, with another property slated to open in Austin.”
Adds Ben Weprin, founder of Graduate Hotels and CEO and founder of AJ Capital Partners, “Bringing a Graduate to Texas—particularly in the heart of Highland Park, one of Dallas’ most storied neighborhoods—has been a longtime goal,” he says. “This is a community full of character, tradition, and creative energy, and we’re honored to bring this project to life in a way that reflects all of that through design, storytelling, and the nostalgic traditions that live on at SMU.”
