La Colombe d’ Or Mansion, located in the Montrose area of Houston, Texas, is one of the few remaining oil baron mansions in the area.  The mansion was originally built in 1923 by Texas architect Alfred C. Finn for W.W. Fondren, Sr., founder of Humble Oil and Refining Co.  The landmark property now serves as one of the world’s smallest luxury hotels.

After moving to River Oaks in 1949, Mrs. Fondren gave the Red Cross a 25-year grant to the mansion.  In 1979, the family sold the house to Steve Zimmerman, a Houston attorney and law teacher at St. Thomas University.  Mr. Zimmerman abandoned his initial plan to demolish the building after discovering that underneath the 70’s renovations laid the bones of the original building which included antique hardwood floors, marble mantels and intricately paneled walls and ceilings.

Mr. Zimmerman restored the mansion to its former elegance and La Colombe d’ Or opened to the public in 1980.  Today, the mansion is home to a restaurant, Cinq, named after the five beautiful suites on the second floor that offer luxury accommodations.

In 1996, the mansion’s Grand Ballroom, Le Grand Salon, the focal point of the mansion, was added.  The ballroom is lined in 300-year old oak panels from the country chateau of Comte Henry Greffulhe and Princess Elisabeth de Caraman-Chimay.  The panels were originally carved in 1715, the panels were installed at the estate near Foutenailles, just outside Paris, in 1891.

Today, the ballroom is a perfect location for weddings and private parties.

Source:  La Colmbe d’ Or website and Marene Gustin, “A Little Gem Dazzles in Montrose”, Intown Magazine, January/February 2011

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