History of Western Hills Motel in Austin, Texas explored.

Western Hills Motel is and was one of Oak Hill’s motels that have been long forgotten next to Red Carpet Motel and No Tell Motel. Western Hills Motel is one of the long forgotten motels of Austin, Texas as well too. Not too many people know about this motel or its history. 

Construction of Western Hills Motel began in 1979 on property owned by Barnett Lew and Patricia Lew. Western Hills Motel officially opened in 1981. A business conglomerate did not own the property as is the case with many properties in Austin and Travis County. It was Barnett Lew and Patricia Lew who owned that motel property. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, 0996900822)

Western Hills Motel was built as a long narrow two-story rectangular building on property owned by Barnett Lew and Patricia Lew. The address for Western Hills Motel was 6854 Hwy 290 West. (Ref: http://propaccess.traviscad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=311853)

However a job advertisement from Austin American-Statesman dating back to 1984 has Western Hills Motel being located at 6852 Hwy 290 West instead of 6854 West Highway 290. There is a high possibility of the address having been changed but the narrow building remaining in the same location. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/358140711/)

Western Hills Motel was located at “Y” in Oak Hill where US 290 & SH 71 split off in separate directions in the Oak Hill neighborhood of Austin, Texas. Western Hills Motel was located in Oak Hill’s “red light district” along with Red Carpet Motel and Flea Bitten Motel.

1986 was the year Lew Barnett paid a sum of $240,000 dollars to Margaret Chang who was acting as independent executrix for Yun Ger Chang (Yun Ger Cheng). The $240,000 dollars was unpaid and earned interest for land Barnett purchased for a parking lot. The order of the $240,000 dollars was made payable to Southwestern Commercial Capital who purchased her property prior to her death. Kurtis W. Nestman acted as trustee. (Ref: Travis County Public Records, 0971400255)

Western Hills Motel began charging a rate of more than $20 per night beginning in the late 80s. This was during the fiscal year of 1988-1989.


In 1998, the hotline for Western Hills Motel was listed as 512-288-2222 and Western Hills Motel was located at 6854 W Highway 290, Austin, TX 78735. The Western Hills Motel had 12 guest rooms and free parking. Their rates were $22-$25 per night. (Ref: http://my.execpc.com/~billp61/lodaust.html)

In 2000, the hotline for Western Hills Motel was listed as 512-288-2222 and Western Hills Motel was located at 6854 W Highway 290, Austin, TX 78735. (Ref: http://austin.tx.nww.net/lodging/)

According to a customer who left a negative review on the Trip Advisor website about Western Hills Motel, the motel service was awful. Prices for food were unreasonably pricey. Furniture such as bedding was reportedly uncomfortable. The motel lacked soap. So overall Western Hills Motel was horrible and uncomfortable. (Ref: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g30196-d291291-Reviews-Western_Hills_Motel-Austin_Texas.html)


In 2003, TXDot had planned to widen US 290 into a 4-lane highway. Oak Hill residents heavily opposed this expansion plan as the highway right-of-way would require the Oak Hill Strip to be torn down. Residents did not want this to happen. All of the buildings along the north side of US 290 near the “Y” were either demolished or relocated. Western Hills Motel was demolished in 2004. Nothing remains of Western Hills Motel today. 

Western Hills Motel was located at 6854 West Highway 290, Austin, Texas, US 78735.