TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Grand Slammer Heritage Travelers Spend the Night Behind Bars in Clifton by Andy Rhodes
H
ave you ever deliberately tried to spend a night in jail? And gladly paid for the experience? In Clifton, heritage travelers can do just that. Hidden in an alley of this central Texas historic downtown is an unassuming concrete building built in the early 1930s that once served as an overflow jail. Now known as the Cell Block, this unexpectedly welcoming jail makes it a pleasure to be behind bars. Local resident Kaye Robinson Callaway had always been intrigued by the small building, which had become dingy and forgotten by the early 2010s. After walking past it 62
AUTHENTIC TEXAS
countless times, she realized it could be repurposed into a miniature boutique hotel for travelers interested in a distinctive lodging experience. She set to work contacting local preservationists, town leaders, and Clifton’s Main Street program about her adaptive-reuse project. She developed a proposal outlining economic and cultural benefits, and made efforts to involve community members with its construction and outreach. The Cell Block officially opened in 2014, with a bright coat of white paint and crisp black detailing. Since then, guests have been treated to a high-quality lodging experience, from quality bedding and stylish furniture to a ret-
