High above the bustling city of Houston, Texas, a time capsule of 1970s opulence sits in silence. It's the legendary Celestial Suite, a sprawling penthouse atop the former Astroworld Hotel (now a Crowne Plaza). Once the lavish private residence of the Astrodome's visionary creator, Judge Roy Hofheinz, this spectacular suite has remained largely untouched and closed to the public since the 1990s, earning it a reputation as one of Houston's most fascinating "abandoned" historical sites.
In the late 1960s, Judge Roy Hofheinz, a charismatic entrepreneur, developed the "Astrodomain," a grand entertainment complex centered around the Astrodome, the world's first indoor stadium. The Astroworld Hotel was an integral part of this kingdom, and Hofheinz decided to add a private, over-the-top penthouse as his personal residence.
Designed by two-time Academy Award-winning set designer Harper Goff (known for his work on films like Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory), the Celestial Suite was a masterpiece of themed extravagance. It featured 13 rooms with wildly different themes, a private elevator, and a two-story "nightclub".
The suite was the height of luxury, reportedly the most expensive hotel suite in the world in 1977, costing up to $5,500 a night. It hosted a dazzling array of celebrities, dignitaries, and politicians.
Each room was a journey:
- The Tarzan Room: Featured a green shag rug and a bamboo staircase leading to a sleeping loft.
- The P.T. Barnum Suite (Circus Room):Boasted a vaulted ceiling with a stained-glass three-ring circus big top motif.
- The Library: A two-story room with a fireplace, extensive bookshelves, and heavy mustard velvet curtains.
- The Formal Dining Room: Featured 360-degree mirrored walls and checkered marble floors.
Notable guests who stayed or were entertained in the suite include:
- Elvis Presley
- Frank Sinatra
- Michael Jackson
- Muhammad Ali
- President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Vice President Nelson Rockefeller
Hofheinz and his wife lived in the suite from 1969 until a fire two floors below in 1973 prompted their move to a mansion in River Oaks.
After Hofheinz's departure, the suite was used for high-profile events and a few overnight guests until the mid-1990s. Since then, it has been largely sealed off from the operating hotel below, remaining in a state of preserved decay.
Today, the suite is an eerie, fascinating time capsule. Seventies-era telephones sit next to 1996 phone books, and the opulent furnishings are dusty but largely intact. While not open for general public tours, its untouched nature allows for rare behind-the-scenes glimpses, revealing a unique piece of Houston's glamorous past.
