Signs featuring pictures of the Greyhound bus station and other historical photos were on display during the renovation celebration Nov. 14 for the Greyhound Inn.

From Staff Reports

Since 1981, Historic Tyler Inc. (HTI) has recognized exceptional preservation efforts in the community with its annual preservation award.

At HTI’s annual membership meeting on Sept. 12 at Willow Brook Country Club, Andy Bergfeld and Kent Boozer were honored with the 2024 Ellen and John Musselman Preservation Award.

They were recognized for their outstanding work rehabilitating the Tyler Union Station/Campbell building — a 1932 Art Deco/Art Moderne architectural gem — transforming it into the Greyhound Inn, a boutique hotel in downtown Tyler. This project was made possible through historic tax credits, ensuring both its viability and the restoration of the building’s architectural integrity.

The Greyhound Inn was recently featured in the National Trust Preservation Magazine article “Five Historic Greyhound Stations Live on With New Uses.”

The building has nine hospitality suites for overnight lodging, two ADA-compliant hospitality suites and 2,600 square feet of retail space on the first floor.

All the door hardware is authentic 1930s, and the hardwood floors are refinished from the original. The retail space was renovated back to its 1946 floor plan and features plaster walls, high ceilings and storefronts on the south and west sides, and there are talks of leasing the space for a breakfast/lunch dining concept.

Built in 1932, parts of the Tyler Union Station-Campbell Building, a two-story art deco commercial brick building, maintain its historical integrity with modern additions.

“It was awful looking when it was covered in sheet metal and plaster, but underneath it, there was a diamond in the rough,” Bergfeld previously said about the building before renovations.

The team focused on the building’s architecture and restoring it to a better condition than when it was built. Brickwork and zigzag cast stone work on the exterior remains, and the 1946 floor plan inside the main building was restored.

Bergfeld said in a previous interview with the Tyler Morning Telegraph that many people are getting on board with restoring old buildings, saving them, and figuring out how to make them work and be a neat part of the community.

There is a lot of development happening downtown; simultaneously, Bergfeld said almost every original building left downtown can have a purpose. Tyler tore down “a lot of pretty houses and pretty buildings” in the name of prosperity, he said, “but I think the community realizes now that we should save what we’ve got. These buildings, like this one and others around downtown that are being redeveloped now, will add to downtown.”

The Greyhound Inn is a contactless hotel. Employees are only on-site if they are cleaning rooms or doing routine maintenance. The hotel is managed from Bergfeld’s office in Plaza Tower, about a block away. Guests book rooms either through the website, www.greyhoundinntx.com, or one of the national booking services like Airbnb or Expedia, and are given a code to get in the gates and exterior doors with a different code to get into their room.

Additionally at HTI’s annual meeting, HTI Board Member Bonnie Palmer received the inaugural Therese Pace Volunteer Award. Named in honor of a dedicated board member who passed away in September 2023, this award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional service and commitment to Historic Tyler.

Palmer was selected for her exemplary efforts in advancing the organization’s mission, assisting with event planning, and contributing to Historic Tyler on Tour, the nonprofit said. She is also known for her consistent attendance at board meetings and her willingness to volunteer for various tasks.

Historic Tyler Inc. is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 with a mission “to promote the preservation and protection of historic structures and sites through advocacy, education, involvement, and public and private investment.” HTI is a membership-based organization with many preservation accomplishments to its credit. Visit www.historictyler.org for more information or to become a supporter.