LaBorde House, Store and Hotel
Also known as: Ringgold Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1897 for French immigrant merchant Francois LaBorde, this brick compound in Rio Grande City combined a two-story residence with a general store, office and warehouse arranged around a central courtyard. The residence has a central hall plan, double galleries with Victorian jigsaw detail, stone lintels and corbelled cornices, while the flat roofs and courtyard reflect Spanish-Mexican traditions. About 1917, LaBorde hired San Antonio architect Leo M. J. Dielmann to add a second story and convert the complex into a hotel, giving the store and office gabled facades with decorative brickwork. LaBorde died in 1917 before completion. In 1939 George Boyle bought the property, renamed it the Ringgold Hotel after nearby Fort Ringgold, and remodeled the interior. The nomination values the complex for its craftsmanship and for showing how culture, climate, the frontier setting and local brick shaped design in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The buildings remain largely intact despite disrepair.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the buildings show the excellence of craftsmanship and detailing and reflect Lower Rio Grande Valley influences, including Spanish-Mexican townhouse and courtyard forms, a protective compound layout, climate-driven double galleries with Victorian wood detail, and regional brick construction. It also notes the 1917 expansion by San Antonio architect Leo M. J. Dielmann and the prominence of LaBorde as a businessman and landowner.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80004149, listed May 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 601 E. Main St., Rio Grande City |
|---|---|
| County | Starr County |
| Listed | May 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899, 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Leo M. J. Dielmann |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival and Victorian elements with Spanish-Mexican influences |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a hotel; the form describes the buildings as in disrepair but essentially intact, with the former store and office used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 26.37766, -98.81567 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80004149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107318927
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.