Ye Kendall Inn is both a Texas and a national landmark, and has given shelter to many famous people including Jefferson Davis, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Robert E. Lee. The History of Ye Kendall Inn begins April 23 1859 when John James sold the land to Erastus and Sarah Reed for only $200. The Reeds built the center section of the Inn as their home bringing the Southern Colonial style of architecture to the Texas Hill Country. As there were no hotels for the travelers in these early days, the few homeowners of the town shared their spare rooms. The Reeds began the hotel tradition by renting out their spare rooms in the Old Reed House. The grounds around the house served as a wagon yard for ranchers who penned their cattle in what is now the cities main plaza, awaiting other cattle for a big drive.