Did You Know? Comfort’s Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel Still Stands the Test of Time
If you’ve spent any time exploring Comfort, Texas, you’ve probably driven down High Street and wondered about that striking limestone building that seems to carry the weight of a century’s worth of stories. That’s the Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel, home to Texas Historical Marker #2646, and one of the most significant architectural landmarks in the Hill Country. While The Building Texas Show was in Comfort, I sat down with its current caretaker, Craig Leeder, to talk about how history, craftsmanship, and community came together to bring this 19th-century treasure back to life.
The original section of the hotel was built in 1880, complete with intricate jig-cut brackets and a handsome wooden balustrade that reflected the architectural pride of its day. When the railroad arrived in Comfort in 1887, the town came alive with opportunity — and by 1894, a second section of the hotel was added to meet the growing number of travelers passing through. Both structures were designed by the renowned architect Alfred Giles of San Antonio, whose influence can be seen across Texas in courthouses, mansions, and civic buildings that have stood the test of time.
The Ingenhuett family ran the inn until the early 1900s, followed by the Faust family, who operated it through the 1940s. For decades afterward, the building remained a quiet witness to the evolution of Comfort. Then, in 2006, tragedy struck — a fire left the structure in ruins, fenced off and forgotten in the center of town.
Enter Craig Leeder, a Boerne native, craftsman, and lover of old stone. “People thought it should be torn down,” he told me during our interview. “But that was never my intention. I wanted to bring it back.” With architect Don McDonald — known for his work on San Antonio’s Pearl Brewery redevelopment — Leeder began an ambitious restoration that would take years and plenty of grit. Together, they honored Alfred Giles’ original design while reinforcing the structure with modern engineering and creative touches, including a tranquil koi pond where the old grocery floor once stood.
As Leeder recalled, the community rallied behind him once they saw the vision. “Half the town showed up to our first meeting,” he said. “After that, they were all in.” The restored space soon hosted weddings, fundraisers, and community dinners — with the Comfort Public Library’s annual gala being its very first event.
Comfort, unincorporated and self-reliant, has always relied on people who see possibility where others see decline. The Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel — now known as The Ingenhuett on High — stands as a living example of that spirit: a place where architecture, history, and hometown determination converge.
Today, visitors can still admire the original limestone walls and woodwork that Alfred Giles envisioned nearly 150 years ago — preserved not just as a building, but as a story of rebirth. It’s a story about a family who built it, a craftsman who rebuilt it, and a community that refused to let its heritage fade.
That’s what Building Texas is all about — not just the places we see, but the people who make sure those places stand strong for the next generation.
Sources:
Texas Historical Marker #2646 (Ingenhuett-Faust Hotel, Comfort, Texas)
Interview with Craig Leeder on The Building Texas Show
