The man who has been charged with — and has confessed to — the murder of an employee of the Ranch Radio Group had a last known address at a room at the Flagstaff Inn in Kerrville. This is according to his jail records page on Kerr County Public Records Archive.
This is not the first time that criminal activity has been associated with, or taken place at, the Flagstaff Inn of Kerrville at 906 Junction Highway. A quick search of Kerrville Daily Times archives shows the following:
- Man asked for directions to Flagstaff Inn and then robbed a convenience store (September 2015)
- Man staying at Flagstaff fears “snipers,” calls police, gets arrested for possession of meth (July 2013)
- Man arrested for possession of meth while at Flagstaff (February 2013)
- Man arrested for public intoxication and disorderly conduct at Flagstaff Inn when police say he was found peeping in someone’s widow (February 2011)
- A seven-hour standoff at Flagstaff occurred when an armed gunman held police at bay from one of the rooms (March 2002)
- An arsonist set fire to part of the Flagstaff Inn (February 2000)
State and County Lawsuit
The State of Texas sued Flagstaff Inn owner Arvind Patel in 2013. County Attorney Rob Henneke stated that 30 criminal offenses occurred at the Flagstaff from May 2012 to May 2013, including three assaults, one vehicle burglary, nine illegal drug possessions and several “intoxication offenses,” such as minors consuming alcohol and public intoxication.
A few weeks later, it was reported that the county and the hotel operator were negotiating a settlement, but no further news was reported on the matter.
Bad Reviews
The reviews from sites like Yelp and Google tell the story of the hotel pretty well.
Total roach motel. Smelly dirty, total dive and definitely NOT worth $275 and BARELY worth $190/week. Totally dated interior. Old linens, kitchen was dirty. I would be afraid to sleep on the bed for fear of bedbugs.
This place is smelly, dirty, ugly, and the water pressure sucks. Do not waste your money or time here because you will regret it.
Probably bed bugs here.
Absolutely beside myself that people that work for hospitality could have such rude inconsiderate attitude towards customers. I came from a very clean home never had a bug problem till I stayed at Falstaff. Bed bugs.
Paying Very Little Tax
According to the state report on Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax, the Flagstaff had only $13,600 in taxable revenue, compared to $117,000 at the Inn of the Hills and another $117,000 at the YO Ranch Resort Hotel. For comparison purposes, even the America’s Best Value had $25,000 in taxable revenues that month. So if it were to close, we wouldn’t lose much HOT Tax revenue at all.
The annual property taxes are approximately $12,730 per year. A pittance for a property that could be much more highly valued as almost any other business.
This hotel is a scourge and a blemish on this community. Police answer dozens of calls to this location each month, and the business contributes very little back to the community in the forms of taxes, contributions, or sponsorships. The City of Kerrville should use its regulatory authority to attempt to close this eyesore and hotbed of criminal activity.
