Welcome
A letter from the owner
I am so glad you found us! Whether your journey to Austin is for business or pleasure, my goal at Austin's Inn at Pearl Street is to help you relax and enjoy comfortably your escape to our beautiful city. I invite you to relax downstairs in the ambiance and charm of the Victoria House, or you may choose to put your feet up with a good book, under the shade of our mature Oak and Pecan trees throughout the property. I had a vision for these two homes years ago, and I am proud of the retreat we have created for our guests at The Pearl. Selected as an Austin’s Symphony Designer Showhouse, the Inn is considered one of Austin’s finest, most unique boutique hotels. I hope your experience here is unforgettable and that you will return time and again.
Jill Bickford - Owner
Video Tour
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Whether your journey to Austin is for business or pleasure, Austin's Inn at Pearl Street is here to help you relax and comfortably enjoy your escape to our beautiful city. View our video to see our property and rooms!
1914
Property
The first official record of the Inn can be found in the Austin City Directory of 1914 when it was the private residence of prominent 26th Judicial District Judge Charles A. Wilcox and his family.
1917
Passing
Judge Wilcox held the judgeship until 1917 when he became a partner in the firm of White, Cartledge and Wilcox. When he died, government agencies and official buildings throughout the Austin area closed in his honor.
1933
Family
Wilcox and his wife, the former Stella Snider, had five children. Their second daughter, Darthula, obtained a degree from The University of Texas and a Masters Degree in Library Science from Columbia University. She was appointed the first director of the Austin Public Library in 1933.
1980
Fame
In the early 1980's, the home was briefly used as a movie set even as it was falling to ruin.
1993
Renovation
In 1993, the 1896 Greek revival home was rescued by Jill Bickford with the help of her parents, Burton and Victoria, and has been lovingly restored to it's near-original turn-of-the-century charm. When the home was purchased, the first chore in refurbishing the once vibrant home was to remove one of the largest bee colonies ever found in a private Austin residence. Hundreds of pounds of honey were removed from the walls and floors of the Inn.
1995
Recognition
Shortly after completion, the Inn at Pearl Street was selected as Austin's 1995 Symphony Designer Show House, a proud honor for the Bickford family. That same year, the Inn opened its doors for business.
