WINNER STORIES: What $49 Million Texas Lotto Winners Did To Famous Teepee Motel
/ Ken Silver
The teepee-themed motel is a popular attraction in Wharton, Texas.
Legend has it Willie Nelson has stayed there. So has Elvis Presley. And Dolly Parton.
Built in 1942, the Wharton, Texas, Teepee Motel served travelers heading across Texas on State Highway 60.
But the buildings were ready for demolition after being closed for 15 years.
Byron and Barbara Woods won $49 million in the Texas Lottery in 2003.
Lottery winners and local couple Byron and Barbara Woods were driving past the abandoned motel one afternoon in 2004. Barbara recalled to her husband, Bryon, that she had always wanted to stay in one of the teepees but never had the chance.
A year earlier they had won $49 million in the Texas Lottery.
Speaking to Khou News, Bryon said before the win he was a diesel mechanic working nights, and wanted to buy a few more lottery tickets.
Barbara was standing behind the counter at J & K's convenience store in Eagle Lake.
J & K's convenience store in Eagle Lake where the winning ticket was sold by Barbara to Byron.
"She was working that night. She sold me the ticket," Bryon said.
By morning, they were $49 million richer. Bryon laughed repeating how he told his sleepy wife, "Sweetheart, we won the lottery," he said back then.
"Fool, leave me alone," she replied.
Byron shows one of the rooms in his Teepee Motel.
So the Woods decided to invest in the property and bring it back to life. They spent over $1 million to buy, renovate and add a now booming RV park to the Teepee reservation.
The couple lives on a ranch with a daughter and three grandchildren about 65 miles away from the park.
Since they won, the Woods have invested in real estate, gourmet coffee shops, even a broadband company, but the Teepee motel is what people know them for.
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