An Austin Mansion Becomes a Modern Hotel Old is new in Austin, where one of its most historic mansions will open as the Hotel Ella on Sept. The landmark home was built in 1900 for Dr. Goodall Wooten, a son of one of the founders of the nearby University of Texas, and his wife, Ella, and expanded into the grand, white-columned mansion it is today in 1910. It later spent 35 years as a student dormitory, another 17 as a rehabilitation center, and the past 10 as an inn called Mansion at Judges" Hill. In its new guise after a $5 million renovation, the Hotel Ella will house 48 rooms, 10 in the original mansion. Another 38 will occupy a more modern annex added in 1980, several with new terraces that open onto the lush gardens between the two buildings. New to the property is a lap pool with its own bar and cabanas in the courtyard, as well as Goodall's Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant featuring Texas-raised ingredients and "remedies," or cocktails inspired by the original Dr. Goodall. Rooms start at $249.