Exploring Life & Business with Lisa Lennox of Interstate Inn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Lennox.

Hi Lisa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From the beginning of her adult life, Lisa Lennox has honed her skills in hospitality and design — concepting, building, and remodeling resort-like properties around the world.

Lisa created Iron Springs Ranch, a 1,600 acre family and corporate resort property in Whitney, Texas, opening in 2025-26 for retreats, weddings, family reunions, and corporate retreats.

In 2022, she had the vision of saving iconic mid-century motels and restoring these properties. She brought her sister, Cathy Bonner, and brother, Kirk Bonner, as co-owners into her company. She acquired two properties opening in 2024 and 2025 – The Interstate Inn in Stephenville, Texas, and The Mimi on Main Street in Fredericksburg, Texas, the heart of The Texas Hill Country. Within her boutique motels and resorts are modern Texas Cuisine restaurants that were created with celebrity Chef Stephan Pyles.

Interstate Inn, a reimagined roadside retreat in the heart of Stephenville, is celebrating its 60th Anniversary and the women whose creativity, leadership, and vision have shaped its identity. From the founders to the artists and brands featured within its walls, every corner of Interstate Inn reflects the power of female innovation.

At the helm of this modern hospitality concept is Lisa Lennox, founder and owner of Interstate Inn & The Seeker, alongside her sister Cathy Bonner, co-owner and longtime advocate for women’s leadership. Lennox has spent her career in design of spaces. Over her lifetime she has made charitable contributions to women in business, as well as the Women’s Museum at Fair Park — the latter of which was founded by Cathy.

“This project has always been about honoring the past while creating something distinctly modern and welcoming,” said Lisa Lennox, visionary and owner of Interstate Inn & The Seeker. “Stephenville’s mix of cowboy spirit and youthful college energy inspired every detail, it’s bold, creative, and full of heart.”

In 2022, Lennox had the vision to preserve and restore America’s iconic mid-century motels under her company. She brought her sister, Cathy Bonner, and brother, Kirk Bonner, on board as co-owners, acquiring Interstate Inn. The hotel pairs nostalgic charm with mid-century modern design — and includes The Seeker Restaurant and The Cork Room Event Hall. Since acquiring the hotel, Lennox, Cathy, and Kirk have spearheaded this multimillion dollar renovation on time for Interstate Inn’s 60th anniversary.

The lobby of Interstate Inn serves as a gallery in itself, featuring standout works from two women artists whose pieces embody the property’s energy and soul. Texas artist Ginger Fox brings a striking focal point to the space with her expressive, contemporary paintings that blend color, emotion, and movement. Lorena Fenton, a Mexico City–based artist, contributes to the inn’s visual story with her “Boards of Life” series — a mixed-media collection that fuses acrylic and glass in vibrant pop-art style, including a dazzling piece inspired by the iconic Harper’s Bazaar logo.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it has been a rewarding one. Transforming a 1965 roadside motel into a modern boutique property brought challenges well beyond what we initially anticipated. Extensive city permitting and code requirements were necessary to meet today’s hotel standards, and construction delays were inevitable. As improvements were completed, we also faced unexpected hurdles, including a nearly 40% increase in insurance costs tied to upgrading an older structure.

Midway through the process, we were required to retire our original brand name due to a trademark agreement with a larger company, which led to a strategic rebrand. Additionally, recruiting experienced restaurant management in a small town presented its own challenges. Each obstacle required flexibility and resolve, ultimately shaping a stronger, more thoughtful outcome.

As you know, we’re big fans of Interstate Inn. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Lisa Lennox co-founded a privately held real estate investment, development, and lodging company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Its properties are crafted from reimagining mid-century modern classic motels throughout historic small towns. From the finest of furnishings, linens, luxury rooms and dining, the experience is worth the drive and offers an intimate lifestyle destination of unequaled and inspiring creature comforts. The Company, which was founded in 2022 by siblings Lisa Lennox, Kirk Bonner and Cathy Bonner, has several projects currently in development in Texas. For more information, visit www.theinterstateinn.com.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
This project represented a major financial and professional risk. We entered the hospitality industry without prior ownership experience or a proven track record, which required a great deal of trust in our vision. To mitigate that risk, we surrounded ourselves with experienced consultants and advisors who helped guide critical decisions. For me, taking risks means committing fully to a vision, doing the work to prepare, and staying flexible as challenges arise.

Pricing:

• $275-$305 per night

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theinterstateinn.com/
• Instagram: @theinterstateinn
• Facebook: @theinterstateinn