From hearty breakfasts to candlelit dinners, J. McKinney's has many dining options to please every taste and budget.
History of the Name:
Jack McKinney was born in 1911 in the Banita Hotel (no longer standing) here in Nacogdoches, Texas, where he lived with his family throughout his childhood. He graduated from Nacogdoches High School and attended Stephen F. Austin State College.
In 1937, Jack McKinney and his brother co-founded McKinney Drilling Company, and became world renowned for developing equipment used to construct drilled and belled pier foundations. In 1978, the company completed the largest foundation project in the world at the time: the North River Pollution Control Project in the Hudson River in New York. The company also built Section II of the Trans Alaska Pipeline, the first to finish any section of line on time -- and under budget!
After spending his earliest years in the Banita Hotel, and so many nights on business trips in hotels all over the world, J. McKinney concluded that what his hometown needed most was a first-class hotel to accommodate business travelers, vacationers, and even those seeking the solace of a resort.
McKinney carried a folding ruler to measure the size of bathrooms, bedrooms, the distance from entrance to front desk, the width of hallways and stairways, and began to share his dream with other community leaders in Nacogdoches.
The project represented more than a civic project or a business venture -
it was a labor of love.
It is that same innovation and creativity we bring to the food we serve in our restaurant.
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From hearty breakfasts to candlelit dinners, J. McKinney's has many dining options to please every taste and budget. Our executive culinary staff can prepare a meal for almost any dietary need upon request. Enjoy mouth-watering certified Texas Raised Aberdeen Angus Ribeye in the intimate setting of our restaurant, or share some crab cake sliders with friends while listening to jazz on the patio.
Located inside the landmark Hotel Fredonia, we also offer a full room service menu, so you can experience our restaurant without having to leave the comfort of your hotel room. At J. McKinney's, we take pride in our cuisine and service, and strive for our patrons to have a wonderful and unique dining experience.
Winner of the Talk of the Town award, two years in a row!
