A skip away from Reliant Stadium/NRG Park sits the Crowne Plaza, the former Astrodome Hotel. After being escorted from the hotel lobby to the basement offices to the penthouse, we were left to ourselves to roam the massive forgotten playground for Houston’s rich and famous. The first room we entered was the master bedroom. An intricately engraved, frayed but still deliciously luxe canopy bed sits fireplace adjacent.

Behind the fireplace, a chandelier and a stunning and out of date map. Alleged balcony access, but I couldn’t get the doors open.

We spent a good hour in the penthouse, getting to know the ins and outs, how the morning light hit and which electrical lights were functional. In every room, there was at least one piece of furniture I coveted. For instance, this chair. I have two similar in my apartment - wicker, tall rounded back. It’s an intricate item you don’t often see in our time of mass production, so it should be of no surprise that I inherited my chairs from the storage unit shared by my parents and grandparents.

I am enamored by every chair in the space. The non-pictured of the pair at the chess table was weathered from the fate of time and a cracked curtain. We never did find any chess pieces.

“In the ‘60s and ‘70s these suits were the epitome of class in Houston, available to the rich and famous for up to $2,500 a night. The 1977 Guinness Book of World Records lauded it as the most expensive suite in the world to rent. Noted guests include Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson.”

This is one of my favorite photos from the exploration. The tile work and the wallpaper, gorgeous. This is my kind of maximalism.

The right side of the sink had sunk into the floor at approximately a 35 degree angle. I can’t imagine how much water damage the floors of this room have.

According to a 1994 Sports Illustrated article, when Elvis Presley first stayed at the Celestial Suites he thought they were too gaudy, even for him. Of the rooms, I imagine he was speaking of the Tarzan Room. The suites have no overarching theme, other than patterned.

Judge Roy Hofheinz, the man with the money, hired Harper Goff, a two-time Academy Award winner for set design to create the entirety of this penthouse’s beautiful animosity. Every room hits the mark and then some.

I have never been more envious of a headboard. It should be noted that the Peacock Room is the only room in the entire penthouse with red lightbulbs. Whether that is historically accurate or a more recent addition is unknown.

Welcome to the P.T. Barnum Suite, which has a plush vaulted ceiling and with accompanying stained glass three ring circus big top.

The finishings are incredibly beautiful and of incredible caliber. Every single room has something that I envy.

This chair’s pop of red in an otherwise cool toned room is something I’m going to do in my next apartment.

An informal dining area attached to the kitchen brings us six more of these chairs.

Most rooms have balcony access, but none of the doors open. It’s a pretty reasonable safety feature, even though no one’s rented the place since the mid-90’s (assumption based off the style of television). We peeked out the kitchen and saw this turkey vulture, who would not give us the time of day.

The library was my favorite room. Two stories of books and mustard velvet curtains hiding stained glass windows, chandelier, six red velvet reclining loungers, one random statement chair with marble inlay, and a fireplace.

Adjacent to the library is the formal dining room, with 360 degrees of mirrors and checkered marble floors I continue to drool over.

The bird was still there when we left.