The future of Yorktown Memorial Hospital may soon be decided, as owners face possible demolition despite ongoing restoration efforts.
SAN ANTONIO — The future of the old Yorktown Memorial Hospital could be decided in the coming days as the city prepares for a public hearing that may result in the building’s demolition. The property’s owners say they’re being pushed toward that outcome without due process — and without the chance to finish a historic restoration already underway.
Fred and Stephen Garza-Guzman, co-owners of the 1950s-era hospital and operators of The Curious Twins, said communication with city leaders stalled shortly after a contentious meeting with the Yorktown City Council in August.
“Everything staled out for over a month and we heard nothing from anybody,” Fred Garza-Guzman said.
City’s inspection lists major structural concerns
In October, the owners received notice that the long-abandoned hospital — known for its paranormal reputation — would be reinspected. Garza-Guzman said no measurements or tests were performed that day, only photographs.
When the inspection results arrived, the city included a list of deficiencies it says violate Yorktown’s Substandard Building Ordinance and classify the property as a public nuisance.
According to the city, the structure shows:
- risk of partial or full collapse
- leaning or buckling walls
- foundation deterioration exceeding 25%
- walls, ceilings or floors more than 50% deteriorated
- inadequate ventilation, sanitation and emergency exits
- structural loads that may be unsafe
- conditions that could attract disease-carrying pests
The city informed the owners that the building had failed the inspection.
But Garza-Guzman disputes the findings, saying the report lacked detail and context.
“We were provided this other little part of the report. You can see how weird it is,” he said, pointing to a printout with a mini screenshot of a list almost too small to read. “Basically it’s the city’s checklist — what they would deem to be a property for demolition.”
He said most photos lacked notes, and some remarks referenced overgrown vegetation — an issue he says is unrelated to demolition and not part of the city’s code.
“They told us we failed that inspection,” he said.
In the letter containing the inspection findings, it contained another notice setting a public hearing for Nov. 17, where demolition is listed as a possible outcome.
Garza-Guzman argues the city failed to follow its own procedural rules, including notifying lien holders at least 10 days before the hearing.
“They didn’t even notify the lien holders at all,” he said. “They refuse to tell us at this point an agenda for the hearing. Is the inspector gonna be there? Who will weigh in on all of this besides city council? They haven’t even let us know what we can present. It’s a very confusing process.”
Garza-Guzman said the contact number included in the city’s letter has not led to a returned call.
“They list the number. I’ve tried to do that. I haven’t gotten a phone call back,” he said.
Owners pursue historic protections
Despite the city’s findings, the owners say the building is salvageable and historically significant.
The hospital was built under the Hill-Burton Act, a federal program that funded rural hospitals nationwide in the mid-20th century.
“From the original 300 to 360 Hill-Burton hospitals created across Texas, only about 45 to 60 of these mid-century buildings survived. Yorktown Memorial Hospital is the lone site that keeps its history active through ongoing architectural and historical programming,” Garza-Guzman explained.
The owners are seeking both state and national historical protections. They have filed for a Texas Historical Marker and submitted an application to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for a national Lore and Legends marker.
“State law states if you have a property that’s pursuing historical designation, they should leave them alone for any remediation until a decision has been made,” he said.
He added that state preservation law requires cities to maintain registries of historically significant buildings and to advocate for structures that may qualify.
A vision for restoration
Garza-Guzman said the owners have already purchased a permit to repair the roof and intend to restore the building to its mid-century appearance — including the soft pinks, blues and greens that once lined the hallways.
“We’re going to clean, refurbish, and in some places we’re going to repair walls,” he said. “We’re going to make sure we have adequate ventilation and moisture control. We’re going to make sure we have a new roof on that building because that’s the biggest thing.”
He said the roof repair alone will cost more than $100,000.
“Why would I spend that if you’re gonna tear it down and bill me $50,000?” he said.
Plans for the site include a museum focused on mid-century architecture, rural healthcare, and the Felician nuns who once operated the facility. The owners also hope to restore the front landscaping to its 1960s design and digitize the hospital’s archives for public access.
“I’m not from Yorktown, but I have this love for these people, for their stories,” Garza-Guzman said. “All we want to do is finish the work that we started.”
He said he wants the community — not just ghost-tour visitors — to feel proud of the restored landmark.
“We hope it’s a place that people in Yorktown can be proud of,” he said.
The owners say they’ve repeatedly requested further information from city leaders, and finally received a response Friday evening. They also say the city has asked for a full repair timeline — something Garza-Guzman says is unrealistic under the city’s mandate to complete all work within 30 days.
If the building is ordered repaired, vacated or demolished and the owners do not comply, the city says it may hire a private contractor to perform the work and place a lien on the property if costs cannot be paid.
“If I had to guess, it looks like their goal is to remove the building and have us pay for it,” Garza-Guzman said. “We are private property owners. We deserve due process in the state of Texas.”
KENS 5 has reached out to the mayor and other city leaders multiple times for clarification but has not received a response.