In the little town of Washington’s National Historic District, where 80% of the buildings are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, stands a nine-room boutique hotel brimming with sophistication and vintage charm. Here’s a place where double-hung windows and deep balconies look out onto the main street of Louisiana’s third-oldest European settlement, and details like fine antique mantelpieces and dozens of historic portraits hint at the building’s colorful history. The twist: Hotel Klaus is almost new. In fact, it has only been open to guests since August, 2024.
Painstakingly restored from the ground up, Hotel Klaus is the brainchild of Lafayette-based architect and developer Stephen Ortego, who grew up visiting his grandparents in Washington. Ortego explained that when he started the restoration, he set out to create a magical atmosphere by “designing beyond a building, and creating an experience.”
“It’s like this kaleidoscope of colors, and the theme tends to be Louisiana nature and birding." —Stephen Ortego, owner of Hotel Klaus
Built by Jewish merchants in the aftermath of the Civil War, the building that houses Hotel Klaus was first used as a steamboat warehouse on account of its proximity to Bayou Courtableau—a busy steamboat route until the railroad came to town. During ensuing years, the building housed the Max Klaus General Store and an antique market. By the time Ortego bought it, one wall was on the verge of falling into the street. Another in the back had already come down.
“We went to town rehabbing it,” Ortego said, noting that careful use of state and federal historic tax credits made the project possible. Today, the nine-room boutique hotel glows—its venerable woodwork and fittings contrasted against a palette of greens, golden yellows, and warm mauves. Dark wooden floors and furniture are offset by tall windows that bring light flooding in, drawing attention to the building’s dazzling fireplaces and generous balconies.
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The walls of Hotel Klaus are adorned in the palette of Louisiana nature.
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The walls of Hotel Klaus are adorned in the palette of Louisiana nature.
“It’s like this kaleidoscope of colors, and the theme tends to be Louisiana nature and birding. So a lot of the rooms feature photographs of local swamp scenes, or live oaks with egrets and Roseate Spoonbills in them,” Ortego said. A handsome plunge pool makes the courtyard a popular site for evening cocktails during warmer months, while the on-site Portrait Lounge has quickly become a favorite watering hole with locals and visitors all year round.
The Portrait Lounge might be Hotel Klaus’s most unexpected feature. The brainchild of former men’s clothing designer (and Washington resident) Beth James, who helped take the company Nautica public in the 1990s, the lounge is decorated with fine furniture and fittings, and scores of antique portraits donated by family, friends, and, sometimes, strangers. “One of Beth’s friends had this giant portrait of her mom, and she didn’t really want her staring at her in the living room. They didn’t want to put her in the closet, so Beth decided to display her in the Portrait Lounge,” Ortego said. “Beth put the word out, and there were a lot of people in the same situation—with these old family portraits, who shared with us. The ingenuity of it is, even when you’re the only person in the bar, it’s like the bar is full because you have all these people from the past looking down at you!”
After a spring day spent perusing local shops and eateries, stop by the Klaus to sample the Portrait Lounge’s signature Mardi Gras cocktail, the Steamboat Swizzle—a frozen version of a classic rum swizzle. It’s best enjoyed during the Portrait Lounge’s ‘Whistle Hour,’ which runs 5 pm–6 pm daily, ending when the steamboat whistle blows. While there, ask hotel manager Jonathan Sebastian about his colorful life prior to getting into the hotel business, when he worked as a reality television producer, producing shows like Judge Judy and winning two Emmy Awards. hotelklaus.com.
When it comes to overnight accommodations, St. Landry Parish offers all manner of options—from quaint, to cozy, to downright cool. Visit cajuntravel.com/where-to-stay to get started.
